Norman and Nancy Blake "Elzic's Farewell"

Norman is playing his 1933 D-18S 12-fret Martin and Nancy is playing her 1929 00-45 12 fret Martin in this video. This tune is off the Blake's "Planet Riders" video. You should buy a copy (if you can find one). It is excellent!

[@forestsummers5079]

Master musicians at work! Beautiful

[@hangdogit]

Norman and Nancy Blake are national treasures! What they do is incredibly hard -- and they make it look easy.

[@rtcommodore9354]

This is incredible.

[@kuznetsovsergei_v]

absolute masterpiece for all time

[@hangdogit]

I've listed to, and learned from their playing, for 35 years or so -- while teaching the guitar myself. The Blakes are amazing at combining technical brilliance with the perfect feel of traditional music. (Lots of mere "Bluegrass" players are great technically, but to me at least, lose that link to traditional, old-time music that the Blakes epitomize.) The Blakes go beyond that to evoke the sound and spirit of bygone days. Bluegrass payers try -- and get partway there (in a highly confined and stylized way) -- and good for them for getting that far! But the Blakes show how it's really done.

[@dvrsweet1]

+hangdogit I couldn't have said it better!

[@temriver]

Absolutely exceptional playing on exceptional guitars.

[@bennybootz84]

Norman could make frettin a fence sound immaculate!!

[@ScottLaneMusic]

Listening to this gives me hope for humanity..

[@robertshorthill6836]

Elzic's Farewell. A truly hauntingly beautiful tune. Try as I might, I have yet to figure this one out for a mandolin version. I get back to it as often as I can, slow it way down to mess with it by ear. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can pick it like Norman Blake!! Truly outstanding.

[@pmj6616]

There is a tab online though can't post links on YT. Go to 'Kim and Mike on the road' (all one word) I'm fairly certain there is a mandolin tab for this

[@treetopflyer7331]

I have to track these people down and watch them play this masterpiece in person ..I can't hear it enough. Enlightenment!

[@groovytunes420]

this gives me chills. i sat down with my guitar to try and figure out how to play this tune, and said nevermind....this cant be re-created. absolute magic! Norman is so relaxed, and Nancys rhythm is impeccable

[@Blackbird9520]

This music is beyond words. So good!!!

[@martlv22]

every video/music from Norman Blake is pure Gold. The touch and the tone that he have is just beautiful and he's got the voice that match the music(and the look). Even if I can play the same notes on my old Martin I still cannot get close to that smooth picking sound that he gets. A National treasure and a great spirit.

[@MISHA12314]

Nancy is great herself !

[@3340steve]

A constant influence on the guitar....fantastic.

[@WaitDer]

01.58 - no hands :D Norman and Nancy Blake are AWESOME!

[@316LSS]

love to listen to Mr. and Mrs. Blake play.

[@mikeybeyda]

extreme dexterity and incredible rhythm. a pleasure. thanks for posting this. go

[@treetopflyer7331]

ABSOLUTELY MARVELLOUS TUNE!!

[@TheNMbluegrasspicker]

This is a really cool song Learned it the first day I heard it 😅

[@frankdow472]

They both had goat Tee's they would look alike. Damn good playing .

[@1nonconformist]

WOW...WOW! what else can you say. thank you for posting.

[@rockradstone]

It does not get better than this. Thanks for posting this---and many thanks to Norman and Nancy too!

[@silverinkpot7]

Wonderful!!!

[@lazylazyshark]

BIG Norman!

[@KCBarr1]

With most Norman Blake tunes comes the, but Tony Rice or whom ever comparison. All I have to say is," Does it really matter?".

[@alabastardmasterson]

People compare Tony Rice and Norman Blake? I'm fans of both but they're completely different

[@tomokra]

I doubt it ever happened, but I'd love to hear John Hartford sing Church Street Blues ...

[@dennisedmiston5952]

Can't get enough!

[@9lontoonieful1]

Fantastic!

[@scody311]

incredible.

[@mattparker2644]

Love this, the dynamics. The rhythm played in the lower register sounds mean on that old small body guitar. Nancy at 4.01mins🤘

[@circumspeck]

Channelling Pete Townshend. Mini windmill!

[@Teachering]

Beautiful!!

[@JamesScottGuitar]

Hypnotic...almost like a Musical Mantra. #normenblake #flatpicking #guitar

[@strawman8]

Super awesome !!

[@horseman528]

Mighty fine guitar picking!!!

[@haanashim]

Glorious!

[@blade2nj]

A great tune, thanks for posting!

[@skatetodeath666]

Always sounds best alone like this

[@blossomrusso6457]

I'd bet at least 75% of the views are fellow players :-)

[@carollizc]

Sucker's bet. Actually, I'd hazard a guess that it's nearer to 90%. Anyone who's ever picked up a guitar has got to be in awe of the man's brilliance. I know my Dad was, from way back watching the old Johnny Cash show.

[@haroldschultz5864]

It's as if C.F. Martin was started because they knew he was coming .

[@bennybootz84]

I play, but I cant play like norman and Nancy 😂😂 . ✌

[@uglyawesome]

You can come from rock or jazz or country and be stunned by how great this is, that’s why I’m here

[@klmorris1269]

wow!! just frikk'n Wow!!

[@SantaCruzOM]

Finally!!! Thank you for posting this. One of my favorite performances.

[@waltpuryear2503]

just wow!

[@gary9111]

"Awesome" seems so easy for Norman , but a very hard tune to play , your friend Canada

[@TheBasenjiman]

Go to Bluegrass festivals and join the jam sessions all around. You can and will pick up different things from players but will lead you to the end result.

[@holyworrier]

Oh, yeah.

[@EileenHalladay]

Thank you for posting!

[@Rossco603]

mr blake makes it looks so easy

[@OldBanjer]

Thanks for posting!

[@Stevewatson3]

I’ve learnt the tune then I tried to play it at speed…I’ve never had the pick try fly away from me but I’m new to bluegrass😂

[@sethcrook4374]

great

[@leeblake6119]

@StringForJoy: The paper on top of the guitar is a list of the songs and instrumentals he is playing at the time and what cord they are in. He can immediately go to another piece of music without having to think what key.

[@bassfacekillah]

damn they are in the zone

[@jocwalk]

Go to bluegrass guitar dot com and click on tablature. This song, like many of the genre, is a fiddle tune. If you want to hear another guy who can play the daylights out of this stuff, check out Roy Curry.

[@Johnny35130]

I would like to find videos of the RFSE featuring some of their beautiful minor chorded numbers from the Natasha's Waltz and Underground Music Albums.Was it studio only?

[@bradbaxter935]

Just gonna lock all my gutairs up in a closet.......after watching this

[@StringForJoy]

Awesome. I love Norman Blake! Anyone know what is on top of his guitar?

[@banjopete]

StringForJoy ,set list.

[@markgallant8201]

1 Person must have misclicked, its ok it happens.

[@nickwebb8197]

Doesn't get much more in the pocket than that.

[@scavengersgreen]

are these the parents of Derek & Susan?

[@joannehack7588]

🩵

[@svenlittlecross]

wow anyone got a tab for this one?

[@fetteclan]

Yes, go here: www.kimandmikeontheroad.com/music.htm#E

[@fetteclan]

You'll have to download Tabledit to read the tabs. It's free and easy to use...

[@svenlittlecross]

thanks man!

[@fetteclan]

Sure! There is a lot of good stuff on that page!