Professional Bluegrass Guitar Flatpickers Compilation 1

A compilation of some of the greatest bluegrass flatpicking guitarists. Were there any that you thought should be in the list? Leave a comment for Part 2!
Click here for a Compilation of Chicken Pickers: • Country Chicken Picker...
Original Videos:
Cody Kilby: • Ricky Skaggs & Kentuck...
Josh Williams: • Freeborn Man - Rhonda ...
Glen Campbell: • Larry McNeely & Glen C...
Tony Rice: • Tony Rice All Star Jam...
Bryan Sutton: • Bryan Sutton with Cody...
Tommy Mizzone: • Whitewater by Sleepy M...
Ricky Skaggs: • Ricky Skaggs - Country...
Jake Workman: • Video
Marty Stuart: • Video
Mark O'Connor: • American Music Shop: M...
Dan Tyminski: • Bright Sunny South A...
Clarence White: • New Camptown Races, Da...
Dan Crary: • Big River - Dan Crary ...
Randy Scruggs: • Earl Scruggs And Frien...
Kenny Smith: • Gold Rush - Smith & Wo...
Roy Clark: • Video
Steve Kaufman: • Video
Doc Watson: • Video
Tim Stafford: • Jim Hurst and Tim Staf...
Jim Hurst: • Jim Hurst "Long and Lo...
Brent Mason: • Summer NAMM '11 - Cole...
Ron Block: • Ron Block: From Bluegr...
Richard Smith: • Arkansas Traveler - Bu...
David Grier: • Psychograss - Tenness...
Andy Falco: • Josh Williams, Andy Fa...
Chelsea and Grace Constable: • Big Mon - performed by...
Norman Blake: • Video
Wyatt Rice: • Bill Cheathum
Tommy Emmanuel: • Brad Paisley and Tommy...
Brad Paisley: • Target Banjo Kermit an...

[@NagoyaHouseHead]

This is more skillful than heavy metal !

[@jftruthseeker989]

My favourite Tony Rice ♥️ there is something special in his sound

[@BluesMan88]

Now THIS is shredding

[@richardpatureau3980]

Apparently my guitar does not have those notes on it. I should have paid extra for the deluxe model and then I could play like these guys.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Lol.. They are there...just they hide well.

[@jeffreystarnes9500]

Mine either! I was cheated.

[@caseyjones466]

😂😂😂

[@TNTMan93]

There’s there’s thirteen hundred and fifty two guitar pickers in Nashville, each one can pick more notes than a Tennessee anthill.

[@merlinsmith5524]

“ Nashville cats”

[@johncolvin1864]

An' evry one of 'em will tell you that that they were a realative of Chet Atkins!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

@@johncolvin1864 About 1972. was lifting the record player needle ..replaying about 10 seconds. and putting it back on the record.. Didn't know what tab was in those days..Early teens.

[@MisterNiles]

One of my all time favorite songs

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

I play a little. My dad taught me how play in the 60s. He lived in the foothills. S. Carolina. He taught me how to play guitar on one string..He called it picking it out. I play the 5 sting banjo. Had to sell it. Such is life.

[@jamesmaddock]

I used to have a guitar that went that fast but I couldn’t keep up !!

[@orey16]

Josh Williams' Freeborn Man is underrated

[@Cking64]

They all are great pickers but I had to rewind Josh Williams a few times , what an awesome guitarist and vocalist

[@joshb8976]

Seriously. That was wild

[@StokesMusicStudiosOnline]

This is freaking incredible thanks!

[@michaelthornton8000]

4:55 Amazing to see that Clarence White has same syncopated style on the guitar as his brother Roland is known for on his trademark mandolin. He is known for choosing simple notes that are beautiful, over a barrage of show-off "look at me" notes (which he could play if he wanted to) but which would be less melodic. True sign of "musical maturity."

[@bertlau569]

I completely agree 100 percent. Clarence White could say more with an unexpected pause or surprising note than pickers who pick every note on fretboard blazingly fast. Charles Sawtelle with Hot Rize was like Clarence, tasteful surprising and exhilarating! RIP both.

[@centerice]

@@bertlau569 here here.

[@kalebeyond8579]

Love the sound of the bluegrass guitar flat picking 🙌🏼

[@robertclaxton1580]

Thanks for posting. It is good to see how many great pickers are around. The best ones probably have not even been discovered yet.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Usually. that's the case.

[@lorenvguitar614]

So much talent, great stuff

[@knowmusicman157]

I knew you had a good list when I saw Tony Rice and Clarence White.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Saving this. Great video to play along with..whether rhythm or picking. As my dad used to call it .. Picken out..he started me on the little E string around 50 years ago..

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

The trick to learning this is to watch the Beverly Hillbillies everyday.. Thanks for posting. this collection. I am working on Country Boy. Just listening to something over and over and playing little bits and pieces. Getting just a few songs down and playing every version of it that you can..Speed will come. THE BEST.

[@lonewave1]

I remember a friend saying that country / blue grass guitar players were a dime a dozen and easy to find. He finally saw a compilation like this one here. He doesn't say anything anymore and is truly amazed at these guys playing. Yeah he's a slow learner but he'll be okay from now on! Keep up the great work guys you truly are amazing and a joy to listen to!

[@curtispartain7352]

while we play a lot of bluegrass, I love to hear everyone's take on this classic and that right is one of my favorites for sure excellent!

[@ralph40]

Cry from the from the cheap seats Vince Gill George Shufler Rebecca Frazier Tyler Grant Chris Eldridge Jack Lawrence The new Generation Billy Strings Molly Tuttle Buddy Robertson So many talented players. Where does one stop? I cant think of the Stanley's guitar player name. Throw Mr. McCourey in for good measure. Thanks much for the video, Sir!

[@lewisridenhour6536]

Man it sure is nice to hear some good music sure makes me feel better

[@WhiteWolf--]

Truth!

[@altonwilliams7117]

Great!!!👍🎶

[@69dlx84]

Wyatt Rice, one of the most under-rated but best pickers anywhere.

[@vaughnf5997]

Thank you!

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

More please!

[@joshcornell8510]

I grew up thinking heavy metal guitarists were the best. Man was I naive.

[@LukeZuniga]

Im a diehard metalhead and I still think they are the best, but BOY does this scratch an itch I didn't know I had.

[@Soccasteve]

Same. Pretty much obsessed with finger picking and bluegrass flat picking now.

[@twistedmetalworks1]

I would say flamenco guitarists are the best when it comes to technicality, then follow by bluegrass and shred virtuosos

[@8sun52]

Ya have to remember, these Bluegrass flat pickers are shredding on acoustics with a higher action than heavy metal shredders. I just wonder how the heavy metal shredders would do on acoustics and the Bluegrass flat pickers do on electrics. Anyway. There is no best. You're comparing apples to oranges to grapes...so on. The greatest best most versatile guitarist/s. And not playing the most styles sloppily! Now that's something valid.

[@1952TeleDude]

I’m so happy young people seem to like this music. I’m a good player but not in this style of playing. I’m having so much fun trying to learn to play this music So far the Blurgrass music is kicking my ass. I may never be a great Bluegrass player but I’m sure having fun trying to learn how to use my right hand the way these guys do.

[@jiminnorthdallas1227]

Go, man, go!

[@BaronEvola123]

These guys should do that for a living.

[@rw8785]

Mark Oconnor won the Winfield National Flatpicking Championship at age 13, keep winning it until they told to not come back. Yet he stopped guitar, now sticks to violin, where he's a master in bluegrass, jazz and classical. But is he in this videos somewhere?

[@steelarama]

Yes, he is!

[@gabrieln3613]

The person who picked it up after him was Carl Miner. In 1999 youngest to win at 17, next to Mark O'Connor. He was in my band at the time.

[@aronkoppold3981]

Now you have a great bluegrass player with Ricky scaggs

[@emersonlangstaff1527]

Great guitarists! Favs are Rice, Workman, Sutton, Clarence White and my all-timer, the smoothest right hand in bluegrass, Kenny Smith.

[@jeffloewi5632]

Thanks for this great compilation. I don't know why it doesn't have thousands more views.

[@ioodyssey3740]

There's a part of me that wants to have a bonfire out back with all my guitars after watchin' this. But maybe I'll just write a song about that. Guitar player's therapy. . . write a song!

[@Mega_Casual]

Nice list. A little surprised that Billy Strings didn't make the cut though.

[@jackwilloughby239]

I'd love to see a compilation of Professional "Western Swing" Guitarists. I read somewhere that Charlie Christian never missed an opportunity to see Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys when he was first learning guitar. It's kind of a stretch to say that Bebop was influenced by Western Swing, but the Playboys were influenced by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, and Charlie, being aware of that, might have passed it onto the people he was playing with at Minton's.

[@batstube]

Good start there- pls include Trey Hensley, Chris Eldridge, G. Gordy, Molly T., J. Stickley, Jordan Tice

[@frankd.506]

Sean Watkins, Billy Strings and Beppe Gambetta.

[@thorny7138]

Richard Bennett gets slept on a lot.

[@joshb8976]

2nd guy was making his banjo player have a good time.

[@Jebby690]

I LOVE BLUEGRASS

[@glenguldbeckmusic3410]

I did a double-take when Skaggs was playing. For a nano-second I thought it was Jay Leno...lol.

[@softailspringer9915]

That’s the best you got?

[@travis8947]

@@softailspringer9915 it was pretty solid. He’s Leno’s better looking and actually multi-talented blond bro

[@alexclements5631]

My favorite, Nokie Edwards , Ventures 1984 Riders in the sky !!

[@alexclements5631]

Should have been for favorite chicken pickin post.

[@guermeisterdoodlebug7980]

All great pickers. The Paisley bit was really funny. I still think the Constable sisters are amazing.

[@tntkop]

How was BILLY STRINGS not included in this group?

[@gabe_the_music_man651]

Because doc beat him😂

[@aronkoppold3981]

Billy strings might not have been around when this came out you can see it is a bunch of legends

[@wesleywalker1682]

As stellar as all these players are, none are as smooth and fast as Jake Workman.

[@riceflatpicking4954]

Sutton, for sure. Grier, Kilby, plenty are

[@Gman1044]

Doc Watson in his day.

[@matthewrogersmusic]

Man, Jim Hurst just gained a new fan. Never heard of him!

[@JackTheSkunk]

Not a bluegrass music fan but admire the fleet fingered guitar players... particularly melodic players like Bryan Sutton.

[@bigmac51290]

What in the world was Roy Clark playing on?

[@tarfah55]

روووووووووعه احسنت النشر بالتوفيق

[@JPMGuitarPicker]

Pretty comprehensive list! Very nice!! Some I think were a bit of a stretch though. Those would be Brent Mason, Richard Smith, and Tommy Emmanuel (and I LOVE all of them). Mason is an electric country shredder by trade. Richard Smith and Tommy Emmanuel are 2 of the greatest finger style players alive, though when they occasionally dip into "bluegrass" they certainly smoke it. And please don't misinterpret this as a knock against them; Richard and Tommy are at the top of my favorite guitarist list. The only names I think should be in the list for Part 2 are Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Zeb Snyder, Clay Hess, and Chris Eldridge.

[@JPMGuitarPicker]

Some of this also comes down to how one defines bluegrass and I respect that! Sorry to be picky!

[@tristenkidd8582]

Agree

[@vanguard4065]

it’s bluegrassy!

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

Agree, though you could technically include Doc in that list as well. Him and merle both basically used flatpicks and banjo picks an equal amount. Obvious doc was an innovator of the style but the point remains

[@whimpypatrol5503]

My dad told me he used to promote a band Glenn Campbell was in before he was a megastar and that Campbell was the best standard guitar player around. I thought the whole adult world was cookoo.

[@user-nu7kk4uw6k]

The Wrecking Crew maybe?

[@WhiteWolf--]

Kenny Smith, wow so smooth 6:04

[@aleclangermann3408]

😮

[@infoscholar5221]

Hate Tony's habits got the better of him, he was the last of the best, without a doubt. Son, he could play. Met him a couple times at festivals, nice man, phenomenal player, got to where he couldn't sing anymore, because of certain substances, but always a Bluegrass guide and a gentleman. RIP. Godspeed.

[@1voicenwilderness]

Is it my imagination or did Tony Rice make it look effortless?

[@markstaggs7342]

Randy Scruggs is my favorite of all of them

[@tomf429]

Billy Strings?

[@TW-vl5zj]

If you don’t think Billy Strings belongs on here it must be you haven’t seen him...search KZbin for MOE Best of Billy Strings for a playlist that will change your mind. And like forgetting salt in a soup you had to wake up the day after you posted this to realize you forgot Doc. And to previous comments about Tommy Emmanuel not belonging--you can put out any list of “best (fill in blank) guitar player and safely insert Tommy’s name. He might very well be the best guitar player on the planet.

[@dirkjohnson1113]

Robin Kessinger and Robert Shafer - both are national flatpicking champions.

[@gregtrent5068]

The Brent mason dude looked like he had on a thumb pick

[@francescomarianichele7265]

Don't forget Beppe Gambetta and Roberto Dalla Vecchia from Italy

[@surveyordave]

man, i missed the boat somewhere along the line.....sheesh

[@deependguitar777]

There’s more guitar pickers per square mile in Nashville,Tn than any other place on the planet!!!

[@scottbritt2052]

How do you not include Jerry Reed into this list?

[@flatpickerd28]

Scott Britt205 He’s a fingerpicker. Amazing guitarist, just a different technique.

[@user-nu7kk4uw6k]

Not a bluegrass man.

[@craigmiller8833]

All right... you said flat picker okay. But where in the world is THE flat picker Doc Watson????!!! Surely I must have missed him!

[@musicbyneal8183]

Oh he’s in there for sure! 7:30

[@craigmiller8833]

Music By Neal thx!!!!

[@doransponsel4813]

If you dig guitar playing in general, check out Guthrie govan, andy james, jeff loomis, paul wardingham, marco sfogli, Jason Richardson, etc. If it's made with strings it's for me lol

[@danaeverhart6487]

You left out the best one Alex Hutchings! He compares to Guthrie and has got twice the soul and emotion that no one else has. Dana E💫Said that!

[@ioodyssey3740]

Marty Stewart's dark period?

[@Bryankimsey]

Two that you _really_ need: Charles Sawtelle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJWUnnyYdteSbtE

[@Bryankimsey]

George Shuffler: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2KZioKGotKNmNU

[@bertlau569]

I completely agree with Kimsey: CHARLES SAWTELLE. Imo second to CLARENCE WHITE. Why not list the greatest rhythm flatpickers? Flatpicking is not just LEAD.

[@rudolfschenker]

What is flatpicking? Is it just it just alternate picking for acoustic playing?

[@ata5855]

I think it just means using a pick, as opposed to thumb-pick or finger-style

[@jackwilloughby239]

You should listen to Doc Watson play "Billy in the Low Ground" if you want to hear the style in its most pure form. That's where it started. Clarence White and Tony Rice both play notes with the Ring or Middle finger like the Chicken Pickers. But the purists play with just the pick so Cross-Picking is a whole nother thing in itself. The Style is said to be based on fiddle tunes, and it is, but the guitar player is really having to play more like a Banjo, because there is really very little sustain. Having to compete with the speed and volume of Banjo pickers is the real challenge. There is little time to think and only one short chorus to play. If you start playing too Jazzy, most of the audience will just turn away. Tony Rice has cast a Huge shadow over every one that has followed him & really, it's the audience that determines what you hear, because most of these guys can play Gypsy Jazz and Bebop, but the audience doesn't want to hear that. They want to hear Salt Creek and Black Mountain Rag. In that sense, Bluegrass and Flatpicking is just like Country and Pop music and. It sounds pretty repetitive when listened to all at once like these Compilations.

[@someguy4505]

Tony liked Monel strings, Martin makes them again.

[@Hrcak1]

Glenn Campbell and Roy Clark but all others are excellent.

[@squirrel3310]

why capo at second fret ?

[@DIGITALSWOON]

I'm not exactly sure, but it probably matches the banjo and mandolin better, if not just their vocal range

[@matthewgeorge7911]

They may be in the key of A, using G, C and D shapes as 1, 4 and 5 chords. Just my thought

[@larrywitthar8066]

So many fiddle tunes are in the key of D. Just capo two and get after it from your C positions

[@bobpowell7002]

Clarence was doing "DARK HOLLOW"...not Halow...ok?

[@aliko__6715]

What scale are they picking out of

[@tristenkidd8582]

Mostly pentatonic with some flatted 5th and 7th notes sums bluegrass guitar up pretty well but it also depends on the song and who you were talking about

[@tristenkidd8582]

For example, doc Watson would be more sparingly with the flatted 5th and 7th notes compared to someone like Tony rice.

[@rainyacres6523]

I think all of them plus some that haven't been invented yet.

[@e.rmusic7790]

Tony rice uses everything from chromatic penetonic majors he’s a beast lol doc is a little more basic but when playing bluegrass your almost never picking out of one scale unless it’s something simple

[@58957]

I agree not all of them are Flatpickers...But out of all of them Tony Rices Tone is far superior to the others. He transformed Flatpicking and is still the Gold Standard all others are measured by.

[@garykaufman8128]

Gotta plug Kenny Vaughan (Fabulous Superlatives) and Jake Stogdil (Spillwater Drive).

[@randallwallace6471]

Zeb Snyder is a dang good guitar picker I just ran across him recently.

[@kennymarshall7408]

Richard Bennett is a great player, he played in Tony's band

[@larrysmith1568]

If you can pick bluegrass you can pick anything.

[@deanbanks3392]

Where is Billy Strings?

[@galenstone9097]

Glen Campbell and Kermit the Frog.. Prescription Grade skills.

[@matthewvanzant1101]

Is it just me or does tony rice look like T-1000 off terminator 2?

[@jclev99]

crossed with Ned Flanders

[@mitchguthrie2661]

Nice, but I could not have let left Doc and Norman out. newbies Billy Strings, Presley Barker, Zeb Snyder and Zac Top!

[@mikebastiat]

I dont see why people are so obsessed with Presley...

[@Guitar-pro-lk]

😮Enyone from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰🤣

[@rw8785]

oops Mark is! My bad! Getting old sucks....

[@tcoudi]

with all do respect to everyone, i would flay everyone who dares to put piezzo to decent acoustic, man, especially in high speed, its sounds like popping plastic bubble wrap.

[@adtorresitpro]

So the moral of the story is that if you want to shred bluegrass or metal then forget using your pinky and just play all the notes you need with your index , middle and fourth finger. Pinky is for embelishments but not meat and potatoes shredding.

[@MrEvergreenLayne]

And a c chord with a g at the base.

[@justinbell3640]

I believe Ricky was chicken pickin'

[@danaeverhart6487]

What is the Hurry guyz? Is there a fire? I never understood why you got to play 10 hundred notes in a minute! WTH! Slow down! LMAO!

[@garysamenfeld5483]

Bill Monroe

[@user-nu7kk4uw6k]

Mandolin.

[@ManchurianCounterweight]

Man, I would have put older brian sutton with Bela clip, and then a younger Tony Rice, when he wasn't so sick. But I appreciate the video, and the work, and it was fun to watch.

[@stonefly4894]

Zeb Snyder

[@Gman1044]

I miss Doc Watson.

[@user-nu7kk4uw6k]

So do I.

[@mattross6902]

And where is Don Reno?

[@dirkhuber5494]

Greg Koch???

[@toastyod8233]

They're all playing dreadnoughts.

[@musik102]

You can always spot the pickers who are not 100% acoustic flat pickers because they always have a low action which results in a disappointing sound.

[@MisterNiles]

I do not mis the sound of a straight up, plugged right into the board piezo pickup. Or az piezo with a nice D.I. then into the board. Or a nice preamp, and right into the board. Some of these 80s cops are unbearable. At least acoustic guitar amplification is moving in a good direction. The prices they are charging they should have a Neuman KM 184 included with them. And an engineer.

[@martymcpeak4748]

Richard Smith isn't a flat picker, he uses a thumb pick and his fingers, also Tommy Emmanuel is a finger picker as well. No offense intended

[@westbayk2156]

The best thing about bluegrass.....? No drummers.

[@DavidRDavidRoss]

Not all flatpicking in here.

[@NathanHixson317]

great compilation!! could use some Billy Strings though :)

[@frankcline66]

It's not flatpicking when you use a thumb pick.

[@peterney2402]

And the gypsy jazzers think they are fast. !

[@angrywalkers4593]

No effet