Scott Ainslie: Mississippi John Hurt-4-Right Hand

My lessons on Hurt's music and other topics are now available through our Patreon page: / scottainslie . Minimum donation: $5/month. Let me know how you get on in the comments.
This is the third in a series of video lessons on the music of Mississippi John Hurt. In this nearly 20-minute lesson, we'll examine Hurt's right-hand/picking technique and how to begin to master the muscle patterns and details of the style so that they become second nature.

[@bocabenkolstad]

One of the best explanations of palm muting I've seen. Thanks for this!

[@scottainslie]

You’re most welcome. Pass the word on these videos. All the best, s.

[@Hhenriette]

thanks for the tip @Ben Kolstad. great series indeed!!

[@bocabenkolstad]

@@Hhenriette Yes, I found this video very helpful! I'm impressed with Mr. Ainslie.

[@winndennard6214]

Wondeful teacher

[@scottainslie]

Thanks, happy the work resonated with you. Do pass it along. The more, the merrier!

[@lizenwen]

Thank you Sir. Very clear interesting and helpful. Best regards

[@markleven1668]

Covered so much that matters in a easy to grasp way...If your ever in Melbourne, Australia I'll shout you a beer...Cheers and thanks

[@scottainslie]

And I’ll accept! Cheers, s.

[@Pactolus240]

Thanks for the clues. Getting a metronome soon.

[@scottainslie]

Don’t hate me…

[@Sabaka1954]

At 16 minutes, you say that it sounds like African drumming when one fingerpicks a Hurt figure while muting the strings. I knew that makes a rhythmic sound, but I don't think I ever connected it with African drumming. Very interesting insight! Thanks!

[@scottainslie]

I realized that was the sound when I was demonstrating various rhythms without pitch for a class. We work from gross to fine. Separating out the left and right hands can be immensely useful. Thanks for writing.

[@Hhenriette]

great lesson.

[@stayclean777]

Excellent advice, excellent lesson. Thank you Scott.

[@scottainslie]

SC: thanks, I am pleased it is useful. If you like the Hurt material and find the teaching worthwhile, there is an archive of materials being added to about every two weeks at the patreon.com page in the description above. Everyone gets access to all the material whether they pay $5 or $100. As long as that's sustainable, that's how it's going to be. Pay more, you buy a place at the table for the $5 cats.

[@svaphrodite]

This has been like being in class with you at Swannanoa again, but I miss the personal interaction :) Thanks for posting these, and I'm spreading the word!

[@scottainslie]

Great, Carl. So good to see responses to this work. The isolation makes everything sort of an act of faith (more so than usual). Very good to have your thoughts. Thanks for sharing the word on them. They'll be right here until the end of August, when we expect to move them to Vimeo and a Patreon page for future lessons, etc...an experiment in community-building, not a business plan. I have no aces up my sleeve....

[@ulexite-tv]

Thanks, Scott -- this was great.

[@scottainslie]

Catherine: I'm glad to hear from you and that this was useful. I'm planning another Right Hand video, so it's good to remember what I did here. More at the patreon pages...

[@Captain_Ahab]

Scott, I bought your Robert Johnson CD and we chatted about 20 years ago. I love your version of Come on in my kitchen, beautiful.

[@scottainslie]

Thanks, Arthur. Best wishes, s.

[@dongossett110]

Very nice lesson. Clear and concise. Pinching on different beats is a good bit of advice. Some Piedmont style teachers say to avoid pinching.

[@scottainslie]

The notion that Piedmont Blues never involves melody notes that fall on the beat (requiring 'pinching') is absurd. I'm shocked

[@waltzingpeter]

It looked like he put his right hand like a banjo player. Pinky and ringfinger resting on the guitar.