The Makings of a Master, Kentucky Thumbpicking Guitar, Eddie Pennington (master)

Western Kentucky thumbpicking guitar style was made famous by guitarists Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed. They learned this style from a Muhlenberg County man named Mose Rager who, along with other guitarists in the area, developed a way to play bass, rhythm, and melody at the same time on one guitar by using a thumb-pick. Since 1993, the Kentucky Arts Council has supported masters and apprentices of community-based art forms with the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship program. Artists include traditional musicians, dancers, weavers, marble makers, chair makers, quilters, storytellers, and more.

[@BeingRomans829ed]

When he added the bass notes to My Old Kentucky Home, it brought tears to my eyes.

[@Muhlenburger]

Nice interview. I got a flashback when he mentioned Don Grace. I purchased my first guitar and amplifier from Don when he had Grace's Music in Madisonville, KY. Don was good picker! I wish I had taken some lessons from Don!

[@raydiven]

hi, love your style.

[@larrycooper5388]

I really enjoyed this history lesson, I had the advantage of Elden Shamblin, it shows in my Arkansas style. But I love all you guys.

[@WingmanGVT]

Roi Lantern Roy Lanham Roy Lanham guitarist

[@rexbryant]

My Old Kentucky Home

[@joseph2832]

Love it

[@DanielPelletier1]

Thanks!

[@Nitrosites]

The Grandfather of Thumb picking!!

[@Softshoe_Racer]

Thumbpicking guitar playing style video - Eddie Pennington!!

[@ace2044]

wow he's good

[@fasteddie8782]

I am number 300 on the thumbs up.. cool

[@mustardseed1983]

So how do I contact you about some lessons?

[@somatder]

There is a lesson with Tommy Emmanuel, who explains how to learn this style. That how I learned it, worked out pretty well I think.

[@BobWarnerBarn]

Wow..:)

[@DanielPelletier1]

Anyone know the name of that song, at 3:16? It's great!

[@tdrnkr]

My Old Kentucky Home

[@62catfan]

I'm trying to learn fingerpicking , any tips? What song to try that's easy for starters? I'm in Somerset ky, . Can't find anyone like you guys over here to take lesson's from. Thanks. You make it look easy. Trying Freight Train but it not easy when my Thumb will not work like it should..

[@joseph2832]

Thirty minutes everyday, if you are old enough to drink a beer then that will help too! The first few months are pain but you will get it! Good luck, Joe from sunny Florida

[@monto39]

Anyone know what that crazy looking loop sticking out of Eddie's guitar is? I can't tell if it's a mic to capture the plunking of strings, or a fancy form of a tremolo arm for the Bigsby on his (f'ing gorgeous) Gibson guitar

[@steveblacow6682]

Hi, It’s just a very long wire arm for the Bigsby. You can see Merle Travis using the same thing in the video below. I’m no expert but it seems as though it’s designed for the mirror finger of the right hand. Interestingly, the Gibson Super 400 is a big guitar so the Bigsby unit would be quite a way from the bridge compared to other models which means that longer arm would create a different feel altogether on the vibrato than a normal Bigsby arm.

[@steveblacow6682]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvOf2eBg8eeo8ksi=ui38p1oMnw9LPG9b

[@davidledford3522]

I have tried so hard to learn this kind of picking it definitely is the hardest style out there in my opinion ill be damned i cant get it sometimes i can make it work 😂

[@chuckdavis5300]

I have been working on it 40 years. I can barely use a flat pick now. My inspiration was Terry Talbot. But anyway, force yourself to at least 10 or more minutes every day. Within a month you will feel and see progress. Its a hard earned skill.

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Would you say this is easier to learn than regular style playing?

[@Devin-xe2iv]

The Happy Hour Hound no

[@captainkangaroo4301]

No way. It takes a long time to get real thumb independence.

[@williamtatro463]

0:41 0:43

[@TemplarKnight-zd6jt]

It's a long way to Harlan, it's a long way to Hazzard, just to get a little brew, just to get a little brew...

[@ALESSCONESE]

11.295 clicked cuz of the photo

[@MurphySwag]

62catfan, contact grampa's music st augustine fl, grampa murphy has a simple diagram that will show you how to play thumb style

[@thomasbuckner4236]

If you want to thumb pick then do it. If you want to BS go to the barber shop!

[@fouter81]

Can this guy even walk?!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Better than BB King can walk

[@andyphillips7435]

@@captainkangaroo4301digging his grave with his teeth.

[@jeraldketchum5579]

He can obviously walk to the buffet table

[@fouter81]

@@jeraldketchum5579 LOL that's funny. My comment is 9 years old, 9 years ago I started a new job at a foodstuff wholesales company. Our customers are chinese buffet restaurants, and I do really see a lot of people there with this kind of figure, who are so fat they can't do anything anymore, but the walk to the buffet table is still possible.