John Prine's guitar style?

Shady Wilbury

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2011
Messages
110
Reaction score
0
Location
England, UK
Hi, folks.

Hope you're all well. I've done a search, and can't find a topic like this, so apologies if it's been posted before, but I'm trying to dissect a few Prine tracks, and can't tell whether his style is straight Travis picking or not. Recently, I cracked 'Souvenirs' by fluke, but would like to be able to play 'That's The Way The World Goes Round' (I think it would make for some happy enchiladas in open mic audiences. ;) )

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Casey
 

tjmangum

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Messages
1,620
Reaction score
15
Location
Salem, Oregon
A great resource for John's picking and songs is at the following link to JPShrine http://www.jpshrine.org/chords/index.html
JP on fingerpicked songs pretty much uses his thumb and first 2 fingers. Also, do a YouTube search for threechordguitar. This fellow is a great guitar teacher and has videos showing how to play many of Prine's songs. Here's a seach result http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... 7EbX4SiCG8

It may take you "years to get those souvenirs" but it will only take you seconds to find almost any song, chords, tabs or style of playing on the net. Enjoy!
T
 

killdeer43

Reverential Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2008
Messages
21,848
Reaction score
111
Location
Northwest Washington on the Salish Sea
tjmangum said:
It may take you "years to get those souvenirs" but it will only take you seconds to find almost any song, chords, tabs or style of playing on the net. Enjoy!
T
The internet, with sites like Youtube and chordie.com, is a collective godsend for aspiring pickers, etc.
Sure could have used them all 42 years ago! But no, had to do it the hard way....and that's OK. :wink:

Joe
 

dreadnut

Gone But Not Forgotten
Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Jun 15, 2005
Messages
16,082
Reaction score
6,442
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Guild Total
2
Yeah, Prine is the master of 3-chord songs, that's for sure. You definitely have to get the 3-finger picking down, but his songs are great to practice the technique on. There aren't many Prine songs that I play with a flat pick. I usually play thumb on the first 3 wound strings then index finger on the G-B-E strings, alternating with the middle finger on the B-E strings.

Great song, "That's The Way" The happy enchilada story is great :lol:

I love doing "Souvenirs" as well, great song too. John with Steve Goodman, doesn't get much better than that.
 

TonyT

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Messages
1,467
Reaction score
6
Location
Chicago
I'm always interested in talk about JP's style. It amazes me that the guy has written so many great songs, yet you don't have to be a virtuoso to play them, and sound pretty good at that. To me it says it all that no matter how hard anybody work at it, nobody sounds like he does.
 
Top