Finger Picken
June 17, 2016 5:22 PM

So, I really like a rolling finger-picked guitar (and/or other strings). Song's like Steve Miller's I Love You, The Dead's Friend of the Devil, and I suppose anything that Leo Kottke ever did, ex. Ojo. But al of those are almost fifty years old. Help me update my listening.
posted by rtimmel to Media & Arts (9 answers total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
A few personal contemporary favorites:

Glenn Jones

Daniel Bachman

Jack Rose (RIP)

Laura Baird (banjo)

Ben Chasny/Six Organs of Admittance
posted by zchyrs at 7:08 PM on June 17, 2016


Give The Tallest Man On Earth a shot.
posted by D.Billy at 8:07 PM on June 17, 2016


Kaki King.
posted by KwaiChangCaine at 9:51 PM on June 17, 2016


Just saw Leo recently. He still has it! Here are some other finger-pickers who are virtuosos, though mostly older folks, too. RIP where applicable. Styles range from the Blues to Jazz to Country:

Pierre Bensusan; John Fahey; Chris Smither; Michael Hedges; Tuck Andress; Rory Block; Stephan Grossman; Tommy Emmanuel; Pete Huttlinger; Jorma Kaukonen; Jerry Reed; Chet Atkins; Merle Travis; Don Ross; Adam Rafferty; Mike Russo; Buster Jones.

Hope some of these players appeal to you!
posted by CincyBlues at 12:02 AM on June 18, 2016


I came in to post the list zchrys did. Good stuff. Also see The Black Twig Pickers.
posted by OmieWise at 10:51 AM on June 18, 2016


Definitely check out Don Ross.

Also check out Candy Rat Records (the label Ross is on). Very fingerstyle-heavy lineup of players, including Andy McKee, who's had a few viral youtube hits.

Would also recommend giving Boubacar Traoré a listen as well to see if his playing is of interest - I rather enjoy it:

Minuit

Kar Kar

Je Chanterai Pour Toi
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:18 AM on June 18, 2016


William Tyler, Cian Nugent, Daniel Bachman, The Imaginational Anthem series of compilations that Tompkins Square released (infact a lot of Tompkins Square releases would be relevant), James Blackshaw, Nathan Bowles (Banjo)
posted by shaqlvaney at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2016


Harry Tausig on Tompkins Square.
posted by OmieWise at 2:14 PM on June 19, 2016


Oh! Almost forgot...check out Kelly Joe Phelps. He does both slide and non-slide fingerpicking:

Country Blues

Go There
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:43 PM on June 19, 2016


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