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Here are some of Eddie's most frequently asked
questions:
1. What's the difference between the Chet Atkins style and
Merle Travis style?
One of the biggest differences between Chet and Merle is the
right thumb. Most of the time Chet's thumb plays more distinct notes in
the bass or a cleaner sound. Explaining it in simple terms--if Chet plays
strings 6-4-5-4 those are usually the notes he hits and it sounds very clear and
distinct. It is a wonderful sound, and by no means is as simple as I have
described it here. I am just trying to make the description as simple as
possible to maybe help people see why the two men had their own sounds.
Merle played often with more strings sounding in the bass than Chet did.
Merle would use chords that involved noting two strings with one finger and
often using the left thumb to make notes with it. When he did that he could
often hit maybe the 654-4 all at one time with the emphasis coming on the proper
note at the proper time. He may hit 654 with the strong note being the 5th
string and the next time hit 654 and the 6 be the dominant note. It's a
different feel and sound than Chet's. Maybe this leads to a larger sound and
more self supporting sound than Chet's. By self supporting I mean that it would
be carrying more rhythm by itself. At times in his recordings Chet would play
this way, but he would go on and add other things and incorporate more styles in
his arrangements. Merle usually was playing the
thumbstyle or self supporting rhythm, unless he was playing the single note
lines. Chet would play lots of little intricate things that filled his style up
and made it such a complete style. My playing is by far closer to Merle's than
Chet's so I am really not the best authority on describing Chet's playing. I
have the greatest respect and love for both of them and their playing, and even
now just the mention of either of their names grabs my attention.
2. Who are your biggest influences?
My dad Norman Pennington. Uncle Collie Barnes. Don Grace. Chet
Atkins. Mose Rager. Merle Travis. Odell Martin. Bob Barber. Paul Yandell. Thom
Bresh.
What kind of guitar strings do you use?
Dean Markley Alchemy Gold bronze for acoustic. I like the size
12-54 This
set is #2023.
Dean Markley Signature Series, Nickle Steel Electric in the size 12-54 This
set is JZ 2506-B.
What kind of picks do you use?
My favorite picks are Fred Kelly's heavy slick pick. I like the
white ones. They are pre-shaped the way they should be for thumbpicking.
What's a good song for beginning thumbpickers to learn?
For the very beginner, I think the old blues tune, "Blues Stay
Away From Me."
It has an easy melody. You can learn how to get into that alternate bass
pattern on turn arounds, and begin to make it sound pretty good in a short
time. When people are first learning that is the hardest time, and I have
found it is very important to learn something that sounds good to the person
learning. If you start to hear yourself make progress quickly it inspires
you to do more. If you play something where you can see and hear your
progress you feel rewarded. You will then want to work harder because you
will see the fruits of you labors.
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