Help: Carter scratch guitar technique

Subject: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Ely
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 05:07 PM

Can anybody give me a good description of this (or tell me where I might find one?). I know it involved playing the melody with the thumb on the bass strings, and strumming (picking?), but what do you strum with? Side of the thumb? Fingers? It sounds to me like fingers on the recordings but I don't have a lot of Carter stuff to go on and there aren't any decent music stores that would have books in my area.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Midchuck
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 05:45 PM

The lady herself did it with thumb and first finger. The vast majority of her imitators, including me, do it with a flatpick, which makes more noise.

In a song or tune in straight time, count 1-and 2-and 3-and 4-and. At first, on "1", hit a bass string, with thumb or pick. On "and," do nothing, for now. On "2," strum down across the treble strings with the pick or the back of the first finger. On the second "and," come back up across the treble strings, less emphaticly, with the pick or the meat of the first finger. Repeat the process, probably using a different bass string, for "3-and 4-and."

Later, try using hammering or pulling off to fancy it up. For instance, using a first position C chord, play the A string, 3rd fret, on "one," and on "three," play the D string open, hammering on at the second fret on "and."

Then you just gradually work in more melody notes when you have the lick down solid.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Anglo
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 06:26 PM

Mike Seeger recently did a Homespun video on Carter Family guitar technique, mostly on Sara but even covering A.P. It's quite technical (eg analysing variations and development of style between 2 recordings of the same song) but it sounds like exactly what you're looking for.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Ely
Date: 14 Nov 00 - 06:41 PM

Thanks. I'm pretty used to pick-and-strum with a pick but I wasn't sure how it was done with fingers (I usually need the extra volume, so I don't play with my fingers much).

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 08:52 AM

Ely, I don't know where you are, but if anywhere within the jurisdiction of NEFFA, we've given a Carter Family workshop there every year for last couple years-- but that's still 155 days away. Midchuck's explanation sounds very clear to me and I would have said it much the same way (I use a thumbpick and fingers JUST because I wanted to sound as much like Maybelle as possible) -- hope that helps!

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Ely
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 10:35 AM

Um, what's NEFFA? I'm in east-central Iowa, which is not a very good area in which to be attempting to pursue this kind of thing. On the other hand, in 155 days, I'll be out of college for good and could be anywhere.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Midchuck
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 10:48 AM

NEFFA is this here.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Mark Clark
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 11:53 AM

Ely, Are you in Iowa City? If so, just take your guitar over to The Mill any Tuesday night about 9:00 and you'll meet lots of people who play the Carter style. I'm sure they'll be glad to answer any questions you have.

I'd be glad to help too. Send me a Mudcat Personal Message and I'll give you directions to my house.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 01:19 PM

The Lomax collection of songs "Folk Songs of North America" (I think that's the one -- I'm not at home) has a short, clear explanation of the "Carter scratch," plus a number of other picking styles for both guitar and banjo, in its appendices. That's where I got started on folk picking about 30 years ago.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Ely
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 02:42 PM

I'm actually an hour or so west of Iowa City. Where is the Mill? If I can find a good Tuesday I'll try to check it out.

I think I've got the Lomax book at home (Houston), so I can look it up at Christmas.

Subject: RE: Help: Carter scratch guitar technique
From: Mark Clark
Date: 15 Nov 00 - 07:28 PM

Ely,

Then I take it you're at Grinell. Great school. I used to know a lot of people there but that was over thirty-five years ago. Ask some of the tenured profs if they remember the Park St. house in 1962-63, they'll have some stories to tell.

I know pickers around Kellog, just west of Grinell, and in Tama, a little ways to the east. I could probably help arrange something. They're all bluegrass players.

The Mill is Keith Dempster's place on Burlington in Iowa city. Keith still hires nationally known folk acts when they are coming through. Lots of good entertainment on weekends. Every Tuesday night from 9:00 until midnight or 1:00, the Friends Of Old-Time Music host a public jam. Music can range anywhere from old-timey and Celtic to bluegrass, folk and old country tunes. It just depends on who shows up.

Sometimes a group of us gets together in Marengo, also just a few minutes east of you.

You're also only an hour from my place If you'd like to come by. Just let me know.

      - Mark