Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking

Subject: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 03:53 PM

I've been listening to Bill Cox on the "Rough and Rowdy" CD (old time musicians recorded in the 1930's) sing and play the tune by that title in almost the same way as Jimmy Rodgers. Although I can find most of the "Rodgers" style bass runs, there is a syncopation to his bass & strum style that's hard to reproduce. Does anyone out there have any tips about getting the Jimmy Rodgers sound ?

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:02 PM

I don't think Jimmy ever did an upstroke.

Everything seemed to always be picked or strum downwards.

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:23 PM

Jimmy DID do an upstroke, check out THE SINGING BRAKEMAN ONthe video THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE(?, I think)on Shanachie.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 04:39 PM

Mark - you're just the one I was thinking might know about Rodgers' style! It sounds like he puts in a couple of extra down strums every now and then ?

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Oct 03 - 06:25 PM

He does at that, and he doesn't always keep strict time either.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: simon-pierre
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 05:31 PM

This video is a must-see!

He was a damn good actor too :-)

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 07:33 AM

To recap a little: yes,he did occasionally play upstrokes, but the distinctive feature of his style is definitely quickly repeated down-strokes, which syncopates the rhythms a lot.

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: M.Ted
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 10:48 AM

It used to be a common practice to throw in a measure of 2 at the beginning of a 4 count phrase--I believe that JR did this, also Blind Lemon Jefferson and others--You still run across it in the ocassional rock ballad--I always figured it was to scare off dancers--

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:59 AM

M Ted - your comment gave me my first smile of the morning, and has me really thinking now about "performance centered" and "dance centered" music !

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 02:24 PM

what is a measure of 2? yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 04:13 PM

A count of 2 maybe......?

Don

Subject: RE: Jimmy Rodgers style guitar picking
From: M.Ted
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 05:48 PM

Yep--just two extra beat, stuck right in where they trip you up-