Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk

Subject: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Pal
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:11 AM

I didn't see this room in Paltalk, but Rog did. We're wondering if anyone else has been in there and knows anymore about how often and when they are on.

He said it was LIVE and they were REALLY Good! Any info, anyone?

Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:26 AM

Yes, I drop in there every so often, and have enjoyed it hugely. The only problem for me is that they don't allow singing, which is where I basically live. I've played my own little guitar piece, Nicole's Noodles there, to a high degree of toleration.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 11:48 AM

When they were open, I've stopped in as well. They are often closed, or locked I should say. They have a password-protected room and are only open to the public on occasion. I guess it's like a club in that sense.

I'm like Dave in that I really enjoy songs and singing as well as playing. I guess that's a round about way of saying that I haven't concentrated enough on my guitar playing to consider myself as strong a soloist as I hope to, someday, become. After first visiting and listening to the folks there, it made me more determined to focus my energy on that portion of what I do, pickin'. I'm still nowhere near the level of ability displayed in that room by some of their members, but, as Mike Myers' character Middle Aged Man would say, "I'm workin' on it".

There seems to be a specific stylistic approach that these folks appreciate. It's a style that Merle Travis began to explore early on in his career. It also reminds me of Chet's playing. I have some early Merle on LP so I dug it out to give a closer listen. I was surprised to hear stuff similar enough to where I am presently exploring to give me hope that I was on the right track.

I also tried a tune or two while I was there. Playing instrumentals is not something I often do. My stuff was rather raggedy by comparison.

Some of the players there seem to live every note. I guess I'd compare them to other studio musicians I've heard, where precision is the name of the game. They seem to study the form like a science. At least one of the guys has a whole band in a box that he plays with. It allows him to just concentrate on his part, soloing. It was almost like hearing karaoke for guitar players, or one of those band minus one recordings. I've heard others, in various PalTalk rooms, use this technique of playing along with a band in a box. They pump the whole works through a PA with some nice results. I'm still just trying to figure out how to get an acceptable sound from my particular mic and computer settings, so that I don't sound, to those listening, like I'm singing and playing while sitting at the bottom of swimming pool full of water. While there may be the occasional whale or school of fish that might find that kind of sound technique entertaining, I don't get those kind of gigs often enough to make it a worthwhile use of my time to perfect. I'm still having difficulty trying to catch the ears of them two legged listeners.

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: dwditty
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 12:44 PM

The Texas fingerstyle guys are "open to the public" a couple or three times a week. Mostly they keep the room locked. Mostly they do so in order to keep the style of music focused on what they want. I have been there when it is "open" and inevitably someone will take their turn and sing a John Mellencamp song or something. I, too, have played a couple of instrumentals, and, as Dave said above, they are gracious about accepting such. There are some very good thumb style players and, while I would not want a steady diet of it, they do a wonderful job there. I recommend to anyone who likes to hear really acoomplished guitar playing in the "Texas Finger Style" to stop in when it is open. I have never seen anything there but very polite behavior, also refreshing.

As a sidebar, many of you know I play on paltalk quite abit. Paltalk can be a bit much at times, but I have found that if I open a room and act as the "admin" (introducing each player, etc) it keeps the room focused on the music. Many rooms are set up where one player passes the mic to the next, and the room eventually takes on the personality of those who are there, which may or may not be in keeping with everyone's desires. My point is, when mudcatters open a room for, say folk music, work the room a bit to keep it focused, and it will soon be very enjoyable for you, as others come to understand what the room's purpose is. Case in point, if you like acoustic blues music, and want to hear just that, there is a room on Sunday nights (Mudcat time - around 9 PM) that is really good. I believe it is called Acoustic Blues for Your Sunday Groove. Both recorded music by lots of blues masters as well as live playing of acoustic blues. The people there are very nice. Hope to see some of you.

Reggie, one night my friend Sawman Welch will come over and play on Pal. He is a 2nd generation saw player - a claim few can make, I dare say. I will give you a heads up.

DW

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 01:06 PM

From my experience as a TFGA listener, this site is hard to beat for live music on Paltalk.

Peter

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 07:13 PM

Thanks, guys. We both appreciate your comments.

DW, I'd love to know when you friend shows up, too. Saws are so uncanny to hear!

kat & Rog

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Allan C.
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 07:24 PM

Folks, I have heard a few people play AT the saw; but Sawman, mentioned above is certainly among the best true players ever! I hope you get to hear him too sometime.

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 04:04 PM

TFGA has a website thumpicker.com. You can email Len to become a member. He might give you the password for the closed sessions.

Peter

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 04:07 PM

Actually, the name of the group is Texas Fingerstyle Guitar Assoction.

Peter

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Peter Woodruff
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 04:08 PM

Association, Whoops!

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: GUEST,The TFGA
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 11:28 PM

Hey, y'all, thanks for the great comments! It's great to see that so many folks enjoy good fingerstyle guitar pickin'! There for a while, it was becoming a lost art.

The TFGA room on Paltalk is open to the public every night after 7:00 PM CST. Saturday evenings are the best time to visit. That's the night the "big guys" come out to play, from all over the world. Ya never know when Buster B. Jones, Bobby Gibson, Bob Armstrong, Eddie Pennington, Bobby Saxton, and others will pop in to pick a tune or two.

You're right, the sign out front says "Please, no singin'! This here place is for guitar pickin'".

Y'all are welcome to stop by anytime! Would love to have ya!

Bluelightnin
Proud to be at the TFGA

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 11:33 PM

Thanks, Bluelightin! We'll be sure to stop by!

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 12:04 AM

What a nice bunch of pickers! Great music, too! Thaks, again, blue!

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 May 04 - 08:37 PM

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Mark Clark
Date: 29 May 04 - 11:16 AM

I guess I missed this thread when it was new. I'll have to check this out. I wonder if Justa Picker ever contributes there.

Thanks, Robin, for refreshing this one. I recently refreshed some threads on thumbpicking (the style they play in this PalTalk room) and got zero interest. I'm guessing I'm also the only other Mudcatter who will care about this. I always find that odd.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Justa Picker
Date: 29 May 04 - 04:41 PM

Nah Mark.
I don't sing. No one would listen. :-)
Can't get Hober to play my stuff either.

Besides I'm busy with CD II.


Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Mark Clark
Date: 29 May 04 - 04:51 PM

Yeah, but that's the point of the PalTalk room they're talking about. They don't allow singing. Just thumbpicking. It sounds like some of the well known players drop in to play on the odd Saturday night. Pennington, Steve Rector, maybe others. I think I'll try giving a listen.

Michael, you should have been down at the Merle Travis Memorial concert and thumbpicking contest in Mountain View, Arkansas. You'd have had a great time and taken home some prize money to boot.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Texas Fingerpicking Guitar Assoc. on Paltalk
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 May 04 - 02:05 AM

I stopped by the TFGA PalTalk room for a little while. They do indeed have some great players. I wasn't set up to join in but a lot of them seem to just plug their guitars right into their computers' sound cards. After signing out, I pulled out my Tele and tried it through my Dell Latitude laptop and it sounded good. Maybe I'll join in some night.

They are definately serious about the no singing part. They don't even want people to talk through their mics. All conversations are through the keyboard, the sound features are for guitar only. Someone came in who was rude and got bounced right out. These guys run a tight ship.

      - Mark