Chet Atkins Style Picking

In this lesson, Charlie will present an interesting picking piece in the distinct style of Chet Atkins.

The diagrams below show the position of the fingers on your left hand to play the chords used in this lesson.

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We're going to take a look at a Chet Atkins Style Pick on an E6 chord, going to A7 chord and a B7 chord. We might through in a bit of alternate bass on the A7 and the B7. So let's get right into it.

Taking a look at our E6 chord, we put our second finger on the A string second fret, third finger on the D string also second fret, first finger, first fret of the G string on the G# note, and I then tack my pinkie in here on the B string second fret, and that's my E6 chord ...

Ok, so we are using a hiber-picking technique. I'm going to be holding my plectrum between my thumb and my first finger. The remaining strings, I'm going to be picking with my second and third fingers.

So, we start off with a downstroke on the E string, so I'm just picking that with my plectrum ... I then go to my B string and my open E, and the D string I'm playing with plectrum and the open E string I'm going to play with my third finger...

I then follow that up with an open E with my plectrum again, open E string ... and my second finger is going to play the B string which is, in fact, my C# note. My pinkie is sitting on that on my left hand... Do that again, slowly...

Follow that up with ... back to my open E and my high E. The plectrum playing the low E and my third finger playing the high E...

Follow that with my second finger picking upwards on my B string ... and follow that up with a downstroke on my D string...

Once I finish that motion ... again, my second finger is going to up-pick the E string, the high E...

After I've completed that motion, I go back to my open E with a down-pick using my plectrum...

So far, my left hand hasn't moved. I'm just sitting on that E6 chord, my little pinkie down here on the C# on the second fret ... and at this point, I'm going to ... hammer. Lift off the G, and hammer back on ... and I'm picking that with my second finger of my right hand, the hammer ... there's my hammer...

Now my last note is simply going to be the open B string.

Now, at this point, when I've completed my hammer with my first finger, I'm releasing my pinkie off the C# note or the B string and I'm going have an open B. It's the next note that I'm going to strike ... Open B, and I'm picking that with my third finger of my left (err...right!) hand...

I'll put that together for you nice and slow and see if I can show you both my right and left hand together...

I go to my A7 chord picking an A bass, E bass, A bass, E bass...

I then go to my B7 chord. Play a B bass before I strike the chord which is this note right here on the A string, second fret... Lift my second finger up and grab my F# bass ... and I'm right back into my E6 chord with my right hand picking technique...

So, once again, nice and slow, I'll take you through the whole progression ... A7 chord, E bass, A bass, E bass ... B7 chord, B bass to F# bass ... A7 chord ...

You really do need to break down this right hand picking technique. Make sure that you play it very slowly at first. Gradually build up your confidence. Be able to play the right hand without thinking about it over that E6 chord.

So that's our 1-4-5 progression in the style of Chet Atkins.

Good luck with it, have fun, see you next time.

Copyright © C. Pennell & J. Marco (cpguitar.com)