Chet Atkins FingerStyle Guitar Lesson

This post was written by Scott
Posted Under: Bass Lessons Videos
This lesson comes with tablature and shows you how to play a simple fingerstyle / walking bass line rhythm made famous by guys like Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. To download the tablature for this lesson, go here: www.activemelody.com

Reader Comments

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#1 
Written By marionetemanJ on January 25th, 2012 @ 9:40 am

Many thanks for this lesson, it helps me a lot. Your website is really great, I will looking for often

#2 
Written By 6Heureka on January 25th, 2012 @ 10:01 am

With all respect I think you got it all wrong. thumb works in 8 not in 4 notes
watch Mr Chet Atkins himself.
I think your video is very misguiding.
Chek Chet Atkins 1958

#3 
Written By splutzenheuger on January 25th, 2012 @ 10:25 am

This is an excellent lesson. Thank you!

#4 
Written By gkbhai on January 25th, 2012 @ 11:05 am

that wxrt tshirt might be older than your 335!

#5 
Written By tbfx on January 25th, 2012 @ 12:03 pm

wait wait wait i came here to learn mr sandman WTFFFFFFFFFF

#6 
Written By DARKASSASSIN644 on January 25th, 2012 @ 12:15 pm

i own a es335 that i purchased new in 1968. i play a tele now. put my gibson in my rifle safe.

#7 
Written By vinnivegas52 on January 25th, 2012 @ 12:50 pm

@acountrygent You are absolutely correct. This lesson is actually “how to simulate chet’s style.” Chet’s thumb would in fact be moving twice as fast.

#8 
Written By AdlaiAlexander on January 25th, 2012 @ 12:57 pm

@skiingguitarist Hilarious! 

#9 
Written By theoffspringguy on January 25th, 2012 @ 1:43 pm

is that a gibson es355 reissue?

#10 
Written By SpheriaTV on January 25th, 2012 @ 1:48 pm

gr8 lesson. Could u pls help me to decide which effect to use for this type of pickin. Especially to make it sound like classical guitar. I’m using zoom g 2.1u

#11 
Written By dcalstring on January 25th, 2012 @ 2:31 pm

Hey great tutorial! I’m going to explore all your other ones now that was superb! An hour ago I thought this kind of picking was way beyond me, now I have still a long way to go but can begin to do it very slowly! Cheers!

#12 
Written By chbath1 on January 25th, 2012 @ 2:36 pm

nice


#13 
Written By JaaSthecool on January 25th, 2012 @ 2:46 pm

wow, was much easier once you broke it down. The rhythm was absolutely no problem for me to pick up either.

#14 
Written By simplethunder on January 25th, 2012 @ 2:52 pm

Hi mate, hope you know you teaching skills are incredibly clear and precise. You are a great guitarist but an excellent teacher.

#15 
Written By nayrllerraf on January 25th, 2012 @ 3:36 pm

@JacCEck Hey Jack – thank you so much for the donation! I really appreciate it. Also thanks for the kind words as well. I try really hard to take something complicated like learning to play a guitar solo or fingerstyle and make it as simple as I can – because so much of it is psychological you know. I have such a love for the guitar and want to do everything I can to keep this art form alive!

#16 
Written By activemelody on January 25th, 2012 @ 4:36 pm

Hi, I liked your website and your lessons a lot. You are very logical and simple in you instructions and being an accomplished guitarist myself I find it very refreshing to find a guy like you on line to help others with ideas and inspiration. Thanks for that. I left you a small donation for your effort and I hope that anyone using you website will do the same. You deserve it. Regards, Jac.

#17 
Written By JacCEck on January 25th, 2012 @ 5:25 pm

Fantastic lesson man, got me started with this style of playing really well. Cheers!

#18 
Written By MattAllen12345 on January 25th, 2012 @ 6:23 pm

What an amazing lesson,Helped me out alot to narrow it down sections and parts.
Great lesson,thx.

#19 
Written By Slave2Strat on January 25th, 2012 @ 6:48 pm

Question: If Chet or Tommy Emmanuel were playing this, would they use the thumb to pick the 4th string also, rather than index? As someone just starting this, trying to get into a good habit, or does it really matter? Thanks

#20 
Written By barakshulman on January 25th, 2012 @ 7:39 pm

probably the best tutorial i’ve seen on here. It includes a visual as well as frozen frames containing the chord.

#21 
Written By scarshredder on January 25th, 2012 @ 8:32 pm

really good… nice homage.

#22 
Written By sbrettwhite on January 25th, 2012 @ 9:28 pm

The best tutorial I’ve found for this style. Very detailed and easy to pick up.
Thank you so much.

#23 
Written By silentwing36 on January 25th, 2012 @ 9:51 pm

excellent!!!! tnx for sharing

#24 
Written By manrob2008 on January 25th, 2012 @ 10:27 pm

just wonderful thankyou !

#25 
Written By countryguitar4u on January 25th, 2012 @ 11:07 pm