Acoustic guitar is an instrument often seen in country music. Its warm and melodic tones inspire songwriters to write emotional tunes on it and has also created strong musical communities and traditions.
Country music draws its influence from multiple genres and musical traditions, such as folk and African American musical forms. We will explore some of these influences as well as provide tips and techniques for playing country music guitar.
Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard was an iconic country music figure with an incredible life story, championing American underdogs while championing Bakersfield sound. A passionate believer in the Telecaster guitar’s emotive power and using its incredible tuning range to reach success; Haggard drew from tragedies of early years as well as lawless lifestyle that led to prison terms to write some of his genre’s most acclaimed songs.
Haggard was profoundly affected by his father’s sudden and early death at an early age; to make ends meet, his mother worked as a bookkeeper; however, music offered a source of solace; learning the guitar at age 12 with help from an older brother’s used guitar gave him respite; soon thereafter he began listening to Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams songs on phonograph records provided him a method for discovering them.
Haggard began his musical journey on the honky tonk circuit, performing at clubs catering to oil and farm workers. His songs often reflected personal experiences that resonated with listeners. Alongside Buck Owens, Haggard helped develop what has since become known as the Bakersfield sound – hard country with elements of Western swing played for tough blue-collar audiences.
After several brushes with the law, Haggard spent some time in jail in the early 1950s. While in there he heard Johnny Cash perform and this experience had an immense effect on him – it cemented his belief in an ultimate power and his commitment to music as tools of transformation that enabled him to stay sober while continuing to write and record music.
On April 6, at age 79, Haggard passed away, marking an unforgettable career in country music. As an original outlaw who defied Nashville’s strict standards and refused to conform with traditional country success formulas. Reworking traditional themes with his unique take, Haggard lived on through the music of his many fans who still embrace his rebellious spirit today.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash was one of the pioneers of country music and made its reputation. He popularized rockabilly and challenged stereotypes associated with “wholesome country boys”. One characteristic that stands out about Johnny is his use of guitars – particularly his Gibson Les Paul which later became a standard instrument used for country recordings.
Cash’s career featured an assortment of guitars and picking styles, but he frequently preferred a Fender Stratocaster with a blond finish and black pickguard from Fender – this guitar now considered standard among country musicians as it features an ergonomic neck, as well as its signature humbucking pickups and comfortable neck design.
Furthermore, he used both a Fender amp and Country Deluxe reverb amp with tone control on the left and volume knob on the right for his sound to create a full and warm country-influenced tone. This combination helped ensure his songs complemented each other perfectly.
Cash was often seen playing his Gibson D-28 with its solid ebony fingerboard, his main instrument during his later part of career and featured on albums like “Live at San Quentin” and “American IV.” No wonder this six-string became so closely associated with him!
Merle Travis was an influential country music figure who famously used a Gibson acoustic guitar. His distinctive sound was created through a technique known as Travis picking, in which the thumb of one hand played bass notes while chords were alternately strung on with other fingers on both hands – creating a signature sound which has since become the foundation for country guitar playing today.
As part of our dedication to country music artists, each week for the rest of this year on Wide Open Country we’ll feature one classic country album and provide insight into its creator(s). Stop back each Wednesday for new song previews and some background on those behind its creation! Plus, check out Fender Play’s dedicated Country path to get started on your own journey into country music!
Hank Williams
Hank Williams is one of the most influential American singer-songwriters of the 20th century, becoming one of the top 10 Billboard Country & Western singles chart hits, including five number ones posthumously (three written posthumously). Not only was Williams an extraordinary musician but he was also an extraordinary writer whose liner notes became classics within modern country music. Widely considered to be its father.
Hank was born in Georgiana, Alabama, and learned guitar as a boy from Rufus “Tee Tot” Payne of Georgiana’s street performers. In his songs he featured blues guitar, emotive yodeling and vivid imagery with strong evangelical Southern spiritual influences that often found expression through his lyrics and compositions. Hank was an ardent family man as well as fierce competitor on the music scene.
He had numerous run-ins with the law during his career and was notorious for his drunkenness. Later in life he suffered from dementia and was institutionalized. In 1975 he came close to death when he fell hundreds of feet down a mountainside in Montana; following a lengthy recovery process he resumed singing and writing activities.
Hank’s music and persona have had an immense effect on country musicians both past and present. Widely considered the father of modern country music, his legacy continues to influence contemporary country music today. From his hard-rock approach to country to his perpetually aggrieved persona – Hank is synonymous with country genre.
Hank was an impressive guitarist, known for combining finger picking techniques with alternating bass and melody lines into Travis picking, an essential technique in country guitar sound. Players using Travis picking can create intricate rhythms that are both complex and catchy – an invaluable ability for any country musician. In this tutorial we will demonstrate the basics of Travis picking as well as show you how to play one of Hank’s iconic songs: “Honky Tonkin.” This song offers beginners an ideal introduction.
Les Paul
Les Paul is best known for his iconic guitar line, but he also made significant contributions to country music. His innovations in recording techniques and guitar design helped elevate electric guitar to become an instrument of choice among country musicians. His solid-body electric guitar was an exciting change from hollow-body archtops that had previously been popular, offering musicians more creative freedom when exploring different sounds and tones; its versatility gave them greater scope in creating intricate solos on more elaborate instruments.
Merle Haggard was among the earliest country artists to utilize a Les Paul guitar, and its use had an immediate effect on his style. The solid body made it easier for him to use distortion–giving his music a more rock-inspired edge–while also helping sustain notes for longer, providing enhanced guitar solos. These features helped Merle stand out among his peers and became an instantaneously appealing choice among country music enthusiasts.
Chet Atkins was an influential pioneer of Nashville sound and one of its main influencers. A regular performer at Grand Ole Opry, his unique fingerpicking style set him apart from other country guitarists; furthermore incorporating different musical genres and creating an original sound which appealed to both traditionalists and rock fans.
When playing country music, it is essential to hone multiple techniques. For example, Travis picking is an integral component of country music that requires practice of multiple techniques – for example using your right hand to perform chords and melody while using your left thumb for an alternating bass pattern across quarter notes on your left thumb – it involves playing chords and melody using one hand while the other thumb plays an alternating bass pattern across quarter notes with your left thumb – this technique should not be underestimated as its importance cannot be overstated!
As part of their repertoire of country guitar skills, country guitarists must master how to bend notes. While this may initially prove challenging for beginners, with practice it becomes easy and can eventually be mastered. When starting out it may help to start by bending whole steps before progressing on to half steps before progressing further still. Remembering that proper bending requires precision and accuracy is crucial, so be patient while practicing.