Church Street Blues - Tony Rice - Flatpicking Guitar Lesson

A demonstration of Tony's approach to Church Street Blues (by Norman Blake). This version is from the album as opposed to his Homespun video performance, which is slightly different. I play it through at speed, and then again slowly with the transcription visible at the top of the screen. Enjoy!

[austenrobinson]

Most people take a very long time to get that far. Break down this part and it’s no joke. Tony’s version is a master class of cross picking, sweeping chords and timing. Well done sir.

[Derikplaysbass]

Thank you for just showing me how to play the song without ridiculous explanation and replaying parts over and over knowing the crap out of me LOL your lesson is perfect short and to the point

[andrewgelwicks]

I’ve seen multiple videos with comments from people talking about how hard this is, even after watching Tony’s live video I’m thinking “no way, this can’t be THAT hard”……it’s hard. It’s really hard lol

[bryceayoung]

In the first measure, when picking the open strings, Tony makes a G shape instead of lifting his hand off the fretboard (like in this tutorial). I find this makes a nice subtle resonance that really adds to the sound.

[adgg]

I’ve just about got it down with the timing thanks to this no nonsense lesson. Breaking it down and learning it made me really appreciate what a master Tony Rice was even more than I already did, thanks mate.

[nicholaspalacio]

For some reason, this is just the hardest song I’ve ever tried to learn. Tony Rice’s playing was so brilliant. My whole sense of rhythm goes out the window entirely when trying to do the chord changes the way he wrote them, I can’t remember the last time I had to slow a YouTube video down to learn something like this. That man was nothing short of a genius, one of a kind.

[AbeC]

Best tutorial I could find on YouTube, seriously under rated, keep it up!

[jacobcarlson]

There’s a place for long explanations, and there’s a place for simply demonstrating how to pick it. Thanks for this excellent play through!

[joelickteig]

super nice - I am not sure I've worked on one song like this since I was a kid / it's just awesome. Great visuals and tab to boot - so just really appreciate it!

[specter]

Excellent picking .great tone. Great breakdown. No bullshit for 20 minutes. Thanks brother. Keep pickin

[ferociousneophyte]

Really really good. I don’t think I’d ever be able to play this. It’s amazing how Tony was able to get so much out of simple, open chord shapes. Well done.

[MrCoolerdave]

By far the best how to video on this song. THANK YOU

[markshutts]

Good Job, Jamey! The world appreciates your efforts!

[Carriesguitar]

OK so I'm deep diving this tune - for obvious reasons - and absolutely no version I've heard is as good as yours, Jamey Pittman! It's perfection and I honestly don't think I would realize this wasn't T Rice playing it if I didn't know better!

[trentcrawford]

This is amazing mate! I still love your old version of Red Hair Boy. Legend!

[gil_evans]

This is great, thank you. Always wanted to transcribe it myself but never realy sat down.
Also thanks for including picking direction.

[MrWilly]

That was simple and to the point. Excellent.

[seastorm]

Greetings from Finland❤Real virtuosity

[MJKauz]

This has been great. Would love to buy you a beer sometime. Thanks for this.

[martymcpeak]

i know this video is an old one but i just found it in my feed, i noticed Jamey anchors in the same fashion T.R. did, with his ring and pinky underneath the high e string.