Guitar Tricks Insider December Issue | Page 50

9 GREAT MOMENTS IN ACOUSTIC FINGERSTYLE PLAYING 50 4 5 JAMES TAYLOR “YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND” (1970) YES “THE CLAP” (1971) Known more as a singer and songwriter, James Taylor’s secret weapon is that he’s a monster fingerpicker. This song is perfect for every level of guitarist as it has an easygoing groove and accessible chords. Once you get more advanced, you can attempt Taylor’s incredible ballad, “Carolina in My Mind,” and marvel at JT’s ever-inventive style. Steve Howe is considered one of the guitar giants of the 1970s and “Clap” is a good reason why. In this ragtime stomper, Howe shows off his hot, Merle Travis-styled picking and sophisticated chord progressions played on a 1953 Martin 00-18. If you want to tackle this tune, start slowly and gradually increase the tempo until you reach Steve’s highspeed chops. Another classic Howe solo from this era is the classical-style instrumental, “Mood for a Day.” 6 7 THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND “LITTLE MARTHA” (1972) LED ZEPPELIN “BRON-YR-AUR” (1975) Duane Allman’s only solo composition with The Allman Brothers Band (released only after his death), “Little Martha” remains a fingerstyle gem. Using a Dobro resonator guitar in Open E tuning, Duane cut this track with co-guitarist Dickey Betts and it’s a melodic tour-de-force – so much so that 12-string virtuoso Leo Kottke has often played it in concert. Sweet fingerpickin’ doesn’t get much better than this. While known for his hard rockin’ electric riffs, Jimmy Page also played gorgeous acoustic guitar and this is one of his finest works. Jimmy tuned his Martin D-28 in C6 tuning (C-A-C-G-C-E) and crafted this progressive ballad for the Physical Graffiti album. Aside from Page’s prodigious fingerpicking, the recording also sports cool flanging, reverb, and panning effects. GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER DIGITAL EDITION DECEMBER SPECIAL