"I've Got Blistahs On My Fingahs!!!!"
Contrary to what John Hiatt thinks, it's really Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones, that is the master of the Telecaster.
Keith Richards... on the benefit of using Open-G tuning without the low E-string...
"The advantage (of the open-G) tuning is that you can get certain drone notes going. It's an open-G tuning, with the low E-strinng removed and there's really only three notes you use. My favorite phrase about this style of playing is that all you need to play it is five strings, two notes, two fingers, and one asshole."
- Keith Richards -
Open-G is a means of tuning a guitar so that when the strings are strummed without any of them being fretted against the fretboard, the resulting sound is a G chord. When tuned, the resulting notes are D-G-D-G-B-D... which are the three notes in the triad of the G chord.
Richards suffers from arthritis in his fingers, and undoubtedly, the type of fingering (get your minds out of the gutter) required for the work he has done with this tuning is to his benefit.
Come with me now... if you will... for a trip down memory lane, and a look at the photographic life of Keith Richards...
That looks like an episode of 'The Twilight Zone'...
~shoes~
Well,I know I've aged. But MY GOD.
ReplyDeleteAnd the one asshole thing... I had a comment about it, but then I decided since I don't really know the guy, I can't call him any names.
How ya doin'?
Good afternoon, Ami... since he was talking about himself... and calling himself an "asshole," I would assume he would be the ultimate authority on that matter... :0D
DeleteMe? I'm great... just loading up for my next class... :o)
~shoes~
The Stones might be my all-time favorites. You took me down memory lane with your KR pictures, and I thank you. I didn't realize he died.
ReplyDelete"I didn't realize he died."
ReplyDeleteTechnically, he's still with us, regardless of what he actually looks like. I remember having read once that he was so toxic from his drug using (abusing) days that he had to have a complete flushing of his blood...
The Stones are most definitely among my favorites... their body of work is just unbelievable...
~shoes~
Considering that Mick Jagger looks like he's been ridden hard and put out wet, I think I can safely concur that there was way too much alcohol and drugs on this Rock n' Roll Party Train. Therefore, anyone who stuck with the ride looks like they are about 25 years older than they actually are. Ah... the price of fame. Not always so sweet, eh? (Ironically, I bet they still get the chicks. That would be the drunk and really high ones. The sober ones won't go anywhere near that TRAIN WRECK.)
ReplyDeleteHi there, Robin... I totally agree... I don't thnk that Paul and Ringo look as rough and as gruff as those two fellows in the Stones do...
DeleteNow, to me, I think Charlie Watts has turned into a nice looking older fellow, but then, I've always been a Charlie Watts fan!
How are you?
~shoes~
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. :-)
ReplyDeleteI could hardly believe it when I found out about open-G tuning. All those classic Stones riffs just come effortlessly out of the guitar!
Hey, Max! How are you, buddy??
DeleteI KNOW!! They just leap out at you! I bet that would be especially true of that Casino with those great P-90 pick ups!!
I hope all is well for you!!
~shoes~
Wow. The aging process, when seen all strung up like that, is just plain scary. Wonder if that open G tuning thing would help me play guitar!!
ReplyDeleteHey, Annie... try it and see... a lot of people who play slide guitar like Open-G and Open-D...some even like Open-E, but it does tend to put a great deal of tension on the neck of the guitar.
DeleteYeah, that aging process IS scary... thank God I haven't aged... much... :oD
~shoes~
RED SHOES ~
ReplyDeleteI found your blog via Robin’s ‘Your Daily Dose’ blog (you posted some excellent comments there regarding the “Civil War”).
Have you read ‘The Real Lincoln’ by Thomas J. DiLorenzo?
I’m a-gonna ‘Follow’ your blog and see where it goes.
But I gotta say from the get-go, I have a “contrary” opinion regarding the following remark:
>> . . . Contrary to what John Hiatt thinks, it's really Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones, that is the master of the Telecaster.
I don’t even know who Hiatt named but, regardless, I disagree with him . . . and you.
About two decades ago, my friend Larry Rosen (a guitarist in various Los Angeles ‘Blues’ bands) turned me on to this cat. ‘Guitar Player’ magazine once proclaimed him “The World’s Greatest Unknown Guitarist”. One of his nicknames was “The Humbler”, because his skills were so phenomenal that he could even humble truly great guitarists. Another one of his nicknames was “The Telemaster”, because he had so completely mastered that guitar.
I don’t play any musical instrument, so my opinion is that of an ‘outsider’, but to this day, I still think Danny Gatton was probably the most amazing and versatile guitarist I’ve heard.
I’m not knocking Keith Richards at all, but I rather doubt Richards would even consider attempting to follow THIS.
Anyway, Red Shoes, I’m looking forward to your next post.
~ D-FensDogg
‘Loyal American Underground’
Hi there, Robert... Thank you for dropping by and thank you even more so for the nice comments...
ReplyDeleteJohn Hiatt is one prolific song writer, and my reference was just to a song of his called, "Master of the Telecaster" was just reference to a line in one of his songs...
Danny Gatton... he simply wasn't here with us nearly long enough. What a fantastic guitar player he was... there's a great clip out there somewhere where he is playing with Arlen Roth, another fellow that is no slouch on the Telecaster... there is yet another fellow by the name of Johnny Hiland that used to play with the Don Kelly Band in Nashville... I simply don't see how those guys like Gatton, Roth, and Hiland get those skills...
HOLY COW!!!!
I agree... I doubt seriously that Richards could ever match Gatton or any of those others in their style of playing... but there's also that other side of the equation where less is more...
Once there was a young fellow who lived in Memphis by the name of Shawn Lane that could pack more notes into a measure than anyone I've ever seen... but I quickly tired of Lane...
Thanks again for your kind words. I will visit you shortly and return the favor!
Robin is a sweetie!!
~shoes~
I have only one thing to say. (Yes - I am aware that is hard to believe and no, it's not about assholes butt I could tell you a story about belligerent pig asses if you would like...)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I shy away from the camera 'cause I don't want some crazed, shoe wearin', arm wavin', chair missin' Professor doing a pictorial biography of my life at any time... Twilight Zone episodes skeer me.
:-)
Robelyn... you are right... I don't believe that you only have one thing to say. I've never known that to be the case.
DeleteBelligerent pig asses? Sounds like something redNecks would eat... :oD
"...some crazed, shoe wearin', arm wavin', chair missin' Professor..."
HAR!!!
You are skeery...
~shoes~
RED SHOES ~
ReplyDelete>> . . . there's a great clip out there somewhere where he is playing with Arlen Roth...
Yep, I've seen that. Someone somewhere wrote that Danny Gatton was actually Roth's guitar mentor, but I simply don't know how true or untrue that is.
>> . . . I agree... I doubt seriously that Richards could ever match Gatton or any of those others in their style of playing... but there's also that other side of the equation where less is more...
No argument. In fact, despite all the speed and technical virtuosity that Gatton often displayed, it's his softer, melodically nuanced shadings that I most appreciate. Tunes like 'Harlem Nocturne', 'Poinciana', 'Canadian Sunset', and 'Tragedy' are some of my favorites - all beauty and no "screaming dizbusters".
Gary Hoey is another great guitarist whom I'm sure you're familiar with. Hoey can definitely burn the frets but my favorite of all his tunes is Surfdoggin', in which he's playing fast but very clean and melodically and the licks are as smooth as a great bourbon.
>> . . . Once there was a young fellow who lived in Memphis by the name of Shawn Lane that could pack more notes into a measure than anyone I've ever seen... but I quickly tired of Lane.
I fully understand and I'm sure it would be the same for me. Your remark made me think of Joe Satriani, whose speedy playing bores me inside of 3 minutes.
Yak Later, SHOES.
~ Stephen
I love Keith Richards! I read his autobiography and truly I don't think there's a celebrity alive or dead that's lived his life.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found hilarious in his bio was this: Richards revealed that Johnny Depp was a frequent visitor to his home and it took him 2 years to realize he was a big Hollywood celeb. Keith actually thought he was his son's drug dealer who hung around the house playing the guitar with his son.
The man is a legend.
Good morning, Princess... Keith, has indeed, led a charmed life!
DeleteYou know, I have that book, but I have yet to read it... I need to...
Have a great weekend! Stay out of trouble... or not... ;oD
~shoes~
How can I have a great weekend if I stay out of trouble? Half the fun is getting in trouble. :)
ReplyDeleteOf course, I don't expect you to stay out of trouble!!! :oD
ReplyDeleteThat's why the 'wink' was added...
:o)
~shoes~
Keith may have missed his calling as the psycho weirdo axe killer in some of the great slasher movies. Just saying, he's got the kind of face nightmares are made of.
ReplyDelete