I am all in on the Crazy Arms country solo and starting to get it down, but I’m wondering which players’ style(s) are being shown here. I’m a big country fan but have never made myself familiar with a lot of the better players. I’ve never exactly listened to country for its guitars (except for the steel kind) and also I have listened to country guitar but just never bothered to learn who is who and which players I was listening to. I am a huge Jimmie Rivers and Western Swing fan and in this post am not asking about that kind of country. I guess I’m looking for recommendations. Help me out please!
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Hi Che,
Very classic vibe on this cut, so maybe check out:
Jimmy Bryant
Luther Perkins - played with Johnny Cash
Don Rich - played with Buck Owens
Albert Lee
James Burton
Jerry Reed
Roy Clark - did a lot of really cheesy novelty stuff, but technically brilliant
Joe Maphis
Hank Garland - he had his own thing, jazz meets country
Modern guys
Brent Mason - Hot wired - he’s a Nashville session guy and one hell of a picker
Kenny Vaughan - another session guy with some solo albums
Guthrie Trapp - session guy with some good solo albums
Paul Pigat (Cousin Harley) - he’s a mix of classic country, swing and rockabilly - check out Blue Smoke his tribute to Merle Travis
Johnny Hiland - lots of speedy twang
Danny Gatton - one of the most unique players that ever lived, country, jazz, rockabilly, a Twang master!
Jim Campilongo - 10 Gallon Cats
Redd Volkaert
Brad Paisley - his instrumental album “Play” smokes
I appreciate this list. I know the classic players. I’m working on Jimnmy Bryant right now and also have been trying to cop from Don Rich. I love Buck Owens.
The modern list is really helpful. I’ve seen alot of those names. UI think it’s the session guys you mention that I’m wanting to check out. I spent a weekend surfing couches with Paul Pigat a few years back. Monster player and really cool dude. So Candanian, so polite.
I have mixed feelings on Gatton and have had recent conversations about him. He could do everything but sometimes he got a little too far out there.
Yes, Jimmy Bryant is the man! I’ve also been working on Night Rider. I agree with you about Danny Gatton, he is without a question a brilliant player, but leaves me a little cold, Redneck Jazz Explosion is solid though. Paul is a class act. As a fellow Canadian we are required the be polite 
Funny, a friend of mine just hipped me to roy Nichols. His suggestion was working man blues too. I think this should open at 2:00. He steals a riff that Hollywood Fats used to play if you are familiar. I’m not sure the actual prominence of the lick. I think Fats, a blues player came after Nichols so Fats might have copped it from Nichols. Dunno?
The Nighrider is a bitch. I can think of another song where I have had to relearn it so many times because I realize I was not playing it the easy(iest) way. Have you figured out the differences in the bridges? They are not all the same each time and not always standard rhythm changes. What a cool tune. I agree Redneck Jazz Explosion is alright. I haven’t listened to that in years.
Yeah Nightrider is tough, I think my fingers have now submitted an official compliant! I have not mastered the bridges, I have a feeling this will be one of those tunes that I will just keep working on (forever!). Merle was a great player that’s for sure.
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