Help us give a big thanks to Doyle Dykes for this wonderful guide to Chet Atkins' and Merle Travis' playing styles by liking this video and leaving a comment below!

Thank you Doyle, you don't really know how many people you teach to help keep this great music alive. We do appreciate you.

One of the best videos Sweetwater has ever done.

I saw Doyle play at the Taylor booth at NAMM years ago (I must’ve been 12 or 13 at the time) and it still sticks in my memory as one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. The man is incredible!

Doyle is simply amazing. Met him once at a local Taylor event and he was as friendly as he is talented. Just a great person and player!

Wow. The ending was insane dude!

Most folks know Doyle as a great picker, which he is, but Doyle Dykes is a most humble and gracious person as well! You’ll never meet another nice and kind person as he

As Doyle said, he plays a lot at church, and that is where I've seen him. He talked about a guitar that Chet gave him too. I've seen Doyle many times and that guitar was on the platform every time. I got to meet him once quite a long time ago, when the crowds were not around. I'll never forget how we jut talked and how he encouraged me to never give up playing, even if I never was any good, which I am not. He is close friends with my Pastor, who also plays, pretty good too. so we get to see Doyle quite a bit. Find and listen to Doyle's version of "Free Bird" . I saw him do it live , t church; it brought me to tears. God, please continue to bless and watch over Doyle. -)

What a great breakdown of the style difference! he really nails the sound in his playing too; what an amazing guitarist.

I think this is the third time I've watched this and I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first. This never gets old.

Doyle is one of the greats and we're lucky to still have him and Tommy to remind us what beautiful music sounds like on the acoustic guitar. He's a C.G.P. too.

When I was 8 9 and 10 years old my dad played exactly like Chet Atkins and he thought me and I learned it it took me four years to learn how to differentiate my thumb from my fingers but it was well worth it and then he taught me the Merle Travis style and I came up with my own style which doesn't sound anything like chat or Merl or a mix because I use three fingers and use my thumb index and middle finger and for some reason it comes out sounding different than any of them it's my own distinct style every once in awhile I will throw my ring finger in if I'm doing a roll but very seldom do I do that mostly it's the thumb beat with index finger only and then every once in awhile the middle finger just to have a quicker tongue but every once in awhile I will throw in my ring finger on a roll which never lasts too long and now that I am 60 is more or less a second hand feeling I just use three fingers in the midden LIE and of course my phone is always keeping that beat going it took so long to learn it my dad said it took him five years when he went into the air force he knew how to play a guitar but he did not know how to play a Chet Atkins style and some guy in the Air Force taught him and they actually had to tape his thumb to the guitar so he can only move his index finger to pick out the higher notes and then they would tape his index finger to the guitar and have him only play the beat the bass beat. And after a while they would introduce the finger and the phone together and it's was said to be an act of Congress to get him to do it but he finally learn it and he thought me the same way I did not have to tape my fingers I just pushed them into the body of the guitar and refused to use them I would use my thumb and then I was switch off and use my finger but it took a long time to introduce the two at the same time a very long time like 3 years of trying and when it finally happened it happened I was so excited but at the time that it happened my dad had divorced my mom and moved out of town and I didn't see him for five years I went from 12 years old to 17 years old playing Chet Atkins Style music on my own with his old guitar that he left me and when I finally met up with them again at my grandma's house I picked up a guitar and I said listen to this and I ripped out some Chet Atkins tunes and he cried his eyes out and said whatever I thought you you took it way higher that is perfect and since then we would sit and play together until he was 79 years old and died it was some of the best guitar times I've ever had I played with her people but the man that taught me or do it and he did it so very well and I will just carry on his prediction I did not have a son I have two daughters neither one was interested in guitar I did pick up some friend of mine's son who just had to learn it and I've been teaching him for five years and he starting to get it and it is so satisfying to pass it on and his dad tells me that his son has never been so happy in his life that he could actually learn to play that way and commends me all the time and I told him if I could teach 100 kids this I would but there's only certain people that can do it good day. Merle Haggard used to refer to Merle Travis asked that big old thumb he had the big huge bass beat check with Morrie find with laying his poem on the bridge to deaden top three strings and it takes a little practice the way that you lay the palm of your thumb on the top three strings so it makes more of a bass beat instead of a ring sound

The deceptive cadence followed by the harp picking is sublime

I met Doyle at a Sam Ash Taylor Clinic years ago. I was in the acoustic room alone doing a cover of Chet Atkins Mr. Sandman and he walked in and being the gentleman that he is complimented me which was awesome but he did mention to me that I was playing it backwards because I'm a lefty righty guy which made me feel like I was on the moon. He's an awesome person.

Doyle's story about pulling into Grandpa Jones' driveway and rolling up to see the unmistakable license plate on Merle's Cadillac made me smile from ear to ear. Wow! Can you imagine the feeling of surprise...Meeting one of your heros? I hope to meet Doyle one day.

My God. That ending is incredible!

Can't get much better than that. Doyle Dykes, another national treasure! Brother, I love that you pay homage to folks like Chet, Merle, and Tommy E! You are right up there with them.

Got to see Doyle at the Merle Travis Music Center in Powderly, KY. A great show for sure. Anyone interested in this style of playing should plan to attend the big thumbpicking event held there each (normal) autumn. Also the thumbpicking weekend in the spring at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR. These two events are both wonderful experiences.

Dang Doyle makes that look easy. Saw him at a workshop in Tulsa years back. He's better than ever.

Pretty hard to have any complaints about Doyle’s playing. I could sit and listen to him play all day every day. Wonderful musician.👍👍🇨🇦

I first saw Doyle at the guitar show in Birmingham England at the National Exhibition Centre, it must have been about 1995 ish . I think he was promoting Taylor Guitars at the time . My dad and I walked into the room where Doyle had just started his set, we both just turned and looked at each other with open mouths.

Saw him in Calgary back in 2016 and he blew me away with his guitar playing! He's also a very nice guy and took time to talk to his fans! :)

I've seen Doyle twice at my local guitar shop when he was working for Taylor. It's so impressive to see this done in person.

Thanks Guys! Awesome as always.

Boy, this just made my lunch absolutely Splendid! 🎸

I'ze been a 'rock guy" for durn near a half-century, but this was absolutely enthralling. Thank you Chet; Thank you Merle, Thank you Doyle; Thank you Don; Thank you Chuck Surack for underwriting this wonderful content.

Have to praise God every time I hear this talented man play-shore is blessed!

That was really cool. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you so much for that. I will now be getting more into some Travis picking!

Doyle is a true player and real killer on the 6, but also the nicest and most genuine guy. I caught his NAMM performance some years back at the booth as well and he blew us all away. Subscribe to his channel on here for some amazing daily words and playing. Be sure to check out the Tribute to Chet Atkins he was a part of for Gretsch as well, his playing has always blown my mind, major respect for this man as a player and good hearted, real human being in general.

I grew up listening to my dad’s Merle Travis records. Dad was a guitar player and a Kentuckian, and Travis was important to him. Comparing him to Chet Atkins, his observation was that while Chet was a technician whose every note was perfect, Travis played from his soul. I tend to agree.

Love it! Both the playing and the stories.

I got to play 2 of Doyle’s old guitars a few weeks back.. a mutual friend has them and man was I giddy like a schoolgirl

A great player , and a great man.

I’m late to the party watching this but this was GREAT.

Stunning guitarist. I love Doyle’s style and arrangements.

This is so awesome to watch!!

Imso glad to have come across Doyle! His playing is so so good. He was born to play guitar✨

For those who don’t know, Chet was actually trying to play like Merle who started before him. But only having heard him on the radio, Chet wrongly assumed that Merle was using his thumb and three fingers so that’s how he went ahead and played. Lucky for us that Chet didn’t see him live! 😀🎸

Never heard Doyle Dykes play before this video. Thanks Sweetwater for introducing me to him. Great playing, and great info on Merle vs. Chet!

wow one of the best videos ive seen on here. so cool doyle is a wealth of information....its sad people like him are lost to time and the modern age. no one seems to care if someone actually put in work to master something

That was some very beautiful playing, especially the "take it to the Lord in prayer."

I've never been into that Alternate picking style as a player, and maybe because of that, the Travis and Atkins style sort of merged into one. What a fantastic video - truly emphasises the neo classical nature of Chet Atkins playing.

Great video. Doyle is one of the greats for sure. Thanks for breaking down the differences.

Amazing playing!

I love this video. I feel like it taught me so much in such a short time. I tried playing "Travis style" after watching it and it was just a hoot and a half :)

I absolutely love Doyle, what a legend. Thank you Doyle for blessing us with your music.

I’ve always been a Tommy Emanuel fan and have just recently discovered Doyle Dykes……what a impressive musician and seems like he’s likely just as good of a man as musician. He’s both teacher and student………

Wow!!! Fantastic!!!

The reason that 90% plus of guitarists use T 321 to play 'tremolo', I suspect, that is that T 321 T 321 ... feels more 'natural' to most people, whereas you have to think about T 123 at first. I can do both, except that my T 123 is much slower; half the speed of T 321. Do others find that too? Some good classical players can get up to 15 notes per second or more T 321, but I don't recall ever seeing a classical player use T 123, even if some do perhaps?

I have always enjoyed Doyle. I have met him twice. I play a Taylor primarily because of him. I, too, buy much of my equipment from Sweetwater. I noticed, with tongue in cheek, that Don is playing a Taylor. The headstock is prominent, to me, whenever Doyle has a closeup. Great music, two great guitarist and a great store. Kinda like a perfect trifecta.

How cool!! Doyle is an amazing spirit! Great guy!

Great playing!

Beautiful!

Could anyone but Chet tell the difference between base 123 and 123 base? Love the video and comparison between Merle and Chet. Love Doyle's stylings too.

Thank you!

So cool!

What is the song he plays at the end of the video, please?

This is simply invaluable.

Great stuff. Don, are you from Tampa, Fl.?

Very nice!

Thank you. 😊

Magnificent.... Exquisite... Awesome‼️

I love you, Master Doyle ! ♥️

Doyle Dukes you are amazing. I wish I could get used to a thumb pick. I have to just use my nails and use all my fingers except my pinky. I could have 8 fingers though and not be as good as your or Chester!

Does anyone know what the time is he called that he played toward the end?

Doyle is amazing. I highly recommend checking out his album return of the white falcon.

Who’s grinning and who’s a picking? Good job.

Interested to a comparison between Merle and (Mississippi) John Hurt...with the two fingers only and "swing" feel

Can anyone shed light on how he’s doing that harmonic technique at 9:45? What fingers is he using to pluck etc? I’m fascinated by that. I’m familiar with extended harmonics like that and play them, but not on a roll fashion and losing other notes like he is

I always enjoy Doyle, but by far the best comparison/contrast of Chet v. Merle (and v. Jerry) was by Buster B. Jones.

sweet

What a gifted guitar player...Thank you for making a(very) old guitar'wannabee' player so happy( not mention, envious)

God love this person. He is blessed.

Doyle may not have earned the CGP from Chet personally… but he’s surely earned it spiritually. Play on Doyle, play on.

Hello sir, is this ragtime style?

Amazing!! I hit the like button because there wasn’t a “love” button

I went to a guitar clinic with Doyle once.

Does anyone know the name of that song Doyle begins at 5:07? I know it's an old gospel song but can't remember the name.

im. a great fingerstyle player...I teach it!! but you cannot get thatsound without a thumbpick...I never used one but thats the key

So if it has lots of “THUMP THUMP! ZUB ZUB!” (which is the part I love most) it’s Merle.

Couple of class-acts having fun. Love it, thanks!

Doyle is phenomenal.God has just come to the earth. Love love love this. But can he play smoke on the water?

Wow...

thought i knew something about guitar, back to 101

What a cool guy........

Doyle's understanding of all kinds of fingerstyle is skillful, excellent and expansive. One other thing about the difference between Merle and Chet is that Merle could sing while he's playing and did it quite well. Great video by Sweetwater much appreciated!

4:35

Флажолеты в окончании очень хорошо сыграл.

Thanks, all I have to say

C´mon Don!!!

jerry reed???

I wonder if Don has the last name or it's top secret?

Fedt

Merle Travis only picked with his thumb and forefinger.

I like very much Chet but Merle is my guitar héro

“…. Versus ?” Why ?

I miss Jerry 😊

I play finger style got started by listning to old doc Watson,,,,,coarse I'm only a fair guitar picker,,,

is it necessary to learn to play classical guitar first to play fingerpicking?