Here's How: Merle Travis' "Cannonball Rag" with Tommy Emmanuel

Рет қаралды 563,773

6 жыл бұрын

One of the most beloved anthems for finger-picking guitar players is "Cannonball Rag". Originally written by Kennedy Jones and popularized by Merle Travers. Finger-picker extraordinaire, Tommy Emmanuel shares his own take on the song, how he takes it apart and then adds his own approach for a truly singular performance.

Пікірлер: 504

@geemac7267 5 жыл бұрын

That's a fun piece. I'm going to sit down and learn it. See you in 75 years.

@TheNinnyfee 4 жыл бұрын

Exactly my thoughts. I made it 10 years, but you could be right, 75 is more like it. 😄

@pascaljacobs8979 4 жыл бұрын

EXACTELY WHAT I was thinking 🤣

@robarnold6998 3 жыл бұрын

😆😆😆😆😆Right??? Isn’t it sickening?

@9mmsafetyalwaysoff00 3 жыл бұрын

yeah fuck me Ive played everyday for 15 year but making the jump to stuff like this is a LOT of practice.

@9mmsafetyalwaysoff00 3 жыл бұрын

you could actually mess around just with the chords on this one and get used to the finger placement and as long as you play everyday it will come no problem.

@rxw5520 3 жыл бұрын

This is a great lesson. If you already know how to play Cannonball Rag.

@joshv002 6 жыл бұрын

the best thing guitar center has ever done.

@mojoefelix 4 жыл бұрын

In another video somewhere, he is asked about his practicing guitar. Says he sits down and plays a very demanding guitar song and repeats it for an hour. This redefined practicing for me. It brought the concept of practice to a whole other level. That is the context of what he is saying here; telling us to use this extremely song as a practice vehicle, just play it over and over and over. I have taken his advice to heart. When I get up in the morning, as soon as I get a guitar in my hands I play my most demanding fingerstyle song over and over for 45 mins or so. It is really helping my guitar competence, not only with that song, but in all my many other fingerstyle songs.

@robarnold6998 3 жыл бұрын

Is it possible that Mr. Emmanuel is the very best guitarist on the planet? I, personally, think so!

@adventuresofdrewnnienhoneypot Жыл бұрын

Yes.

@midnightaustin9287 Жыл бұрын

he is without doubt, richard smith is standing right next to him!

@newnoggin2 5 ай бұрын

He is the best all around guitarist out there.

@MrMudEagle 5 жыл бұрын

How could thumbs down this? Even as a joke...... You could play your whole life, and never reach the pinnacle of this mountain of skill. If you wanna know what mastery looks like you have found it.

@Terrub_Ullum 6 жыл бұрын

“Let me play it through one time for you at just like a MEDIUM pace” ........hahahaha 😂😂😂

@carlmarc3877 6 жыл бұрын

Brett Muller lol right.. What is full pace like haha

@marcusaurelius4526 6 жыл бұрын

came here to say this... like, WTF tommy!!!!

@guitarkis4969 6 жыл бұрын

I was thinking the same thing....holy crap...Medium pace? Yeah, I picked up on all of that!

@billkropp 6 жыл бұрын

HAHHAHAHHAHHAHA

@00big_chungus00 6 жыл бұрын

Carl Marc listen to merle travis play it, it's still not as fast as tommy plays it live

@thebootleggersmusicgroup Ай бұрын

Thank so much for giving my Grandfather the Writers credit on this. Something even Merle did not do, who Was taught it by My grandfather himself.....Excellent version Jonise would have loved it!!!!! Paul The Bootleggers Music Group!~

@drothberg3 6 жыл бұрын

I don't play fingerstyle acoustic, but I love Tommy's playing. He's got to be one of the best guitarists alive.

@TheNinnyfee 4 жыл бұрын

Don't ever give that guy an electric, he would produce sounds with it nobody has ever heard before.

@coryCuc 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheNinnyfee Yep! TE grew up playing the electric! And of course electric is much easier than playing acoustic but his sounds from both are unbelievable.

@ChiliPumpTheFunk 6 жыл бұрын

I really hope someone discovers who this amazing guitarist is today. Tommy Emmanuel literally changed my life for the better. And my guitar playing.

@kegmon 6 жыл бұрын

2x on that.. Saw him at Winfield (Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival) in 2002 and life hasn't been the same since.. much better!

@nathanjones3429 6 жыл бұрын

Me too. Just discovered him.

@hitlereinstein8935 5 жыл бұрын

Ryan i didn’t think I could progress, as a middle aged picker, much. This lesson is amazing. The alternating bass thing, is hard for me. I need to do it. Don’t worry, he is plenty famous, you wouldn’t know it, eh?.

@johndavies4541 6 жыл бұрын

Aaah yes, the ol 'medium pace'. I've never been able to figure out the bug in KZfaq the videos that mysteriously cause them to speed up when Tommy plays. Hope they fix that soon. I'd hate to think he actually plays that fast.

@00big_chungus00 6 жыл бұрын

john davies watch it live

@mikeoliver861 Ай бұрын

Tommy says “I’ll play it for you at a medium pace“ holy cow! That was smoking fast. What a great Guitarist

@robertrockwell6996 6 жыл бұрын

This guitar was in tune when I bought it...I'm using that one!

@robertrockwell6996 6 жыл бұрын

dhfg I think it's a Maton EBG808TE or TE1. I hear they go for 3-5k.

@N.B-0014 6 жыл бұрын

It's the maton ebg808 tommy personal there 5k Aus I have the ebg 808 Te cut away that's was $2500 best money I have ever spent

@wildbillhackett 6 жыл бұрын

That's got to be the oldest guitar joke of all-time, so I wouldn't use it if I were you. It's been done to death.

@keithrowe6608 6 жыл бұрын

I went out back, filled my guitar with dirt, and planted azaleas in the sound hole.

@ricktemmen6272 6 жыл бұрын

Keith Rowe Hilarious

@talmadgebradley8504 5 жыл бұрын

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!

@mr.thomas5186 5 жыл бұрын

Lol you funny!😋

@lobster6792 5 жыл бұрын

Wtf is wrong with you?😂

@cherriemckinstry131 5 жыл бұрын

So nice to hear...

@mikepittman5880 5 жыл бұрын

I don't want to brag but I can play it all the way through, note for note. 😀 The rub is, it takes me 3 days instead 90 seconds! 😂🤣😂🎸😉

@talmadgebradley8504 5 жыл бұрын

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Someone of my comperable skill!

@joemorrow8411 5 жыл бұрын

Good one🤣🤣🤣🤣🎵🎵🎸

@FistPie 5 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂

@haroldarmstrong6288 5 жыл бұрын

Lol

@Genshin_suit 5 жыл бұрын

Nice jobe bro

@mikelembo6657 6 жыл бұрын

When I see or hear Tommy, I almost want to give up on playing guitar. Amazing how a he can play guitar so well. Incredible musician!

@joemorrow8411 5 жыл бұрын

That's a tune with no ending it's a tune that can keep going and going an going like the Energizer bunny rabbit,,,,Awesome 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸👍🇺🇸

@fecklessmovies 5 жыл бұрын

That's the problem with this type of tune. It just goes round and round again and again until your wife threatens to pack her bags and leave 😅

@joemorrow8411 5 жыл бұрын

@@fecklessmovies 🤣🤣🤣🤣🍻🇺🇸

@jonmaclennan 5 жыл бұрын

Wow! Such an incredible song to warm up with! Thank you Tommy! ⚡️🎸

@Aaronius_Maximus 5 жыл бұрын

@ 1:55 such an amazing talent.. I hope Tommy Emmanuel is made to be immortal and just never goes away. True legend here, and one who was inspired by other true legends! This man has not only helped drastically improve my own playing but also introduced and encouraged me to dig more into the likes of Lenny Breau, and of course Chet Atkins.

@carlmarc3877 6 жыл бұрын

Had a grin on my face the whole time listening to this

@nathanjones3429 6 жыл бұрын

Carl Marc can't hear it and not grin. Try playing it.

@talmadgebradley8504 5 жыл бұрын

Yeah,,I agree. I was grinning so hard while watching him play, that my cheeks are hurting.

@KevinFrazer21 4 жыл бұрын

He’s also grinning dum hard right there with us

@jdhitshine 6 жыл бұрын

“Alright enough of this fun””... I was inspired by this, practiced for months, was proud of what I accomplished, back to realize I have failed.

@1000000trs 6 жыл бұрын

Lol, Tommy's idea of "Medium Pace" is this blinding 310 bpm romp ! He's not kidding either. Brilliant !

@maxxxbaggio 2 ай бұрын

OMG! A full Tommy Emmanuel tutorial of this would be SOOOOO appreciated

@hapshan 6 жыл бұрын

I can't even keep up with your leg

@davea2960 6 жыл бұрын

Bahahaha!

@jcee6886 6 жыл бұрын

Spat out my pepsi max laughing

@bdm50 6 жыл бұрын

That's funny

@ricktemmen6272 6 жыл бұрын

hapshan Hilarious

@thememorytraveler4978 5 жыл бұрын

hapshan ahhh haaa!! Now, that’s funny!!!!

@warrengardiner 5 жыл бұрын

Such a top bloke...makes you proud to be a guitarist, a finger picker and an Australian....

@hitlereinstein8935 5 жыл бұрын

Loved the emmanuel brothers tuning up, comic routine. Was lucky to see them. Some get precious, about their skills, but this bloke loves to share.

@Stumpchunkman226 2 жыл бұрын

This man is a treasure!

@edwardwright278 5 жыл бұрын

Ok I just made a coffee table with my Taylor.

@faustinolopez1883 6 жыл бұрын

Now, isn't he a magician. He does it in front of your eyes (even slowly), and you still don't see the trick. This video was posted the day of my birthday, thank you Tommy!.

@stevecoyle1 6 жыл бұрын

Played by the most beloved player of guitarists

@WalterHolokai 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tommy! Wow! This is just what I needed to challenge and improve my thumb speed. I got the chords down but increasing the speed and accuracy is the challenge. Man I needed this tune! Tommy's generosity in sharing his knowledge and technique here on KZfaq is second to none on. Thank you so much!

@bmhyer 6 жыл бұрын

"I use Cannonball Rag as a warmup." This should tell you something. If only he would have the good grace to at least make it LOOK difficult once in a while?!

@stayfocused6374 3 жыл бұрын

I once tried to learn this tune, It took a while just to get the cord changes( slightly different than Tommys) and I never tackled the whole tune. NEVERTHELESS! Playing this for a while makes your hand work like some crazy robot implant!

@dinoloma1575 2 жыл бұрын

ya not very hard for te song its more like medium difficulty

@thememorytraveler4978 5 жыл бұрын

Your enthusiasm and fun puts a smile on my face, a jive to my step and hug in my heart!!

@og_jakey 2 ай бұрын

a - fricking'men. absolutely does

@carolynjones6457 5 жыл бұрын

Fantastic, great guitar playing, with a bit of Chet Atkins style thrown in. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

@brianfauteux7711 5 ай бұрын

"This guitar was in tune when I bought it " Thanks Tommy,very funny. Gonna remember that one!

@onixtheone 6 жыл бұрын

If we could keep a human on earth forever I’d pick tommy Emmanuel

@adambond589 6 жыл бұрын

Onix Junes my thoughts exactly a gift from god

@JonathanLukeAvery 6 жыл бұрын

Couldn’t agree more!

@asmunddahlin1603 5 жыл бұрын

I’d guitar pick Tommy Emmanuel too

@robertterry2838 5 жыл бұрын

tommy would pick chet.

@gentx2160 3 жыл бұрын

Great piece for warm up! Yeah Right!

@GeeForceQ17 6 жыл бұрын

Wow! Speechless. Just wow!

@MrJab-hv1wt 4 жыл бұрын

This guy is amazing!!! Best guitar player and such an connecting person! 👏🏻

@maximelepage5928 6 жыл бұрын

Yes Tommy we enjoyed that! I'm a big Cannonball Rag fan, you play a refreshing version!

@erlethepearl 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Tommy.

@johnbahler 5 жыл бұрын

When you watch in slow motion you can really see how happy each individual note makes him.

@dannychurcvh6558 5 жыл бұрын

your warmup even kicks ass. love it.

@davidfournier205 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tom watching everything you do sir

@ignacioalonso1438 5 жыл бұрын

Tommy you are one of the best guitar players i know!!!! Amazing playing

@CGDGCD 6 жыл бұрын

As great a player as Tommy is, he still has the drive and desire to push himself to get even better. That's the lesson for us all!

@azzuro195 6 жыл бұрын

Dear Tommy, You didn't have to show us this, but you did, but you did, but you did, and I thank you.

@WalterHolokai 6 жыл бұрын

Update: Thank you Tommy for posting this great video. I just found it a couple of weeks ago and can't stop playing it. I especially like the Chet rip-off sequence. You're right! It does get the blood pumping. I haven't got the little walk down thing with the hand off the neck yet nor the chromatic runs. I'll dissect them later after I get the "head" and body of the tune down. I love this thing! Thanks Tommy!!!

@twist2723 5 жыл бұрын

So, what he’s actually saying, for all of you critics, is ... “Here’s a Merle Travis song, played my way”.....

@grayling0865 5 жыл бұрын

I love this so much!!!

@srm8866 10 ай бұрын

Someone call 911 and send the fire department to put the fire on that guitar fretboard out! My gosh, that's some awesome playing - what an inspiration!

@bad0beef 4 жыл бұрын

Tommy is simply brilliant. An awesome performer.

@bdizzle715 5 жыл бұрын

Frickin awesome. So cool to get actual lessons from such a master. You do make it look easy. Well here goes ...

@plutomoon8106 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the fun.

@giuseppecannavo6152 2 жыл бұрын

Thank's so much, great tutorial! You are fantastic !!!

@satyakaamkatznelson8915 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tommy!

@Anonymoose 6 жыл бұрын

Absolutely fascinating! And a great tutorial on how to build Cannonball into a workout! I love it! I've played it, yes, but I've never pushed it. Time to get serious.....

@ACEDBH 5 жыл бұрын

That was awesome!

@jeffschelling2064 Жыл бұрын

It’s scary and sad that Tommy’s warm ups are my goals.

@Hawijack 5 жыл бұрын

I recently saw him live! Amazing and down to earth pleasant man.

@coryCuc 3 жыл бұрын

I've met him several times. The most down to earth, humble person I've ever met. Agree with you a thousand percent.

@proffd972 5 жыл бұрын

Brillant. Keep this sort ofvthing coming.

@josefk5659 6 жыл бұрын

I'm a grown man and I cried watching this. I've never felt more incapable of anything in my life.

@SandboxBullies 5 жыл бұрын

Amazing Tommy

@williamdixon8038 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you so so much and happy Easter

@DeepVoicePH 4 жыл бұрын

This exercise was so very effective for me, it was so great having this ideas it helps me a lot thanks to our CGP Tommy Emmanuel! ❤🎸

@terrygrubbs8626 4 жыл бұрын

In my opinion, Tommy Emmanuel has no equal! I wonder if any of his magic has surfaced in his children?

@paulmera7677 11 ай бұрын

Awesome man! ✨👌

@thegsr 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I'v been playing this tune for years and there's some real gems in here to add some spice. Thanks god for the slow down setting in youtube

@billdowney1487 4 жыл бұрын

I use it all the time

@pascaljacobs8979 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah and Tommy sounds like he's on dope 🤣🤣🤣

@stevennieto9898 5 жыл бұрын

That was badass.

@donrutter6765 5 жыл бұрын

I saw him play in a real small venue, it was amazing.

@harveymccluskey3270 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!!!!

@harvendarbains3864 6 жыл бұрын

Simply the best!

@donrutter6765 5 жыл бұрын

I saw Tommy play about 5 years back at a little tiny venue, it was amazing.

@mr.thomas5186 5 жыл бұрын

Saw him at bb Kings in NY myself... incredible

@cherriemckinstry131 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome...great to listen...

@thedolphin5428 2 жыл бұрын

The man is just ... ... ... indescribable.

@arizonanumbersstation1727 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic!

@francescomortillaro5645 4 жыл бұрын

Guys I have some good news. After one whole year of practicing this song everytime that I pick up the guitar, I have made it to the point where I can comfortably play the opening part at 75% speed!👍 It got a lot easier when I had the picking pattern down and stopped trying to be so precise with the fingers, it kinda feels like you are slapping your fingers against the strings while also playing them with good tone.

@Idiomatick 2 жыл бұрын

2 years now, how goes it?

@francescomortillaro5645 2 жыл бұрын

@@Idiomatick 2 years later I'm able to play the whole song! Not quite at the speed of Tommy, I'd say 75% speed was a fair guess lmao. Still one of my favorite songs to play. Everytime I pick up an acoustic this is the first song I play.

@9mmsafetyalwaysoff00 2 жыл бұрын

@@francescomortillaro5645 Im about to dive into this and spend 10 hours on it. I do the same thing, I'll wake up and play claptons version of classical gas. the thumb is going to be a big change for me on this though

@stephenbouchelle7706 3 жыл бұрын

Great lesson. I didn’t get a dang thing, but sure was fun to watch.

@incubatorbass 29 күн бұрын

This is like watching a rocket launch and then trying to build a rocket yourself. still, thank you Tommy!

@dougm659 6 жыл бұрын

Saw Tommy in England last year, just a fantastic player and human being, he radiates positive energy. Going to see Mike Dawes tonight and I'm sure it'll be jaw dropping technically, interested to see how he "performs" and engages with the audience.

@siddahrtam8132 3 жыл бұрын

Tom Emmanuel sei il migliore chitarrista al mondo....the Best.

@djurt02 3 жыл бұрын

One of the nicest people I’ve ever met!

@blueshade5553 5 жыл бұрын

Love it!

@zuhlenhuth 6 жыл бұрын

This video is great!

@youwaisef 6 жыл бұрын

Great video

@ronj8000 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!!!

@andrekarsenty1 5 жыл бұрын

You are the best really , thanks

@dwebster50 6 жыл бұрын

I know now what I want to be when I grow up ... TE is the best of the best , Chet bestowed the CGP to a guitar players wonder. You can have lots of fun with this video . Thanks for posting Alberta Dave

@law13ie29 6 жыл бұрын

"Greeting's Thrill Seekers" couldn't be more true !!

@leskobrandon8454 4 жыл бұрын

I love this guy here!!

@ronnywinqvist6300 3 ай бұрын

He’s one of the best guitarists in the world. But sometimes I think less is more. To show all your technical skills and play as fast as you can in every song often ”kills” the melody of the song.

@alexanderbaytin5022 6 жыл бұрын

The key to cleanly changing chords in that exercise is in the fact that each chord sequence ends with an open G note. You have to start changing left hand position before you start playing those G notes, not after. This buys a whole eights note worth of time, which is significant.