Chet (Chester) Atkins is the best-known, most
influential fingerstyle guitarist of recent times! Volumes have been written about him
and his accolades are numerous. The following summary is by no means
complete. You may check the sources listed below for more information.
Born in Tennessee in 1924, Chet grew up on a farm surrounded by musical
relatives. He picked up uke, mandolin, fiddle, and guitar early in life. At
the age of 18, Chet landed a job as staff guitarist at Knoxville powerhouse
KNOX radio. In 1946, after marrying Leona Johnson, Chet worked briefly in
Nashville with Red Foley at the Grand Ole Opry.
After several other short-lived jobs in various cities, Atkins returned
in 1948 to Knoxville to work with Homer and Jethro. This was followed by
associations with the Carter Sisters and Fred Rose. Chet quickly became one
of Nashville’s most respected session musicians. By 1953, Atkins was doing a
lot of session work for RCA. In 1954, Chet’s first LP, Gallopin’ Guitar,
was released, and that same year he was given his own radio show on WSM. The
following year, Gretsch invited Atkins to design his own signature guitar.
In 1957, RCA opened its own stand-alone recording studio in Nashville and
put Atkins in charge of finding talent as well as producing and playing on
records. He stayed in this position through the ‘60s while also recording
many of his own albums. After helping create many hits for others, Atkins
finally had his own Top-Five single in 1965 with “Yakety Axe.”
In the 1970’s, Chet relaxed his duties with RCA and focused on developing
musical relationships. Through the rest of his life Chet collaborated with
a number of well-known players including Jerry Reed and Lenny Breau, among
others. Chet left RCA and signed with Columbia in 1982. In 1997, diagnosed
with a cancerous brain tumor, Chet underwent surgery. Thereafter, he would
only play with friends on occasion or make brief, non-playing public appearances
at local events. Chet Atkins passed away on June 30, 2001. He will be
missed.
Need Help Choosing The Right
Guitar Book or Video? Peabody
Conservatory
trained guitarist Steven Herron is available to answer your questions and make recommend-
ations that will help you become a better guitarist! Just call Toll-Free
1-800-913-9477 now!!
Chet Atkins - Pickin' Like Chet - Vol 1 - 2 DVD
Set
Chet Atkins was a true master of the guitar. One
of his greatest skills was his uncanny ability to discover songs that would
"work" as fingerstyle arrangements and then use his musical genius to turn them
into superb guitar masterpieces. National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion Pat
Kirtley has assembled a unique collection of favorites from Chet's "Golden Era"
and teaches you all the secrets of how to play them as well as how to duplicate
the sound of the original recordings in this exciting DVD set! Pat carefully
dissects each and every song and then puts them back together - step by step -
so that you not only learn how to play them, but also get a sense of the feel
and history of each unique solo guitar piece. Split-screen viewing allows you to
study both the left and right hands in great detail. Tunes include: "Hidden
Charm, Mystery Train, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, St. Louis Blues, Oh By
Jingo, Chinatown My Chinatown".
(173 min). Booklet
included......................................................Price - $39.95
"Hidden Charm"
Chet Atkins - Pickin' Like Chet - Vol 2 - 2 DVD
Set
Chet Atkins was a true master of the guitar. One
of his greatest skills was his uncanny ability to discover songs that would
"work" as fingerstyle arrangements and then use his musical genius to turn them
into superb guitar masterpieces. National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion Pat
Kirtley has assembled a unique collection of favorites from Chet's "Golden Era"
and teaches you all the secrets of how to play them as well as how to duplicate
the sound of the original recordings in this exciting DVD set! Pat carefully
dissects each and every song and then puts them back together - step by step -
so that you not only learn how to play them, but also get a sense of the feel
and history of each unique solo guitar piece. Split-screen viewing allows you to
study both the left and right hands in great detail. Tunes include: "Alice
Blue Gown, Down Home, Drive In, Makin' Believe, Rose Ann, Say Si Si, Side by
Side, Somebody's Knockin' The Poor People of Paris, Trambone, Villa". Bonus
performance by Chet for the following songs: "Makin' Believe, Say Si Si, Side by
Side, The Poor People of Paris, Villa".
(122 min). Booklet
included......................................................Price - $39.95
"Down Home"
Chet Atkins - The Guitar of Chet
Atkins - DVD
In this outstanding DVD, Chet Atkins ( Mr.
Guitar ) performs and teaches in detail, phrase by phrase, the playing of nine
of his unique solo guitar fingerstyle arrangements! Split-screen techniques
allow you
to carefully study
both his left and right hand techniques and fingerings. Here is your chance to
study with and learn from the most versatile fingerstyle guitarist in history!
Songs include: "Maybelle, Petite Waltz,
Happy Again, When You Wish
Upon A Star, Londonderry Aire (Danny Boy), Young Thing, Bye Bye Blackbird, Mr.
BoJangles and Lover Come
Back".
(84 min)
Booklet included. Fingerstyle....................................Price
- $29.95
"Mr. Bojangles"
Chet Atkins - Guitar
Thumb Picking, Musicianship & Technique - DVD
The legendary Chet Atkins conferred the
title "C.G.P." (Country Guitar Picker) on his close friend and Nashville pickin'
buddy Steve Wariner. On this highly detailed instructional DVD lesson, Steve
pays tribute to his mentor teaching ear-catching compositions and arrangements
which demonstrate important elements of Chet's guitar styles and techniques!
Songs include: "John Henry, Leaving Luttrell, I'm Already Taken, Holes In The
Floor Of Heaven, Two Tear Drops and Reeding Out Loud (a special tribute tune for
Jerry Reed)". Printable PDF file on DVD includes notation and tab!
(90 min)..........................................................................................Price - $29.95
Chet Atkins - Almost Alone - Book
Includes: "Big Foot, Waiting For Susie B, A
Little Mark Musik,
Jam Man, I Still Write Your Name In The Snow, Pu, Uana Hulu, Happy Again, Sweet Alla Lee,
Maybelle, Mr.
Bojangles, Cheek To Cheek, You Do Something To Me, Ave Maria".
Notation/tab/Fingerstyle..........................................................Price - $19.95
Chet Atkins - The Best of Chet Atkins - Book and CD
A step-by-step breakdown of the guitar
styles and techniques of "Mr. Guitar" taught by Chad Johnson. Explore the
groundbreaking styles of one of
the world's most legendary guitarists - Chet
Atkins! Each piece
is accompanied by full performance notes and
explanations and all are included
in the accompanying CD. Songs include: "Big Foot, Blue Angel, Cascade, Chinatown
My Chinatown, Country Gentleman, Galloping On The Guitar, A Little Mark Music,
Mister
Sandman, So Soft Your Goodbye, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Yakety Axe,
You Do Something To Me".
Notation and tab........................................................................Price - $22.95
Chet Atkins - Contemporary Styles - Book
Includes: "Alisha, Avalon, Blue Angel,
Cascade,
Chinook Winds, Cosmic Square Dance, Imagine, Jethreaux, Knuckle Busters, Mockingbird
Variations, My
Song, Please Stay Tuned, Which Way Del Vecchio, Windy And Warm".
Notation and tab / Fingerstyle.................................................Price - $19.95
Chet Atkins - Get Started On Guitar -
Book and DVD
Chet teaches
you all the guitar basics
including tips on
tuning, changing chords and fingerpicking plus you'll have fun learning to play
"Yesterday,
Jambalaya,
Country
Roads, New Guitar Blues, In Tunisia, On Top Of Old Smokey, Playing For Scale,
Greensleeves,
Pickin
Produce, A Quick Picker, Yankee Doodle Dixie". For each song you'll learn the chords,
the
melody,
plus some
of Chet's hottest licks - all carefully explained. Split-screen close-ups let you see
exactly
how
each phrase is
played.
Notation and tab........................................................................Price
- $24.95
Chet Atkins - The Chet Atkins Guitar Method - Book and CD
Contains numerous picking studies,
chord etudes, and
great Atkins style guitar solos. Features transcriptions of some of Chet's finest
recorded solos including: "Long,
Long Ago, The Marine Hymn, Martha, Tiptoe, Our Boys Will Shine, The Caissons Go Rolling
Along, The Blue
Tail Fly, Bicycle Built For Two, Oh My Darling Clementine, My Mountain Home, The Wayfarin'
Stranger,
America The Beautiful, Old Folks At Home, Home On The Range, Red River Valley, Waltz in E
Minor, March
Majestic, Prelude in D Minor, Mist In The Valley, The Streets of Laredo, Smoky Mountain
Lullaby, Drink To
Me Only With My Eyes, Love Song, Tenting Tonight, Careless Love, Ode To Bob, Chopin's
Prelude, Spanish
Fandango, Just As I Am, John Henry, Me And Merle, Wimoweh, Liebestraum,
Czardas".
Notation and tab /
Fingerstyle.................................................Price
- $24.95
Chet Atkins - In Three Dimensions: 50 Years of
Legendary Guitar - Vol 1 - Book
This book
presents 22 of Chet's greatest pieces (19 solos and 3 duets). It includes rare
photographs, great music and
interviews from the people who loved him the most, such as Chet's daughter Merle
Atkins Russel, Jerry
Reed, Eddy Arnold, Harry Warner and Vince Gill. Songs include: "Caravan, Black
Mountain Rag, Minuet
(J.S. Bach), Heartaches, Streets of Laredo, Lagrima, Take Five, Going Home,
Music to Watch Girls By,
Avalon, Minute Waltz, Mainstreet Breakdown, The Stars and Stripes Forever, Drive
In, Jerry's Breakdown,
Choro da Saudade, Recuerdos de la Alhambra, When You Wish Upon a Star, Oh By
Jingo, Nashtown Ville,
La Vie en Rose, Vincent (Starry Starry Night).
Notation and
tab........................................................................Price - $34.95
Chet Atkins - In Three Dimensions: 50 Years of
Legendary Guitar - Vol 2 - Book
Here is the
much-anticipated second book in the highly acclaimed series that showcases
personal insights into the life and music of “Mr. Guitar.” Chet Atkins was a man of many layers:
producer, record executive, friend and one of the greatest all-round guitarist in music history. This book
is dedicated to the musicians and songwriters that meant so much to him. Interviews include: Dolly Parton,
Steve Wariner, John D. Loudermilk, Mark Knopfler, Paul Yandell, Jerry Byrd, Janis Ian, Boots Randolph,
Wayne Carson and many
more of Chet’s closest friends. Volume 2 provides
definitive transcriptions (many for the first time) of 26 of Chet's greatest solos and duets including: “Liza,
Muskrat Ramble, Smile, Frankie and Johnny, La Madrugada (The Early Dawn), Embraceable You, Estudio
Brillante, Black Mountain Rag, Flop-Eared Mule and Other Classics, Gallopin' On
The Guitar, Winter
Walkin', Sweet Georgia Brown, The Entertainer, Long Long Ago, Stump Water,
Autumn Leaves, Levee
Walking, Alice Blue Gown, Dark Eyes, Little Music Box, Rainbow, Canned Heat, Cancion del Viento (Song
of the Wind), Mister Sandman" and the tour de force piece- Jerry Reed’s
“Lightning Rod” (a work recorded
by Jerry Reed and produced by Chet Atkins). Rare photographs, loving tributes
and great music are the
heart of this wonderful volume-a must for all fans of the guitar.
Notation and
tab (375 pages)...................................................Price - $49.95
Chet Atkins - In Three Dimensions: Chet Licks - 2 DVD Set
Like having a private
master class from a Master Coach, watch the author on DVD teaching and conveying
his very special knowledge of guitar and Chet. Taught by John McClellan, with close-up views of the
right and left hands, "Chet Atkins in Three Dimensions - Chet Licks" clearly explains and defines the
musical philosophy and style that made Chet Atkins the "singular" figure of finger-style guitar in the 20th
century. Virtuoso guitarist and friend of the Atkins family, John demonstrates Chet's techniques (alternating bass,
slurs, cross-string scales, arpeggios, tone production, artificial harmonics, signature licks, runs and more) and
discusses the key elements of Chet's musicianship. John uses graded musical examples from pieces such as
"Avalon, Canned Heat, Take Five, Mainstreet Breakdown" and many others. Filmed with high quality video and
audio, "Chet Licks" is a must for the guitarist who desires to learn unique playing techniques from this
American master…Mr. Chet Atkins.
(123 min)......................................................................................Price
- $29.95
Chet Atkins & Mark Knopfler - Neck and
Neck - Book
Includes "I'll See You
In My Dreams,
Just One Time, The Next Time I'm In Town, Poor Boy Blues, So Soft Your Goodbye,
Sweet Dreams, Tahitian
Skies, Tears, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Yakety Axe".
Notation and
tab........................................................................Price -$19.95
Chet Atkins - Off The Record
- Book
Includes: "I'll Say She
Does, Me And Merle, Yankee Doodle
Dixie, Mr. Bojangles, Walk Don't Run, Wheels, The Odd Folks of Okracoke, Yellow
Bird, Windy and Warm,
Just As I Am, John Henry, Spanish Fandango, Wimoweh, Liebestraum, Czardas".
Notation and tab /
Fingerstyle.................................................Price
- $12.95
Chet Atkins - Plays Back Home Hymns - Book
Includes: "Take My Hand Precious Lord,
Amazing Grace, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, In The Garden, When They Ring The Golden
Bells, Just As
I Am, Further Along, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, The Old Rugged Cross, Lonesome Valley,
God Be With
You, Were You There".
Notation and tab........................................................................Price - $14.95
Chet Atkins - Vintage Fingerstyle - Book
Includes: "Arkansas Traveler, Blue Echo,
Chinatown
My Chinatown, The Claw, Lady Madonna, Lover Come Back To Me, My Little Waltz, Oh By Jingo
Oh By
Gee You're the Only Girl For Me, Slinkey, Trambone, When You Wish Upon a Star, Wobegon
(The Way It
Used To Be), Yankee Doodle Dixie".
Notation and
tab........................................................................Price
- $19.95
Chet Atkins - Rare Performances 1955 -
1975 - DVD
Performances from the Purina Show,
1955: "The Poor People Of Paris, Side By Side, Makin' Believe", Ozark Jubilee,
1958: "Villa, Say Si Si", Norway, 1963: Levee Walking, Wildwood Flower, Yes Ma'am, Malaguena, Medley: Greensleeves/Streets
Of Laredo, Peanut Vendor, Tiger Rag", Nashville Cavalcade, 1973: "Alhambra, Black Mountain
Rag, Medley: Windy & Warm/Back Home In Indiana/Country Gentleman/Mr. Sandman/Wildwood Flower/ Freight Train,
Medley: The Three Bells/I Can't Stop Loving you/Java/He'll Have To Go/When You're Hot You're Hot/Oh
Lonesome Me, Just Another Rag, Mr. Bojangles, Misionera, Wheels" Porter Wagoner Show, 1973:
"Muskrat Ramble" , Pop Goes The Country, 1975: "Vincent"
(60
min)........................................................................................Price - $24.95
Chet Atkins - Rare Performances 1976 -
1995 - DVD
In this second DVD, we see
Chet's tonal palette draw varied colors from electric guitars, nylon-string classics, and
even a resophonic guitar. Foremost in this collection are his traditional strengths as a tasteful soloist,
but we also see him swap licks with the fiery Jerry Reed and Larry Carlton. The overall impression made by these
performances is one of a master quietly demonstrating his continued primacy in his field and doing so with a
calm assurance unabated by needless grandstanding. Tunes include, "I'll Say She Does, Hawaiian
Wedding Song, Cascade, Don't Think Twice It's All Right, Kentucky, Stars and Stripes Forever, You Needed Me,
Dance With Me, Malaguena, Sukiyaki, Me and Bobby McGee, Knuckle Buster, Sunrise, I still Can't Say
Goodbye, Rainbow, There'll Be Some Changes Made, Yankee Doodle Dixie Medley: Windy & Warm/ Mr.
Sandman/Wildwood Flower/ The Bells Of St. Mary's/ In The Good Old Summertime/ Freight Train/ Yakety Axe,
Young Thing, Happy Again, Lover Come Back".
(71
min)........................................................................................Price -
$24.95
Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed - In Concert
At The Bottom Line - DVD
Chet Atkins
and Jerry Reed in concert together - what a treat! These two masters of the guitar
complemented each other so well that it is hard to imagine one without the other! Their careers intertwined for
almost 40 years. They were in the limelight again as a duet in 1992 with another Grammy award wining album,
"Sneakin' Around". That CD led to several show dates together, including this performance at the Bottom Line. The
instrumentals that were shared by these two guitar giants will be played and studied as long as there are
guitarists on this planet. Titles include: "Copper Kettle, Waltz For The Lonely, Bye Bye Blackbird, Don't Think Twice
Its All Right, Pushin', Downhome Music, Reedology, There'll Be Some Changes Made, PMS I Guess, Hormones, Sneakin'
Around, Georgia On My Mind, I Still Can't Say Goodbye, Summertine, Medley: Windy and Warm/ Mister
Sandman / Wildwood Flower/ I'll See You In My Dreams / Freight Train / Yakety Axe, The Claw,
Vincent, Three Little
Words"
(84
min)........................................................................................Price
- $24.95
For your FREE report "Understanding Chord Harmonies, Embellishments, and
Substitutions."
and to sign up for the Free Guitar
Lesson of the Month, just click the "Subscribe" button below.
Your first guitar lesson will arrive shortly thereafter. You'll be learning some exciting, new guitar
pieces in no time!
You can easily place your
order Toll Free by calling 1-800-913-9477 now!
OR click on this link to use our Secure
Order Form
All orders are backed by
our "exclusive" 30-Day No-Risk Guarantee!
Hear
Our Guarantee!
FREE Report on Guitar Chords & Harmonizations - Receive it now! (See Home Page) FREE Book - "Jazz Guitar Chords & Arpeggio Patterns" by
Stacy McKee (with 1st order)
30 Day No-Risk Money Back Guarantee on ALL books and
videos - hear our guarantee!
