News and Photos

News, Articles, and Photos

Chet's Advice for Becoming a Better Musician

Bob Foster

During the 20^th century, many excellent guitarists emerged and left their marks. Among these were Eddie Lang, Segovia, Django, Les Paul, Merle Travis, and of course, Chet Atkins. Each of the above-mentioned musicians were known innovators who established their own unique style of playing guitar. Today the music of Django and Chet still captures more attention than all of the others, even years after their deaths. Why is this so? Why are they still the most copied? I believe it is because both truly touched our souls in ways few others have been able to do.

If you have ever attended a Chet Atkins performance, or even just listened to his recordings, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. How was he able to do this; what made him such a great musician to have had this effect on us? An effect that makes some of us want to sound and be like Chet. Buying the same type of guitar, amp, strings, and polka-dotted shirt might help, but it is not the answer. While we may have been busy learning from tab and buying the same equipment, we probably ignored the real secrets and advice that he has been giving us through the years. Advice revealed in interviews and for magazine articles; advice given to us perhaps from a personal relationship with him, or simply by listening and truly analyzing the deeper elements. It is, however, not in playing note-for-note.

I have been very fortunate to have known Chet personally, to have had the opportunity to have been around him when some of the “secrets” have been given to others. I have savored every comment he has shed in all of those interviews and magazine articles. I have spoken with, and listened, to others who have taken his advice.

I will now attempt to list some of the advice that Chet has given for becoming a better musician:

#1 It is in the hands, the individual touch, and in the expression of emotion that touches the

inner soul, not the equipment.

#2 Play a style that you want to play, not one that you think others want you to play.

#3 When learning a song, the first thing is to figure out the chords, find the substitution, and

the inversions that will enhance the tune.

#4 Do not memorize the song, but only “kind of know it.” That way it is an expression of

emotion at that moment.

#5 When you play, don’t play mechanically, play like you are singing the notes.

#6 Don’t learn from tab. (Do you think Chet learned from someone else’s tab? Probably

not often if at all)

#7 Play like yourself…be recognized by your style.

#8 Don’t copy. It’s okay to borrow, but never copy. Chet played “I’ll See You in My

Dreams” and it wasn’t like Merle Travis or Django Reinhardt’s versions. It was his own

rendition, with maybe an occasional borrowed lick thrown in. (Chet had no respect for

the copycats. Besides, who does like a counterfeit?)

#9 Most importantly, don’t over-play. Chet said, “ A good musician should be like a good

poet, he should use as few notes (or words) as possible to convey the thought and

feeling.” Les Paul said essentially the same thing. He felt that overplaying is a sure sign of a poor musician,

and that while you may appear to be a flashy at first, it will tire the listener eventually, and you lose the respect of others.

Chet felt that when playing with others, a good musician should not showboat, but instead hang back and help others sound their best.

#10 Don't over-stay your welcome. Chet said, "There's a difference between being an artist and being an entertainer.

An entertainer knows when to leave the stage."

#11 Slow down so the listener can savor your music. Fast and flashy is unnecessary and usually undesirable.

#12 Stay close to the melody. Don’t just play notes to fill up space.

#13 Musical rests are just as important as the notes.

#14 Help others be successful.

How much of Chet’s advice are you following? Some feel that Chet may have been the best guitarist in the history of the instrument. He is definitely one of the most-admired and most-copied. Gospel guitarist Dwayne Friend said it best one year at the CAAS convention in Nashville, Tennessee. He said, “If Jesus was here today, He would be the best guitarist.” I like to think the same thing. I don’t believe that Jesus would be trying to impress folks with being fast and flashy, copying off of others, or show-boating.

In conclusion, be recognized by your own style, stay close to the melody, and don’t over-play. And the best advice for being and sounding more like Chet is to save your money on that polka-dotted shirt like he wore… it doesn’t work. – Bob Foster

(Bob Foster is a member of the Gospel Guitar Society. He is the author of the highly-acclaimed instruction book, “Bob Foster’s SuperChord System for Guitar” and is owner of the Hedgehog Music Showcase, a live music venue in Arcadia, Indiana.)