Chording

[RobinG]

Our little trio is working more and more on early Monroe - the mandolin is coming along: it's very clear what Monroe does,we can get the harmonies ok, but we cannot figure out what the guitar is doing- songs like Rocky Road blues: it seems as if there is something like ragtime chords going on, but try as we might we just cannot figure it out. The boom chick just doesn't do it right: obviously as we have no bass player we need to adapt to get a bass note in there, but I would love suggestions for how to approach this guitar style. The end result is so perfect!
thanks
Robin

[earthsave]

Dont know if this helps or not, but I believe Charlie Monroe, and later Lester Flatt and Carter Stanley used a thumb pick.

[RobinG]

I discovered something - the particular session in Feb 1945 was done by one Tex Willis who apparently was a swing guitarist. He is playing closed chords in a swing style I think- so the answer to my question is that if we pursue this string band style, we need to get a book on country swing guitar!
Best
Robin