Friday, June 16, 2006

When you play by yourself, you make stuff up

The other night WUNC television showed a documentary on the Carter Family. For the first time "Single Girl/Married Girl" hit my ears and I understood why AP stopped in to hear Sara sing. The music would never be the same from that moment.

More impressive was learning that Maybelle invented the Carter style of strumming. Self-taught, she had to play the bass notes and the rhythm herself--a style that reminds of 8-string guitar player Charlie Hunter when he contorts and stretches his fingers as much he does his face to play a funky bass and gracious jazz melodies.

Have a great weekend.

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