How to Play Chet Atkins' Style on Country Guitar

Chet Atkins was a country guitarist and singer who was influential in creating a picking style that many people try to master. Chet Atkins created his first album in 1952. His songs have still been added to compilation albums even after his death in 2001.

Instructions

1. Create a bass line. Bass lines vary from song to song. Chet Atkins normally used one chord for the bass line and shifted octaves from one beat to another and back, alternating between two octaves.

2. Keep the bass line going through the rest of the song. Some guitarists use a pick to do the bass line. Hold the pick between your index finger and thumb. Another option is to use only your thumb.

3. Create a melody with your pinkie, ring and middle fingers while you keep the bass line going. This takes great coordination. It may take a few months to master this skill.

4. Practice playing both the base line and the melody at the same time. With Chet Atkins' style of guitar, practice is the key. Condition your fingers to work in coordination with one another.

5. Try out Chet Atkins' style at various speeds and with different songs to get full knowledge of what this style does for your guitar playing.

Tips & Warnings

• Chet Atkins' style of guitar is mostly heard in country music, but some blues and blue grass musicians have also adopted his style.