James Taylor

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

I've been a fan since 1970. In those days (IIRC) he was playing Gibson dreadnoughts. These days he uses something custom built that I could afford even less than a Gibbo dread.

I noticed this from @Brize in another thread about the Gibson Blues King:

"Yeah, it kinda does what it says on the tin. It's great for Robert Johnson blues; less great if you want to play James Taylor stuff."

and it got me thinking, what would you recommend for playing James Taylor stuff?

tbh I find the necks on most acoustics leave the strings a bit too close together for accurate positioning of the fretting fingers (to avoid fouling the next string) - or maybe my technique has got lazy through years of single-note electric playing - but there's no way I'd want something as wide as a Spanish guitar.

Brize · January 2014

Having spent a bit more time with my Blues King I'm inclined to revise that opinion a little bit. It's no lap piano but it's a more versatile guitar than I'd originally thought. Maybe I just lucked out and got a good one.

I guess you've been playing guitars with a 1 11/16" nut width if you've found the string spacing too cramped - fingerstyle players often prefer a 1 3/4" nut width. James Taylor cut those early 70s hits with a Gibson J50. Gibson were messing around with nut widths in the mid to late 60s but I think their standard nut width falls between 1 11/16" and 1 3/4".

bertie · January 2014

Phil_aka_Pip said:

and it got me thinking, what would you recommend for playing James Taylor stuff?

serious, non piss-taking answer, based on your last paragraph and unless you have sausage fingers - practice your technique

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

@bertie you may well be right. I've found recently that my Gretsch "Jim Dandy" parlour has become easier to play in this respect, probably because it's been sitting around and I just pick it up to play ... and no I don't have pork sausages for fingers.

physical dimensions aside, what is there that's affordable that gets close to JT's sound?

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

Brize said:

I guess you've been playing guitars with a 1 11/16" nut width if you've found the string spacing too cramped - fingerstyle players often prefer a 1 3/4" nut width. James Taylor cut those early 70s hits with a Gibson J50. Gibson were messing around with nut widths in the mid to late 60s but I think their standard nut width falls between 1 11/16" and 1 3/4".

Apart from playing my parlour at home, I've been playing a 1974 SG Std (non-fingerpicking mode, natch) in recent weeks. It has a seriously slim neck, on which I could not hope to fingerpick! Fortunately, for that job I was not required to.

ToneControl · January 2014

I can play normal 1.75 inch acoustics quite well, but I do have a Larrivee SD-60, which is 1 and 7/8 inch wide

http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/60/SD60.php

This is easier when playing more classical stuff, or playing DADGAD, etc. where you're higher up the neck, but still with some open strings ringing

There's no shame in wide nuts, classicals are 2 inches

but.. I think many acoustics have the nut cut too high, and that causes this sort of issue in the bottom 4-5 frets, I assume you have eliminated that possibility?

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

One Christmas, my missus gave me the tab book to JT's Greatest Hits, because there were a few I'd always wanted to play, but particularly Something. Turns out it's a tad more complex than I imagined it would be, so I struggled manfully with it for a bit then gave in until I could find a teacher who could help me out.

"Is there anything specific you'd like to learn?"

Yes this. I refuse point blank to be beaten by a fucking hippy.

My teacher did what he could with me before we both admitted the inevitable.

The hippy won.

Still love him, though.

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

@TheOtherDennis is it the mark of a master that he makes the impossibly tricky look so easy

wordy · January 2014

I'm pretty sure there are a couple of videos on justinguitar, some lick library stuff, and also there's this guy https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/the-artist-collections/james-taylor-guitar-lessons/

I've had a go at a couple of things, certainly Fire & Rain... and of course its not easy, but I don't reckon you need a special nut width.... just a lot of practice.

In terms of the guitar I would just say something full and warm sounding, rather than a blues/parlour guitar.

Excellent taste btw

wordy · January 2014

I'm pretty sure there are a couple of videos on justinguitar, some lick library stuff, and also there's this guy https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/the-artist-collections/james-taylor-guitar-lessons/

I've had a go at a couple of things, certainly Fire & Rain... and of course its not easy, but I don't reckon you need a special nut width.... just a lot of practice.

In terms of the guitar I would just say something full and warm sounding, rather than a blues/parlour guitar.

Excellent taste btw

ESBlonde · January 2014

On JTs own website he has a few videos teaching specifics.

Whist it doesn't cover every hit song he ever had, it gives a nice insight to his thought process and playing approach.

http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/index.html

I saw him a couple of years ago and he has adapted his live playing to be very managable so don't be too put off.

A great entertainer as well as songsmith. Colour me a fan.

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

Nice one ESB, I'll be having a look at that!

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

Phil_aka_Pip said:

@TheOtherDennis is it the mark of a master that he makes the impossibly tricky look so easy

Indeed.

DavidRees · January 2014

he has a very weird way of fingering a root position A major chord - using his first finger for the C sharp to allow his strongest finger for those hammer ons he is so fond of ... a marvellous musician !

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

correct, and his fingering of the open D major chord is also back to front compare with the rest of us. Still, don't knock it, he's made enough out of it!

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

My word, that guitar in the videos sounds utterly sublime! What is it? It's gorgeous.

Ace camera work, too, a great way to show someone how it goes. (I still doubt I'd ever be able to manage it, though!

)

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

He's coming to the UK in September, but tickets are £53.20 each for Brum, and then the touts, sorry ticket services, want to add their lump of fees to them, typically 6 quid a go.

Yeesh, I've not been to a gig for longer than I thought!

ESBlonde · January 2014

Do it Dennis, he's getting old and will stop touring one day. There will be fewer chances than you think. ;-)

In fact I might drag my sorry arse to Brummingham for that one.

TheOtherDennis · January 2014

Can't argue with what you're saying, it's a very fair point, but I just don't have 120 quid to spend on a single night out for me and the missus. :-S (Well, not with our current cash flow, anyway.)

Tone71 · January 2014

Love that JT guitar lessons link, it`s players/songs like that that first made me want to pick up a guitar.

Phil_aka_Pip · January 2014

@Tone71 Indeed Sir! 'Twas back in 1970 when I first heard Sweet Baby James that I realised there was more to playing guitar than thumping chords and from then on vowed to find out how to do it properly! I'm still on a wonderful journey ...

woody · February 2014

TheOtherDennis said:

My word, that guitar in the videos sounds utterly sublime! What is it? It's gorgeous.

Ace camera work, too, a great way to show someone how it goes. (I still doubt I'd ever be able to manage it, though! )

I cant open that page,but I believe he endorses olsen guitars....had the privilege to play one belonging to a pal,and even in my hands it sounded wonderful...I believe a shop in uk bought it of him for 7000 euros,so god knows what they sold it for after markup and vat...definitely one to aspire to..

bertie · February 2014

woody said:
olsen guitars....

ah, say no more...........I think the entry level ones come in at about £5k

I saw a couple for sale down in Acoustic Music Co. going for more than that used.

TheOtherDennis · February 2014

Well you could always get your hands on this little beauty -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-OLSON-CEDAR-TOP-SJ-Natural-ORIGINAL-N-A-Acoustic-Guitar-10-0-9-5-BURST-/151227026329?pt=Guitar&hash=item2335d54b99

Gulp.

noisepolluter · February 2014

ESBlonde said:

On JTs own website he has a few videos teaching specifics.

Whist it doesn't cover every hit song he ever had, it gives a nice insight to his thought process and playing approach.

http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/index.html

I saw him a couple of years ago and he has adapted his live playing to be very managable so don't be too put off.

A great entertainer as well as songsmith. Colour me a fan.

Thanks for the link - I'll be taking a look at that. I've always liked his stuff.

In response to the OP - for the sound of JT's earlier stuff I'd recommend something with mahogany back and sides and a short scale length (close as you can get to the J-50 design really!), but for his later stuff which is less middy and more 'hi-fi' I suppose a jumbo/small jumbo would be more the thing.

woody · February 2014

bertie;170380" said:
woody said: olsen guitars....

ah, say no more...........I think the entry level ones come in at about £5k

I saw a couple for sale down in Acoustic Music Co. going for more than that used.

woody · February 2014

Sorry..forgot to put in my comment...its the actual guitar in the utube video...bout om size with abalone binding..

bertie · February 2014

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

James Taylor

Comments