chicken skin 2 fingerstyle warm ups.pdf
TRANSCRIPT
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Ry Cooder is undoubtedly best known for his slide playing but he is also
acknowledged as one of the finest fingerstyle guitarist from the folkblues boom daysof the early sixties through to the present time
In his role as folklorist and vast collector of roots and world music styles he has
managed to place them all in a great melting pot and create something that is
uniquely the Cooder Style of fingerstyle guitar These ingredients have included
early Delta blues Folk Celtic Country Gospel Ragtime Jazz Tex Mex Spanish
Indian African Cuban Hawaiian and more
With the development of these styles it is evident that he could never be content to
play simply an alternating thumb pick or repetive arpeggio roll Instead he cleverlyweaves the harmony between low and high end strings often using open tunings to
create different textured chords and great sounding inversions It is obvious in his
own fingerstyle technique that he has searched out the more interesting and
harmonic players of early roots guitar players like Blind Blake Rev Garry Davis
Sleepy John Estes and Joseph Spence and then adding his own inventions taken
from the vast selection of styles mentioned above
From an early age Ry Cooder was adept at a whole array of stringed instruments
most notably the banjo mandolin and of course the guitar An ambitious player he
was able to hear and take lessons from some of the legends of the early blues and
ragtime including RevGarry Davis and Sleepy John Estes and is known today
to continue his learning on anything unusual with strings lying around
As a fingerstyle player I have been inspired and learned a great deal about fingerstyle
guitar just by listening to Ry Cooder In Chicken Skin 2 Ill be sharing with you
some of the ways you can incorporate that special Cooder fingerstyle into your own
playing with these Cooder style fingerstyle warm ups
So dust down those fingers put away the pick and
Cooder On
INTRODUCTION
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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USING THE MANUAL
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
To view this manual correctly you need to have installed the latest version of Adobe Acrobat
if you cant view the videos or hear the MP3s then install the PDF reader here
Videos are formatted as Quicktime movies so you should have a player installed If not download
free player here
It is essential to have the Powertab program installed in order to use the interactive Powertab
pages These will enable you to play slowdown loop and make your own changes to the tab
and help speed up your learning If you havent already installed please do so here
Mac users please check here
Powertab overview
THE MANUAL
This study program is very effective if you follow the recomendations below
1 Make full use of the videos MP3s and powertab Adobe pdf will ask you if you wish to open
these files - please say yes - and dont ask me again
2 Adapt the exercises to suit your own style - make changes
3 Check out the Cooder warm ups Listen and watch the study tunes
4 Visit the Cooder web links for more information and ideas
Familiarise yourself with the icons below which will enable you to view the multimedia content
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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NOTES ON COODER
Biography Ry Cooder born 15 March 1947 in Los Angeles California Career spans from
the early 60s till the present day releasing fourteen solo albums notably Into The
Purple Valley and Bop Till You DropSix collaborations notably the hugely
successful Buena Vista Social Club Fourteen movie sound tracks notably the
ground breaking Paris Texas and Crossroads V iew all
Although most famous for his slide playing he is a master of many stringed
instruments including
the banjo mandolin and bajo sextet As a session player he
has played on numerous artists albums To mention just a few The Rolling Stones
John Lee Hooker Aaron Neville
Mavis Staples John Hiatt Randy Newman VanMorrison T Bone Burnett Nick Lowe Eric Clapton Arlo Guthrie
View all
Influenced By
Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Gabby Pahinui Fred McDowell Tampa Red
Blind Blake Bonnie Raitt Lowell George Elmore James Rev Gary Davies Blind
Willie Johnson David Lindley Son House Joseph Spence Duane Alman Josh White
Kokomo Arnold Casey Bill Weldon Bukka White Furry Lewis Sleepy John Estes
Bix Biederbecke and many more
GuitarsCooder has used a wide variety of guitars for fingerstyle between the 70s and present
day These include an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric models Acoustics range
from vintage Martin D35s and 000-18s Gibson SJ-200 Gibson Roy Smeck Kay
and junk shop oddities Although his fingerstyle is best heard on his acoustic playing heexcelled at mixing both slide lead and fingersyle on both electrics and acoustic
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Ry Cooder is undoubtedly best known for his slide playing but he is also
acknowledged as one of the finest fingerstyle guitarist from the folkblues boom daysof the early sixties through to the present time
In his role as folklorist and vast collector of roots and world music styles he has
managed to place them all in a great melting pot and create something that is
uniquely the Cooder Style of fingerstyle guitar These ingredients have included
early Delta blues Folk Celtic Country Gospel Ragtime Jazz Tex Mex Spanish
Indian African Cuban Hawaiian and more
With the development of these styles it is evident that he could never be content to
play simply an alternating thumb pick or repetive arpeggio roll Instead he cleverlyweaves the harmony between low and high end strings often using open tunings to
create different textured chords and great sounding inversions It is obvious in his
own fingerstyle technique that he has searched out the more interesting and
harmonic players of early roots guitar players like Blind Blake Rev Garry Davis
Sleepy John Estes and Joseph Spence and then adding his own inventions taken
from the vast selection of styles mentioned above
From an early age Ry Cooder was adept at a whole array of stringed instruments
most notably the banjo mandolin and of course the guitar An ambitious player he
was able to hear and take lessons from some of the legends of the early blues and
ragtime including RevGarry Davis and Sleepy John Estes and is known today
to continue his learning on anything unusual with strings lying around
As a fingerstyle player I have been inspired and learned a great deal about fingerstyle
guitar just by listening to Ry Cooder In Chicken Skin 2 Ill be sharing with you
some of the ways you can incorporate that special Cooder fingerstyle into your own
playing with these Cooder style fingerstyle warm ups
So dust down those fingers put away the pick and
Cooder On
INTRODUCTION
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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USING THE MANUAL
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
To view this manual correctly you need to have installed the latest version of Adobe Acrobat
if you cant view the videos or hear the MP3s then install the PDF reader here
Videos are formatted as Quicktime movies so you should have a player installed If not download
free player here
It is essential to have the Powertab program installed in order to use the interactive Powertab
pages These will enable you to play slowdown loop and make your own changes to the tab
and help speed up your learning If you havent already installed please do so here
Mac users please check here
Powertab overview
THE MANUAL
This study program is very effective if you follow the recomendations below
1 Make full use of the videos MP3s and powertab Adobe pdf will ask you if you wish to open
these files - please say yes - and dont ask me again
2 Adapt the exercises to suit your own style - make changes
3 Check out the Cooder warm ups Listen and watch the study tunes
4 Visit the Cooder web links for more information and ideas
Familiarise yourself with the icons below which will enable you to view the multimedia content
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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NOTES ON COODER
Biography Ry Cooder born 15 March 1947 in Los Angeles California Career spans from
the early 60s till the present day releasing fourteen solo albums notably Into The
Purple Valley and Bop Till You DropSix collaborations notably the hugely
successful Buena Vista Social Club Fourteen movie sound tracks notably the
ground breaking Paris Texas and Crossroads V iew all
Although most famous for his slide playing he is a master of many stringed
instruments including
the banjo mandolin and bajo sextet As a session player he
has played on numerous artists albums To mention just a few The Rolling Stones
John Lee Hooker Aaron Neville
Mavis Staples John Hiatt Randy Newman VanMorrison T Bone Burnett Nick Lowe Eric Clapton Arlo Guthrie
View all
Influenced By
Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Gabby Pahinui Fred McDowell Tampa Red
Blind Blake Bonnie Raitt Lowell George Elmore James Rev Gary Davies Blind
Willie Johnson David Lindley Son House Joseph Spence Duane Alman Josh White
Kokomo Arnold Casey Bill Weldon Bukka White Furry Lewis Sleepy John Estes
Bix Biederbecke and many more
GuitarsCooder has used a wide variety of guitars for fingerstyle between the 70s and present
day These include an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric models Acoustics range
from vintage Martin D35s and 000-18s Gibson SJ-200 Gibson Roy Smeck Kay
and junk shop oddities Although his fingerstyle is best heard on his acoustic playing heexcelled at mixing both slide lead and fingersyle on both electrics and acoustic
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 926
This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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Ry Cooder is undoubtedly best known for his slide playing but he is also
acknowledged as one of the finest fingerstyle guitarist from the folkblues boom daysof the early sixties through to the present time
In his role as folklorist and vast collector of roots and world music styles he has
managed to place them all in a great melting pot and create something that is
uniquely the Cooder Style of fingerstyle guitar These ingredients have included
early Delta blues Folk Celtic Country Gospel Ragtime Jazz Tex Mex Spanish
Indian African Cuban Hawaiian and more
With the development of these styles it is evident that he could never be content to
play simply an alternating thumb pick or repetive arpeggio roll Instead he cleverlyweaves the harmony between low and high end strings often using open tunings to
create different textured chords and great sounding inversions It is obvious in his
own fingerstyle technique that he has searched out the more interesting and
harmonic players of early roots guitar players like Blind Blake Rev Garry Davis
Sleepy John Estes and Joseph Spence and then adding his own inventions taken
from the vast selection of styles mentioned above
From an early age Ry Cooder was adept at a whole array of stringed instruments
most notably the banjo mandolin and of course the guitar An ambitious player he
was able to hear and take lessons from some of the legends of the early blues and
ragtime including RevGarry Davis and Sleepy John Estes and is known today
to continue his learning on anything unusual with strings lying around
As a fingerstyle player I have been inspired and learned a great deal about fingerstyle
guitar just by listening to Ry Cooder In Chicken Skin 2 Ill be sharing with you
some of the ways you can incorporate that special Cooder fingerstyle into your own
playing with these Cooder style fingerstyle warm ups
So dust down those fingers put away the pick and
Cooder On
INTRODUCTION
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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USING THE MANUAL
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
To view this manual correctly you need to have installed the latest version of Adobe Acrobat
if you cant view the videos or hear the MP3s then install the PDF reader here
Videos are formatted as Quicktime movies so you should have a player installed If not download
free player here
It is essential to have the Powertab program installed in order to use the interactive Powertab
pages These will enable you to play slowdown loop and make your own changes to the tab
and help speed up your learning If you havent already installed please do so here
Mac users please check here
Powertab overview
THE MANUAL
This study program is very effective if you follow the recomendations below
1 Make full use of the videos MP3s and powertab Adobe pdf will ask you if you wish to open
these files - please say yes - and dont ask me again
2 Adapt the exercises to suit your own style - make changes
3 Check out the Cooder warm ups Listen and watch the study tunes
4 Visit the Cooder web links for more information and ideas
Familiarise yourself with the icons below which will enable you to view the multimedia content
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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NOTES ON COODER
Biography Ry Cooder born 15 March 1947 in Los Angeles California Career spans from
the early 60s till the present day releasing fourteen solo albums notably Into The
Purple Valley and Bop Till You DropSix collaborations notably the hugely
successful Buena Vista Social Club Fourteen movie sound tracks notably the
ground breaking Paris Texas and Crossroads V iew all
Although most famous for his slide playing he is a master of many stringed
instruments including
the banjo mandolin and bajo sextet As a session player he
has played on numerous artists albums To mention just a few The Rolling Stones
John Lee Hooker Aaron Neville
Mavis Staples John Hiatt Randy Newman VanMorrison T Bone Burnett Nick Lowe Eric Clapton Arlo Guthrie
View all
Influenced By
Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Gabby Pahinui Fred McDowell Tampa Red
Blind Blake Bonnie Raitt Lowell George Elmore James Rev Gary Davies Blind
Willie Johnson David Lindley Son House Joseph Spence Duane Alman Josh White
Kokomo Arnold Casey Bill Weldon Bukka White Furry Lewis Sleepy John Estes
Bix Biederbecke and many more
GuitarsCooder has used a wide variety of guitars for fingerstyle between the 70s and present
day These include an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric models Acoustics range
from vintage Martin D35s and 000-18s Gibson SJ-200 Gibson Roy Smeck Kay
and junk shop oddities Although his fingerstyle is best heard on his acoustic playing heexcelled at mixing both slide lead and fingersyle on both electrics and acoustic
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1126
As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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USING THE MANUAL
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
To view this manual correctly you need to have installed the latest version of Adobe Acrobat
if you cant view the videos or hear the MP3s then install the PDF reader here
Videos are formatted as Quicktime movies so you should have a player installed If not download
free player here
It is essential to have the Powertab program installed in order to use the interactive Powertab
pages These will enable you to play slowdown loop and make your own changes to the tab
and help speed up your learning If you havent already installed please do so here
Mac users please check here
Powertab overview
THE MANUAL
This study program is very effective if you follow the recomendations below
1 Make full use of the videos MP3s and powertab Adobe pdf will ask you if you wish to open
these files - please say yes - and dont ask me again
2 Adapt the exercises to suit your own style - make changes
3 Check out the Cooder warm ups Listen and watch the study tunes
4 Visit the Cooder web links for more information and ideas
Familiarise yourself with the icons below which will enable you to view the multimedia content
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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NOTES ON COODER
Biography Ry Cooder born 15 March 1947 in Los Angeles California Career spans from
the early 60s till the present day releasing fourteen solo albums notably Into The
Purple Valley and Bop Till You DropSix collaborations notably the hugely
successful Buena Vista Social Club Fourteen movie sound tracks notably the
ground breaking Paris Texas and Crossroads V iew all
Although most famous for his slide playing he is a master of many stringed
instruments including
the banjo mandolin and bajo sextet As a session player he
has played on numerous artists albums To mention just a few The Rolling Stones
John Lee Hooker Aaron Neville
Mavis Staples John Hiatt Randy Newman VanMorrison T Bone Burnett Nick Lowe Eric Clapton Arlo Guthrie
View all
Influenced By
Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Gabby Pahinui Fred McDowell Tampa Red
Blind Blake Bonnie Raitt Lowell George Elmore James Rev Gary Davies Blind
Willie Johnson David Lindley Son House Joseph Spence Duane Alman Josh White
Kokomo Arnold Casey Bill Weldon Bukka White Furry Lewis Sleepy John Estes
Bix Biederbecke and many more
GuitarsCooder has used a wide variety of guitars for fingerstyle between the 70s and present
day These include an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric models Acoustics range
from vintage Martin D35s and 000-18s Gibson SJ-200 Gibson Roy Smeck Kay
and junk shop oddities Although his fingerstyle is best heard on his acoustic playing heexcelled at mixing both slide lead and fingersyle on both electrics and acoustic
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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NOTES ON COODER
Biography Ry Cooder born 15 March 1947 in Los Angeles California Career spans from
the early 60s till the present day releasing fourteen solo albums notably Into The
Purple Valley and Bop Till You DropSix collaborations notably the hugely
successful Buena Vista Social Club Fourteen movie sound tracks notably the
ground breaking Paris Texas and Crossroads V iew all
Although most famous for his slide playing he is a master of many stringed
instruments including
the banjo mandolin and bajo sextet As a session player he
has played on numerous artists albums To mention just a few The Rolling Stones
John Lee Hooker Aaron Neville
Mavis Staples John Hiatt Randy Newman VanMorrison T Bone Burnett Nick Lowe Eric Clapton Arlo Guthrie
View all
Influenced By
Robert Johnson Muddy Waters Gabby Pahinui Fred McDowell Tampa Red
Blind Blake Bonnie Raitt Lowell George Elmore James Rev Gary Davies Blind
Willie Johnson David Lindley Son House Joseph Spence Duane Alman Josh White
Kokomo Arnold Casey Bill Weldon Bukka White Furry Lewis Sleepy John Estes
Bix Biederbecke and many more
GuitarsCooder has used a wide variety of guitars for fingerstyle between the 70s and present
day These include an eclectic mix of acoustic and electric models Acoustics range
from vintage Martin D35s and 000-18s Gibson SJ-200 Gibson Roy Smeck Kay
and junk shop oddities Although his fingerstyle is best heard on his acoustic playing heexcelled at mixing both slide lead and fingersyle on both electrics and acoustic
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1326
This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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S lide Guitar Playing and Technique
Please check out Chicken Skin Slide for all information on Cooders Slides and slide
technique
Tunings
Ry favours a variety of tunings for fingerstyle These include Dropped D Open D
open G and a selection of Slack Key variations
Read more
Fingerstyle Technique
Ry uses a mix of fingerstyle ( No picks or plectrums ) for acoustic and electric guitar
A skillful banjo player he is adept at sometimes complex syncopated fingerstyle patterns
This style is often played in between slide riffs or in solo instrumental pieces
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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FINGERSTYLE WARM UPS
Ry Cooder is quoted as saying that he is dead against using a plectrum and always
preferred the sound of nails and fingers on strings for the natural connection andfeel This is an essential ingredient to his fingerstyle and it enabled him to play quite
complex passages
As I mentioned in the introduction he seems mostly to avoid all the norms of folk and blues
fingerstyle consisting of the constant or alternating thumb patterns or rolling
arpeggios He favours the more complex arrangements and syncopated styles of
piano like ragtime or even tradional spanish guitar playing His influences are
extensive in these styles and his own self training and learning one to one with great
fingerstyle players like RevGar r y Davis is evident
It is certainly difficult to take on these techniques overnight and if youre new to the
style it is definitely worth trying these crash course exercises to help master the kind
of finger and note movements essential for Cooder fingerstyle
To get the thumb and fingers moving try this harmonized G scale
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
5
V
4
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
4
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
3
Try to keep to a logical fretting hand fingering and use the video as a guide
Now this syncopated version
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
1
cV
2
k V
3
cV
3
k V
0
cV
0
k V
2
cV
2
k V
3
cV
4
k V
5
c V
7
V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
Regular tuning check
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 826
Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 926
This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1226
As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1326
This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1526
The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1626
This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1726
Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Heres a similar exercise in E
This exercise introduces a familiar Cooder twist
To help achieve Cooders Spanish and Tex Mex flavour of fingerstyle it is worth practising
these note movements in 3rds
This first example is a harmonized scale in the key of D
IT
A
B
gggg 44
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
U
0
U
1
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 V
4
V
5
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1126
As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1326
This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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This is a similar exercise using a wider 6th interval and also introducing the thumb
for more Cooder flavour
You can extend this exercise up the fretboard as follows
Back in the key of D try introducing sliding movements between the intervals for a
more Spanish feel
IT
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V3
V
4
U2
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
ggg 44 V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
5
V
5
f V
2
V
2
V
3
V
4
f V
5
V
6
V
7
V
7
V
10
V
10
f U
10
U
12
fU
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44
V
2
V
2
U
0
V
3
V
4
V
sl
5
V
6
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
2
j V
0
V
0
j W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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MORE WARM UPS
AND ROOTS OF COODER FINGERSTYLE
In this next section well continue to use regular tuning and then begin to explore the
tuning alternatives that added to the Cooder fingerstyle
Cooder uses the following motif in many of his fingerstyle and fingerstyle and slide combos
Its almost a trademark riff and occurs in a variety of tunings which well look at more closely
later For now heres an example in regular tuning
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
c
W
2
V
2
W
0
W
1
W
0
You can add more flavour with these low or high end tail outs
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
3
V
3
gfV
0
V
2
V
2
f W
0
W
1
W
0
I
T
A
B
gggg 24 V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
u
k V
4
V
4
c V
0
V
2
V
0
W
2
V
0
V
0
cW
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
3
V
4
f V
0
V
2
V
3
g V
2
V
1
V
2
ff W
0
W
0
W
1
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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As I mentioned earlier Cooder favours less of an alternating thumb and finger
technique preferring a more syncopated style This example evokes typical
Cooder fingerstyle
Heres the same kind of pick this time using a moving bass pattern
This jerky syncopated style crops up in Cooders adaptations of ragtime blues tunes
like in this Sleepy John Estes type riff
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
cV
0
ukk kk V
0
cV
0
uk V
H
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
U
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
gV
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
g V
2
V
4
g V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
k V
H
0
V
2
g V
0
V
0
c
V
0
u
kk kk V
0
c
V
0
u
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 j j j k V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
gV
0
V
2
kk V
0
cf V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j k V
0
cf
I
T
A
B
gggg V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
g
V
0
V
2
V
4
j V
0
f V
1
V
0
V
2
V
4
V
0
f V
1
3
g j j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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As an add on to the previous warm up try this intro its very different from the norm and
very typical of the way Cooder maintains harmonic interest
Continuing the ragtime theme it is clear from listening to Ry Cooders fingerstyle that he
borrowed riffs and ideas from the great finger pickers like Rev Garry Davis or
Blind Blake
Inspired by the harmony and chords the following passage from Daviss Hesitation
Blues once again evokes an example of a Cooder pick style
From the same piece this thumb and finger roll makes a great Cooder fingerstyle
warm up
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
0
V
4
gV
5
V
7
V
5
V
4
g V
7
V
2
gV
3
f V
3
f V
sl
4
gW
0
V
5
V
6
g V
4
W
2
W
1
W
2
e
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
g V
0
j V
0
V
1
V
2
V
2
W
0
k V
0
V
1
V
2
g V
3
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
e V
3
V
2
I
T
A
B
44 W
3
kV
0
V
0
V
3
W
2
k V
3
V
1
V
4
e V
0
V
1
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
U
1
U
0
U
2
U
3
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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This Blind Blake riff - a transition between D7 G and G7 - once again conjures up
the Cooder style
Or with this example - another typical Blind Blake riff
I
T
A
B
V
2
gk V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
2
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
k V
3
V
2
gV
0
V
1
fV
2
k V
0
V
0
V
3
V
3
I
T
A
B
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
g V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
2
cV
2
V
3
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
1
e V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
P
1
W
2
V
0
V
3
3
V
0
V
2
Of course Blind Blakes Ditty Wa Ditty is a firm indication of the Cooder fingerstyle link to
ragtime blues
Heres the instantly recognisable Cooder slant on the the Ditty intro from the album
Paradise And Lunch
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
1
uV
0
V
1
V
3
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
3
VV
0
V
1
V
0
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
k V
3
c VV
2
V
H
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
1
3 V
3
V
1
V
1
V
M12O3
V
1
V V
1
V
1
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
3
V
1
V
3
V
3
V
1
V
3
j
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
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Cooder is very adept at including single note runs within his fingerstyle similar to the
one below once again borrowed from the ragtime playing of Rev Garry Davis and
Blind Blake
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
WV
3
V
4
e V
0
f V
3
V
5
V
3
V
4
e V
3
W
1
V
0
C7
V
3
e U
Dropped D tuning
Cooder uses a variety of tunings to achieve his distinctive fingerstyle technique One of the
most prevelent is dropped D Many of his finger style arrangements are adaptations
of the great Bahamian player Joseph Spence Tunes like Great Dreams From Heaven
Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer use the favoured Spence tuning of dropped D which
Cooder took and made it his own
Dropped D is simply tuning down the low E to D
IT
A
B
44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V0
DV
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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The low D string instantly conjures up the Spence Cooder type runs as in this first
example
The chords run through Bm G D and A
Or in this style of run from E7 to D moving through A7
And in this more intricate transition
I
T
A
B
gg 34Bm
V
3
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
W
0
V
3
cV
2
A7
V
0
V
0
W
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
3
W
2
W
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44E7
V
1
gW
2
V
0
V
3
V
0
A7
W
0
k V
2
V
0
f V
3
D
U
3
U
4
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j l V
2
V
4
V
2
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
A
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
Bm
V
3
V
4
V
2
V
4
G
V
0
V
0
V
5
D
V
2
V
2
V
0
A7
V
0
V
0
V
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1826
OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
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Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1626
This phrase starting with Em is very Cooder
This next Dropped D riff shows the use of varied harmony and use of inversionsthat gave Spence and of course Cooder an almost hymn like style
As well as using the Dropped D tuning style of Joseph Spence Cooder also borrowed
from the Dropped D ragtime blues of Blind Blake
Heres a taste of Blakes Bad Feeling Blues to give you the idea
I
T
A
B
gg 24Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
3
D
W
2
W
2
W
0
A7
W
0
W
0
W
0
D
W
3
W
4
W
0
I
T
A
B
44
D
V
2
V
0
g V
3
D7
V
4
g V
5
V
5
G
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
0
Em
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
D
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
2
g V
3
A
V
5
V
2
V
4
g V
3
D
U
3
U
2
U
0
I
T
A
B
gg V
sl
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
eV
1
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
1
fV
2
V
3
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
V
0
V
5
V
1
fV
0
V
2
g V
3
3
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
3 V
3
V
0
V
0
V
1
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
V
2
V
0
V
1
V
2
fV
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1726
Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1826
OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1926
Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1726
Cooder uses this ragtime blues sting in his tune Tamp Em Up Solid - very Blind
Blake too
I
T
A
B
V
5
V
M126
fV
0
V
0
V
5
V
M126
V
0
V
0
V
0
k V
0
k V
P
7
V
0
V
5
V
6
V
0
U
7
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
Cooder is very skillful at changing and adapting tuning to give an even greater texture of sound
A big fan of slack key he often changed Dropped D by going down a whole step This would mean
the low E is now D then take that note down a further whole step to C as below
I
T
A
B
44
C
V
0
G
V
0
C
V
0
F
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1826
OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1926
Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1826
OPEN D TUNING
I mentioned earlier that Cooder used a variety of open tunings and also slack key
versions of these in both his slide and fingerstyle playing
Open D is a firm Cooder favourite and can produce a great basis for fingerstyleBy no means a Cooder invention open D tuning can be heard in many forms of blues
and ragtime picking
If youre new to open tunings heres open D
Once again Blind Blake is a strong influence and can be heard in Cooders version
of Police Dog Blues
Heres the fabulous introduction and a great use of open D
I
T
A
B
gg 44
D
V
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
FbbbbV
0
A
V
0
D
V
0
I
T
A
B
ggW
0
V
0
V
2
V
M123
f V V
0
V
0
V
1
e W
2
kV
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
2
V
0
V
3
f V
0
g
V
0
U
(0)
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1926
Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 1926
Lets try a few open D phrases that instantly conjure up that distinctive Cooder
flavour
This one has a hint of Joseph Spence
And now what I like to call the Cooder hook
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
0
V
2
V
1
V
sl
4
V
3
W
0
V
0
V
4
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
1
W
0
V
2
V
0
V
sl
4
V
3
V
2
V
1
U
0
U
0
U
0
I
T
A
B
44
V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
W
0
W
0
W
0
g
Same again this time with an outro
I
T
A
B
44V
0
k V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
rit
V
0
V
0
gU
0
V
4
V
3
g V
0
V
2
g V
2
V
1
f W
0
W
0
W
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2026
Cooder demonstrates his skill at syncopated fingerstyle with this example in open D
tuning
And this typical Cooder fingerstyle shuffle
Cooder used this classic turnaround device in open D
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
kk V
0
cV
0
uV V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
44 j j k V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
gV
0
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
I
T
A
B
gg 44V
0
k V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
eV
0
V
0
V
0
V
sl
4
V
0
c V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
VVVVV
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2126
Or this outro - a favourite especially when in tandem with slide
Great combinations of rolls and syncopated picking in this flourish
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j j j V
0
V
1
e W
2
k V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
0
V
3
f V
0
V
2
V
1
ce V
0
V
3
cf V
0
V
I
T
A
B
gg 44 j V
H
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
W
sl
4
W
3
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
5
V
0
k V
2
cV
1
V
2
V
H
0
j V
2
V
0
V
2
U
0
V
0
V
3
f V
P
2
V
0
V
3
f U
0
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2226
G TUNING
One of Cooders favoured tunings especially in the early days of albums like Into
The Purple Valley is open G tuning Although interspersed with slide guitar there is
still an abundance of fingerstyle played in his own distinctive style His G tuningpicking clearly stems from his abilities as a banjo player You can hear the almost
country style picking on these early albums Tracks like How Can You Keep On
Moving and Money Honey have a banjo flavour to them - fast clipped chords and
rolling runs - very different from the previous sounds in dropped D and open D
Heres open G tuning
A good exercise to get you started is this octave pick pattern
I
T
A
B
44D
V
0
G
V
0
D
V
0
G
V
0
B
V
0
D
V
0
IT
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
4
V
4
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
5
V
5
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
U
3
U
3
f
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2326
You can hear this octave style in the classic intro to Money Honey
You can hear the banjo influence in this intro from How Can You Keep Moving
especially with the rolling octaves and clipped chords
These clipped chords form a good part of the accompaniment fingerstyle to many of
the songs in open G
I
T
A
B
44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
3
V
3
ee V
sl
4
V
4
ff V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
V
4
V
4
V
3
V
3
ee V
2
V
2
V
0
V
0
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
0
V
0
V
2
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
0
V
H
0
V
2
V
1
V
0
V
H
2
V
1
V
0
j V
sl
5
W
0
W
5
W
5
V
7
V
5
j V
5
V
5
W
0
V
5
j V
H
3
V
3
fV
0
V
P
5
V
3
V
1
V
0
V
2
V
0
V
2
V
0
U
5
U
5
I
T
A
B
44 j j j k V
0
V
0
V
0
c V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
5
VVV V
6
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
5
V
5
V
5
V
6
V
5
V
7
V
7
V
5
c V
5
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2426
This distinctive use of open G grew to become a classic Cooder trade mark and
instantly recognised in the intro to Little Sister from the album Bop till You Drop
As a marked contrast to the sometimes complex picking styles that you encounter
in Cooders open tuning playing you often hear simple rolling patterns like in this
final exercise in open G
I
T
A
B
g 44 V
7
V
7
V
8
V
9
V
10
V
11
V
12
V
12
V
12
V
0
let ring
V
12
V
12
V
10
V
11
V
0
V
10
V
12
V
8
U
9
V
0
V
8
t
[7]
t
[12]
t
[7]
t
[7]
NH
I
T
A
B
g 44 j V
3
V
3
e V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
f V
0
V
0
V
3
V
5
e V
5
c V
3
V
5
V
3
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf VVV V
3
c V
3
V
3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V
4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V
3
V
3
V
3
cf
IT
A
B
g VVVef V
3
c V
3
V3
V
5
V
5
V
3
V
3
V4
V
3
V
5
ee k V
5
c V
3
V
5
k V3
V
3
V
5
c VVV k V
5
V
0
V
5
V
3
V V
3
V
5
f V
0
V
3
V
3
V
3
e V
0
V
3
V3
V
3
V
3
UUU
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2526
AZZ FINGERS TYLE
You cant study Cooders fingerstyle technique without even a brief look at his
playing style from the critically acclaimed Jazz album period Strangely this has
often been dismissed and disowned by the man himself but its still an important factorin his style
He has a clever way of working jazz style melodies with fingerstyle and Im sure he is
aware that this style demands a life time of study You need a thorough knowledge
of harmony and the way chord inversions work together at the same time maintaining
full control of your thumb and fingers
If youre new to this style begin by finding a simple melody and work out ways
to combine the single notes and chords Listen to some of jazz guitar greats like Joe Pass
Barney Kessel Tal Farlow and familiarise with this style of playing more
Back in regular tuning heres a few examples of the ways Cooder combined his
single notes and chords into fingerstyle inspired by the Jazz album
This one uses a mix of major 7th and diminished chords to produce a typical Cooder
azz style run
I
T
AB
gggg 44
EA`V
4
V
2
V
4
eV
0
EdegG
V
3
V
2
V
3
eef
V
0
E`degFbbbbV
2
V
1
V
2
eee V
0
E
V
0
V
0
V
1
V
0
fE7
V
7
V
5
V
7
V
6
fEdeg7V
6
V
5
V
6
V
5
eeffFbbbbdeg7V
5
V
4
V
5
V
4
geeE7open
V
4
V
3
V
4
V
2
f
Copyright Rick Payne 2011
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt
8192019 Chicken Skin 2 Fingerstyle Warm Upspdf
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullchicken-skin-2-fingerstyle-warm-upspdf 2626
This chord run has the recognisable Cooder Jazz flavour
I
TA
B
gggg 44E7
V
7
V
7
V
6
fD7
V
5
f V
5
V
4
fCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
gCbbbb7
V
4
V
4
V
3
Fbbbb7
V
2
V
3
V
2
gC7
V
3
f V
3
V
2
eB7
V
2
V
2
V
1
fF7
V
1
fV
2
V
1
E
U
1
U
2
U
0
And with this run
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
4
V
4
V
4
V0
V
3
V
3
gf V0
V
2
V
2
f V0
V
1
V
0
This is a great fingerstyle exercise for the per fect jazz turnaround
I
T
A
B
gggg 44 V
2
V
1
V
1
V
1
f V
4
V
2
V
2
V
2
g V
0
V
3
V
4
g V
0
V
2
V
3
ffU
0
U
0
U
1
U
0
Check out Cooder fingerstyle study modulesgtgt