# Willie Nelson's guitar skills **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 22, 2007, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000 "2007-03-22T09:01:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clark\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@Clark\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_K)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/1 "2007-03-22T09:01:16Z")
I love listening to Willie Nelson play guitar. He has a unique twang – sort of a vibrato – but also this incredibly clean picking style that reminds me of the few snippets of classical guitar that I’ve heard. So I know I like it. What I don’t know is whether it’s any good. That is, I wonder if true guitar afficionados consider him a skilled player? Is his style admired or dismissed as a mish-mash of styles? Anyone have any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![percussion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@percussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percussion)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/2 "2007-03-22T15:22:11Z")
Does it sound good? Than its good. I think its Willies style, not a particular school of guitar playing. I don’t think its overly technical ether. But its unmistakably him and theres a real sincere quality about it I love so i think its great. Kind of a slight HJ but related. This is a similar to a topic that comes up in some percussion discussion as to whether or not Ringo Star is a “skilled” drummer or not (eye roll) He, of course, is. Granted his grooves may be some of the simpler to play theres no mistaking his feel and his contributions to the most important rock band of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/3 "2007-03-22T15:29:40Z")
Guitar player here. He’s good. He’s technically better than people might expect and he’s got good feel. He knows what he’s doing. That guitar isn’t just a prop for him. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/4 "2007-03-22T15:32:12Z")
I think the word for Ringo is “solid.” Always right in the pocket. Always doing exactly what’s right for the song. That’s not as easy as it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/5 "2007-03-22T15:32:19Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Guitar player here. He’s good. He’s technically better than people might expect and he’s got good feel. He knows what he’s doing. That guitar isn’t just a prop for him. [/QUOTE] Good thing, too. Have you \*seen \*that guitar? It wouldn’t prop up a squid. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/6 "2007-03-22T15:46:06Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I think the word for Ringo is “solid.” Always right in the pocket. Always doing exactly what’s right for the song. That’s not as easy as it sounds. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately though, and it’s not Ringo’s fault, the drums on all the early Beatles songs are mixed so that it sounds like Ringo is drumming on the skins of a rice pudding. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/7 "2007-03-22T16:06:29Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I think the word for Ringo is “solid.” Always right in the pocket. Always doing exactly what’s right for the song. That’s not as easy as it sounds. [/QUOTE] Unfortunately though, and it’s not Ringo’s fault, the drums on all the early Beatles songs are mixed so that it sounds like Ringo is drumming on the skins of a rice pudding. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/8 "2007-03-22T16:07:59Z")
Another factor in Willie’s sound is that he plays a classical style guitar - nylon strings. Very few popular artists play anything other than a steel string dreadnaught, so the more mellow tone of Willie’s guitar really stands out. If you want a great album with some wonderful Willie guitar in a beautiful mellow style, you must buy his Teatro album. Incredible album. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/9 "2007-03-22T16:24:07Z")
Another guitarist checking in. I think Willie’s technique, note choice, and the guitar he uses all add up to make him a unique and interesting player. So, yeah, I think he’s good. And to add to what **shelbo** said, he plays that classical guitar with a flat pick, whereas most people finger-pick nylon string guitars. Just another element in his uniqueness. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/10 "2007-03-22T18:25:09Z")
I watched an interview with his bandmates on some retrospective show (can’t remember the exact one). His bandmates said that they never knew where Willie was going with his guitar playing or singing. They just try and keep a steady beat, and let Willie wander around either lagging or leading the tempo, and trusting that he always comes around back to the main melody just when it’s needed; that’s what makes him great. Very amusing, and obvious how they’ve played and grown together for decades. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/11 "2007-03-22T18:45:36Z")
Willie’s a spectacular guitar player. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/12 "2007-03-22T23:33:46Z")
I was told that Willie cut his guitar teeth on jazz of some sort. This is consistent with using a nylon-string slotted-headstock guitar, and using a pick. I assume this is reflected in his playing style. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/13 "2007-03-22T23:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=Gary T] I was told that Willie cut his guitar teeth on jazz of some sort. This is consistent with using a nylon-string slotted-headstock guitar, and using a pick. I assume this is reflected in his playing style. [/QUOTE] I can definitely hear it is his technique as well as some of his melodic choices. It’s in his songwriting as well. His classic song, “Crazy,” for instance has some jazzy chord changes in it. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/14 "2007-03-23T00:35:44Z")
IANA guitar player, and know nothing about what skill is. I do know what I like, and the solo on “Angel flying too close to the Ground” is my favorite picking by Willie Nelson. Sgt Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/15 "2007-03-23T01:09:25Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Good thing, too. Have you \*seen \*that guitar? It wouldn’t prop up a squid. [/QUOTE] I know the luthier who works on his guitars. He says it doesn’t sound very good either. But it’s Willie’s guitar, and he loves it. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/16 "2007-03-23T01:11:56Z")
Willie’s a good, but not a great player. Some nights are better than others—when he’s on he’s pretty good; when he’s not he just noodles. This is pretty good: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H7vaYOIKWYY/hqdefault.jpg "Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Live From Austin TX)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vaYOIKWYY) ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/17 "2007-03-23T01:16:53Z")
P.S. He plays a Martin N-20, one of Martin’s attempts at a classical guitar. It’s definitely not considered one of their better boxes. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/18 "2007-03-23T02:32:28Z")
[QUOTE=Subterraneanus] P.S. He plays a Martin N-20, one of Martin’s attempts at a classical guitar. It’s definitely not considered one of their better boxes. [/QUOTE] Let’s be clear - we’re talkin’ about Trigger. That’s the name of his guitar: [http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/SNAMM98/Martin/N-20WN.html](http://www.harmony-central.com/Events/SNAMM98/Martin/N-20WN.html) He’s a nutjob, a cowboy, a road warrior and pretty much all over the place - but damn can he play. He’s played Trigger so much he wore the hole into the top - but he’s eccentric, so that’s just fine. I saw a vid of him playing Crazy - just him walkin’ through the changes. F\*\*kin’ brilliant. Yeah, he can play. Anyone says different is a fool. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/19 "2007-03-23T03:45:07Z")
I am not qualified to comment on Willie’s mad skillz. I have a friend that plays guitar about as well as anybody, ok, anybody that is not a shreader. Find Al Petteway on the web, his style is clean, and his own. Al is the standard by which I measure all others. I saw Willie in concert in 2005, and he was fine. Not distracting by being over the top or under the wheels. Just solid. He will never be a distraction when he plays. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000/20 "2007-03-23T03:48:38Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] I watched an interview with his bandmates on some retrospective show (can’t remember the exact one). His bandmates said that they never knew where Willie was going with his guitar playing or singing. They just try and keep a steady beat, and let Willie wander around either lagging or leading the tempo, and trusting that he always comes around back to the main melody just when it’s needed; that’s what makes him great. [/QUOTE] I saw one offering an identical appraisal from his cohorts that also emphasised how reliant he is upon his sister because of her amazing musical abilities as well and how much of his early song construction he bounces off her for approval and guidance. A real love there, that betwen those two. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willie-nelsons-guitar-skills/397000.md?page=2)