Topic: The Guitar Stylists--F position, standard tuning

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Let's slightly relax the requirement of having recorded a lot of numbers in the position/tuning for this playing position and just say, "showed notable skill/facility in the position". With that slight change in characterization, for F position in standard tuning I'd select:
   * Rev. Gary Davis
   * Leadbelly

All best,
Johnm

[waxwing]

I've been looking at playing in F lately and noticed Papa Charley Jackson has several songs in that key form.

Wax

[Lignite]

Luke Jordan
Tampa Red - Let's Get Drunk And Truck

[Lignite]

Oh, I knew there would be more

Blind Blake - Doing A Stretch

[Johnm]

Hi all,
William Moore recorded several tunes out of F position in standard tuning.
All best,
Johnm

[banjochris]

I think William Moore holds a unique distinction in that more of his released recordings are in F than any other key.

[waxwing]

I think I can add Snooks Eaglin to this list. And Walter Vincson utilized F somewhat with the Mississippi Shieks.

Wax

[Johnm]

That's a great point about William Moore, Chris, I'd say that qualifies him as a specialist in F position, standard tuning. And that's a great choice of Snooks Eaglin for F position, Wax. I think he might be the most thoroughly fluent of anyone who recorded songs in that position, including Rev. Davis. I was torn two ways on Walter Vincent, since he really used F position only in a back-up capacity, and never used it for a solo guitar accompaniment in which he was also playing melody, for example. But in thinking more about it, he did utilize the position a lot, and had moves, especially for Bb, which weren't obvious, so it seems to me that he does qualify as a stylist there. And maybe we should relax the definition of a stylist for F position anyway, since so relatively few players recorded in it at all.
All best,
Johnm

[Lignite]

 Charley Patton-Shake It And Break It

[Johnm]

Hi all,
Virgil Childers had two songs out of his six released, "The Preacher and the Bear" and "Traveling Man", in F position in standard tuning.
All best,
Johnm