I really rather loathe "best" or "greatest" picker or player discussions. Not much good ever comes of them...and there are so many fine players that never get into the public eye (but are encountered at festivals, song circles, parking lots, clubs, etc.).

Players like Eddie Lang, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Doc Watson and Clarence White deserve special recognition because they did things with a plectrum that, to the best of our knowledge and available "proof" (recordings, written accounts, memory), hadn't been done before. They created the vocabulary that everyone since has used to express themselves musically.

Anyone that can play what they want, when they want and in the style(s) they want is "great." And most who are great don't think of themselves as such, because they know there is so much more that is possible, they never stop learning and they revere those that came before and the fine players, yet to come.

As for bluegrass and country styles, Clarence White--acoustic and electric--did more with a flatpick than anyone before or since, IMHO. But the greatest?.....I dunno...

Duolian, the topic was offered just for fun. Not sure how much "good" has come from it, but I've enjoyed it, including your post

Great point made by Duolian. None of the other pickers mentioned have shown the electric chops that Clarence demonstrated with The Byrds and others. Then throw in the b-bender and he may rise to the top of this group.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Randy Carone,

Rumor has it David's a Tele player . . . . Bryan Sutton too. But your right about Clarence's electric chops. Time to break out the Byrd's "Untitled" for a fix.

BTW, anyone heard The Kentucky Colonels live CD (I think it's from Newport)? I've got Appalachian Swing, and was thinking of picking up the live CD.

Yep, if it''s 1970 and I'm starting a band, Clarence White is the cornerstone. tom

Hey Tom & All:

I took it in the spirit it was intended (e.g. for fun) and this is a good spirited forum in my experience.

Haven't heard Kentucky Colonels live, but how could it not be good?!? Go over to iTunes for some samples...

Thanks Duolian. I'll check out some samples, but I think your right . . . . gotta be good. Now, off to play.

I haven't heard that cd in a while, but it is great! I want to say that it is called Long Journey Home. In addition to their set, it has tracks of Clarence and Doc playing as a duet, and the whole band backing up Bill Kieth. It is Live at Newport. It has quite a bit of commentary between songs, which I like.

I got to witness the evolution of flatpicking if you will, a few years ago at the Station Inn in Nashville when Grier, Barenburg, Sutton, and Crary performed together. Really, the only thing that was missing was Tony. Dan Crary was a very nice guy, and is a great picker, but it was interesting to see what happened during the show. Dan was playing a Taylor, Grier a Merrill, Bryan was on an old 28, and Russ had his old banner Gibson. Dan's guitar sounded thin (and I'm not bashing Taylor, but it was what it was). Everyone traded lead, and for the first few songs everyone was pretty even. Then..Grier and Sutton left Earth and Dan clearly had the "holy s___" look for the rest of the night. We were witnessing the evolution and it was really cool. Not to say that Dan wasnt awesome..he was..but there was a Model T at one point and now we have Ferraris driving around.

I took a lesson with David Grier a few weeks ago, and all I have to say is that there is no one more innovative on the planet..I witnessed it first hand from two feet away. Something else that was amazing is how everything David plays sounds like its digital quality..every single time. He analyzed a few songs..Red Haired Boy being the first one, and showed me how he takes a chunk of notes, sometimes as little as three notes at a time, and figures out 20-30 different ways to play them, eventually constructing the entire song. He also covered the metronome, which he uses all the time, and the importance of any and everything Clarence White. The one thing that I got at his lesson was that he doesnt give a rats ass about brand of picks, fossilized pins, what pickguard is on the guitar, etc..he is all about work, and a lot of it..period. FYI he was playing a 46 D28 and it sounded absolutely perfect.

Tony will always be my favorite..but David..wow!