Travis-style or thumbpicking

Eddie Pennington, the guitar-picking County Coroner from Princeton, Kentucky, performs in a guitar style that arose early in this century in his native Muhlenberg County. Locally called "thumbpicking," and made famous by Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, it is based upon a women's "parlor" guitar style that became an international fad during the late 19th century. Fully developed by black and white performers of the region by the 1930's, thumbpicking is an intricate and beautiful style in which the performer simultaneously plays rhythm and lead parts, the thumb keeping a constant rhythm while the index and middle fingers pick out the lead and harmony lines. With ties to both country and blues, thumbpicking gained fame in the 1940's and 1950's with Travis and Atkins. Eddie is a two-time thumbpicking national champion and is one of the most sought-after guitarists on the festival circuit. His introduction to music came early. His father played fiddle and guitar and grandparents on both sides of his family had musical talents. His introduction to the thumbpicking style came from the late Mose Rager, the man credited with introducing Travis to the thumb and finger technique. Pennington became a regular visitor to Rager's home in nearby Drakesboro, KY and quickly developed a passion for this western Kentucky technique.

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Music Sampler : Blue Smoke