Super Lick

[pattie surman]

Norm .... I have to tell you but somebody did . The CAAS Sociaty.It was available at one of the conventions several years ago. "This is a compilation of most of the colums that Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau did for Guitar Player and Frets magazines from 1981 until 1988. We could not have reprinted these articles without thehelp and permission of Chet. John Knowles gave his blessing,and Jim Hatlo and Jim Ferguson from the formermagazine staffs gave their permission. Most helpfull were Pat Cameron and Peggi Clapham of GPI Publications who gave the necessary clearance for this reprint. GPI Publications understands that all proceeds from the sale of this materal to Chet Atkins Appreciation Society members will go towards convention and newsletter expense . we respectfully ask that this materal not be copied, considering the purpose of the reprint, and the fact that further reproduction of this material is not authorized by GPI PUBLICATIONS. This is the first time that all of the material has been gathered in one group, and we hope it is helpfull to those of you who have not had access to it in the past."C.A.A.S. Stan .

[Norm]

That was nice but there were also a lot of feature articles and interviews in the GP mags.

I'd forgotten the clearance and copyright issues they have to go through for this kind of thing.

[bill raymond]

The first time I ever heard Chet do a "super lick" on record was in "Maria Elena" on his album "The Other Chet Atkins", I believe released in 1961. I don't recall that "Copper Kettle appeared earlier that on record, but I could be wrong, and Chet could have been playing it for a number of years before he saw fit to put it on a recorded version.

[RandeDager]

My first "superlick" experiences was when Chet recorded "Cast Your Fate to the Wind". One would have dropped my jaw but it seemed to go on and on.

[George Beasley]

Django never played the super lick that I can remember, though arpeggios was one of the foundations of his soloing. The closest thing I can think of....and he didn't go back down....is the super fast lick that Johnny Smith does twice during "Moonlight in Vermont", which was the early 50's. Knowing Chet's admiration of Johnny, I would not be surprises if he learned that lick.

[Norm]

Like I said, I'm no Django scholar. Mine was just a guess. Apppreciate your input on that, George.

I guess Chet's source for that lick is one of those things we'll never know for sure....

[RandeDager]

Have we for sure ruled out the possibility that Chet originated it?

[George Beasley]

Rande....Chet may have originated "his" super lick, but he evidently said he had heard other guitarists and fiddlers doing something similar.

By the way, in 2010, while watching Paul play in the Kirk Sand room, Paul played the super lick in-between songs. He then said, "I just wanted y'all to know that I could do that."

[albertgen]

The way Chet plays that in his albums is unbelievable, every note is heard. I always had a hard time trying to execute it especially trying to fit the hammer on pulloff on the first string turnaround. I hope someday I can get it right. Al

[RandeDager]

George, I remember hearing that story about Paul. It's very difficult to synchronize the sweeping motion of the right hand picking with the exact fingering of the left hand. There is a lot of potential for dead notes.