Travis Picking Fun with Rex's Blues (Townes Van Zandt / Ramblin' Jack Elliott + Emmylou + Nanci)

Get my print-friendly PDF guide (with tabs), plus view my slow playthrough video and all other lesson notes @ https://songnotes.net/lessons/460

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In this week's lesson, I'll teach you a 3-part instrumental fingerstyle sequence inspired by the song Rex's Blues. While Townes Van Zandt originally wrote & recorded this song, my inspiration is the Ramblin' Jack Elliott cover featuring Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith.

Just like you hear in Ramblin' Jack Elliott's cover, I'll be using Travis Picking fingerstyle technique with a capo on 8th fret — using the chords G/C/D. While not a note-for-note recreation of what Elliott plays, I'll incorporate many of the melodic flavors he's utilizing — so you'll sound just like him.

If you're looking for something that's fairly approachable while also presenting a bit of a fingerpicking challenge, this is a great one to pick up & get going with. Special thanks to Song Notes community member Ken P. for sending this one in. Let's get to it!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Lesson Summary
3:55 Figure 1 of 3
10:07 Figure 2 of 3
13:09 Figure 3 of 3

COOL LINKS:

👉 Listen to Ramblin' Jack Elliott's Version of this song (feat. Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9CkHtt2bDg

👉 CBS Sunday Morning profile of Ramblin' Jack Elliott (from 1999)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp71RDOxuiA

👉 Watch various other covers of Rex's Blues, including Guy Clark / Steve Earle / Kelsey Waldon:
https://songnotes.net/lessons/460

Thanks all! -DP

Видео Travis Picking Fun with Rex's Blues (Townes Van Zandt / Ramblin' Jack Elliott + Emmylou + Nanci) канала Song Notes by David Pots