Monday, March 15, 2010

Monday music: "Stairway to Heaven" — Stanley Jordan, plus a bonus duet with Chet Atkins

Oh, my... I'm not sure it's legal for so much talent to be concentrated in just one man.


Guitarists will note Jordan's unique technique. It is called two-handed tapping, or touch technique. As Jordan himself explains, it requires strings lying low near the guitar's neck, and is accomplished by hammering or tapping the notes with your fingers. One of the advantages, as you can see here, is that it enables chording your own leads. Also, you can split it up for two guitars (as Jordan does, 2:35).

A disadvantage is that most people who try it and aren't Stanley Jordan experience cerebral detonation.  (Their heads explode.)

And now, at absolutely no extra charge, a treat that is sheer pleasure. Jordan (around 31 years old, here) teams with the late, great Chet Atkins (about 66) to do Sweet Georgia Brown:



8 comments:

Gregg Metcalf said...

Thanks for these posts today. I have not heard of Brown but obviously there is some talent there.

What an opportunity for him to play with the great Chet Atkins.

Great way to start Monday Morning!

Gregg Metcalf said...

Oops, I meant Jordan, told ya I hadn't heard of him. I was thinking of Sweet Georgia Brown!

David Regier said...

I had totally forgotten about him. Wow.

You ever hear of Doyle Dykes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_pX2iwsYWw

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed the first clip, but that second one with Chet Atkins was pure gold!!

Philip said...

I saw Jordan in Charlotte, NC as an OPENING act for Take6 back in the late 80's early 90's. What a concert!

Thanks for bringing back the memories!

~Philip

PS
You should check out Take6 as well, phenomenal vocal acrobatics.

JackW said...

Not bad. Easier on an electric, but not bad. I'm more impressed with the guys that can do that stuff on a real guitar though.

Juber, Dykes, Coryell, Keaggy, etc.

CR said...

Saw the Stairway to Heaven piece. Very interesting.

Solameanie said...

Don't forget Steve Hackett. He was tapping a long time ago i.e. early 1970s.