All Thumbs - Chet Atkins / Mark Casstevens

#fingerpickinfriday - "How long does it take to learn a fingerstyle piece?" - That's a question I get once in a while. Obviously it depends, and often I just answer "forever", ha!

This week I decided to actually try it out, how long it takes to learn a piece. "All Thumbs" is a true masterpiece by Nashville guitarist Mark Casstevens tune that Chet Atkins recorded on his "Me And My Guitar" album. I've always loved the tune, but never even attempted to learn it. What makes it a masterpiece? Well if a tune is so funky and bluesy, yet beautiful both at same time, I don't know what else to call it!

I decided to learn this one exactly a week ago, last friday. Luckily I had a great transcription to work with, so I could skip that part. I worked about an hour every day, split in two 30 minute practice sessions, so that makes 7 hours in total.

Not saying I totally have it down quite yet though, it took about six takes to go through it without mistakes. But I think if keep playing it for another month or so, i'll probably be able to make it groove quite a bit better, this one still feels a bit stiff here and there. But anyway here's my first take on "All Thumbs", after exactly 7 hours of practice, hope you like it!