"Merle Haggard was my favorite of them all. RIP to a true legend. When I go up to the jukebox I without question play Swingin Doors, The Night The Bottle Let Me Down, Just Stay Here And Drink, Honky Tonk Night Time Man, Ramblin Fever, Mama Tried, Silver Wings and they go on and on. Thanks for teaching me how to play real country music!" - Guthrie Trapp
Today we say goodbye to the legendary Merle Haggard, who died today of pneumonia on his 79th birthday. In honor of his great contributions to country guitar playing we have included a lesson on Merle Haggard's classic song “Mama Tried” here below.
"Merle Haggard was my favorite of them all. RIP to a true legend. When I go up to the jukebox I without question play Swingin Doors, The Night The Bottle Let Me Down, Just Stay Here And Drink, Honky Tonk Night Time Man, Ramblin Fever, Mama Tried, Silver Wings and they go on and on. Thanks for teaching me how to play real country music!" - Guthrie Trapp
Today we say goodbye to the legendary Merle Haggard, who died today of pneumonia on his 79th birthday. In honor of his great contributions to country guitar playing we have included a lesson on Merle Haggard's classic song “Mama Tried” here below.
We're opening up the vault again! Typically only available to members of these schools, this is a monthly taste of what we offer, above and beyond our Video Exchange® platform. Be sure to check out +Music area of your ArtistWorks school for more exclusive performances and interviews.
“The amount of music that’s happening here, and the young people that are moving here and bringing new flavors – it’s way more than just a country town anymore.” - Guthrie Trapp
Guthrie Trapp is featured on the Fretboard Journal blog talking about his experience as an in-demand session musician in Nashville, how he got started playing guitar, the story behind his famous Fender Telecaster, and much more. Click here to read it!
How did you get started playing guitar?
I grew up in a very musically rich family. My parents did not play instruments, but my uncle was a self taught musician and I really looked up to him. Me being an only child, he was like an older brother to me. My parents however listened to a ton of great music. I was not raised on Top 40 radio by any means. A lot of folk, blues, country, bluegrass, jazz and some rock was what I heard from birth. I think that's what instills the sound and feel of music in our hearts as infants and young children.
Being in that environment, I was drawn to the instruments that were always around. I first noodled on the harmonica and then picked up guitar and later mandolin - that was around 7 years old I think. I started really diving into guitar and mandolin from about 10-13 years old.