Scope:
This pathfinder serves as a beginner’s guide to the unique guitar style developed by Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family. This style is usually referred to in one of the following ways: the “Carter Scratch,” “Carter Lick,” “Carter Style,” “Drop Thumb,” “Thumb Brush,” or “Mother Maybelle Style.” This pathfinder will help those interested in learning about the development of Maybelle’s technique and her influences, how to master this style, and Maybelle’s lasting impact on the guitar world. Her development of this different method greatly influenced early country music and she existed as a major musical inspiration for many modern musicians.
Introductory Text:
Zwonitzer, Mark. Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2002. ASU APP COLL STACK ML421. C33 Z86 2002p>
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Highly relevant:
Bluegrass Music—History and Criticism
Carter Family (Musical Group)
Country music—United States—biography
Country music—History and criticism
Guitar—Methods (Bluegrass)—Self-instruction
Country musicians—United States
Guitar music (Bluegrass)
Bluegrass music -- Instruction and study
Also relevant:
Folk musicians—United States
Related:
Blues (songs, etc)—Southern States—History and criticism
Folk songs, English—Southern States—History and criticism
Library of Congress Call Numbers:
Other books including material about Maybelle’s playing style can usually be found within these Library of Congress call number ranges:
M 128
ML 3561-3930
ML 421
MT 582-588
Books:
Cantwell, Robert. Bluegrass Breakdown: The Making of the Old Southern Sound. University of Illinois, 1984. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3520 .C36
Malone, Bill C. Country Music, U.S.A., Revised Edition. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1985. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3524 .M34 1985 c.2
--. Stars of Country Music. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1975: 99. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 385 S73 1975
Paul Kingsbury and Alanna Nash (eds.) Will The Circle Be Unbroken: Country Music in America. New York, New York. DK Publishing, p. 38, 2006. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3524 .W53 2006
Guides, Encyclopedias, and Dictionaries:
All Music Guide to Country. San Francisco, CA. Miller Freeman Books, p. 74-77, 1997. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 156.4 .C7 A45 1997
Bob Allen, Editor. The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York, NY. Billboard Books, p. 28, 2007. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 102 .C7 B55 2007
Atkins, John. The Carter Family. London: Old Time Music, 1973. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 421.C33 A8
Carr, Joe. Mel Bay’s Getting into… Bluegrass Guitar. Pacific, Montana. Mel Bay, p. 10-11, 2004. ASU APP COLL STACK OVSZ MT 588 .C37 2004
Carr, Patrick. Editor. The Illustrated History of Country Music. Garden City. Doubleday, p. 50, 1979. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3561 .C69 I4
Country Music Magazine Editors. The Comprehensive Country Music Encyclopedia. Country Music Magazine. New York. Times Books, p. 56, 1994. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 102. C7 C6 1994
Dawidoff, Nicholas. In the Country of Country. New York. Random House, p. 59, 1997. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3524 .D39 1998
Dewitt, Mark F. Roots Music. Great Britain. TJ International LTD, p. 39, 2011. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3545. R66 2011
Hill, Fred. Grass Roots: An Illustrated History of Bluegrass and Mountain Music. Rutland, Vermont. Academy Books, p. 18, 1980. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3520 .H54
Irwin, John Rice. A People and Their Music. Atglen, PA. Schiffler Publishing, Ltd., p. 46-49, 2000. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 394 .I78 2000
McCloud, Barry. Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and Its Performers. New York, NY. Berkley Pub. Group, p. 138, 1995. ASU APP COLL STACK ML102. C7 M33 1995
Oermann, Robert K.. The Listener’s Guide to Country Music. New York, New York. Quarto Marketing, Ltd., p. 7-9, 1983. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 3524 .P48 1997
Seeger, M. “Traditional music: Keys to Carter-style picking.” Frets Mar. 1986: 50-51. Music Index. Web. 27 Sept. 2012.
Shelton, Robert. The Country Music Story: A Picture History of Country and Western Music. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co, 1966. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML 2811 .S5
Traum, Happy. Bluegrass Guitar. New York. Oak Publications, p. 12, 23, 1974. ASU APP COLL STACK M 128. T7 B5 c.2
Willis, Barry R. America’s Music: Bluegrass. Franktown, Colorado. Pine Valley Music, p. 23,1989. ASU APP COLL STACK OVSZ ML 3520 .W55 1992
Abstracts and Indices:
Abstracts and indices that function as helpful research guides include:
RILM Abstracts of Music Literature
Music Index
Journals:
Bluegrass Unlimited. Broad Run. VAL Bluegrass Unlimited, 1967- Present. ASU APP COLL STACK ML1. B68
Frets. Cupertino, CA: GPI Publications, 1979. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML1 .F678
Jemf Quarterly. Los Angeles: John Edwards Memorial Foundation, 1900. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML1 .J55
The Journal of Country Music. Nashville: Country Music Foundation, 1971 - Present. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML1 .C91774
The Old-Time Herald: A Magazine Dedicated to Old-Time Music. Galax, VA: Old-Time Music Group, 1987. Print. ASU APP COLL STACK ML1 .035
Audio and Video Sources:
Conkwright, Kathy, Mary Makley, and Robert Duvall. The Carter Family: Will the Circle Be Unbroken. United States: PBS Home Video, 2005. APP COLL VIDEO DVDisc 104
“Mother Maybelle’s ‘Carter Scratch’”. United States: Mebcon Production, 1990. APP COLL VIDEO VC 63
Seeger, Mike, Janette Carter, and Alexia Smith. Guitar Styles of the Carter Family. Woodstock, NY: Homespun Video, 2000. APP COLL VIDEO VC 396
“Wildwood Flower.” Carter, A P, Sara Carter, and Maybelle Carter. The Carter Family, 1927-1934. London, England: JSP Records, 2001. Sound recording.
Compiled by:
Misa Giroux
2 October 2012