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Nick Lucas Guitar Method
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Gerry
Jul 18, 2012, 12:47:53 PM7/18/12
to
I'm a big fan of Nick Lucas.
In a great little interview with Joe Pass ( http://tinyurl.com/7ayvysj
) he says:
"I started on a Harmony guitar, an acoustic model with steel strings. I
began on simple chords like most everybody, and then I studied for a
year on the Nick Lucas book. After that I got on to the Carcassi
classical method for a while because the pieces in it were a lot
better. They had a lot of movement in them, more chord changes and
sophistication than the books of chords I'd come across. So I think
that developed some sense of harmony in me."
I had the Carcassi method when I was a kid, and could make little sense
of it. I went after it with renewed vigor, and a nylon string guitar,
about 30 years later, but it's most the etudes that were of value.
It occurs to me that despite my interest in Lucas I've never seen that
old book. I note that it is for sale at djangobooks.com (they sure
don't pimp their pdf books!). I wondered if it was just an old relic
or whether it has some interesting Lucas-isms in it.
For all of djangobooks current inventory of (guitar) ebooks:
http://tinyurl.com/7wzbmrc
Again, related to giving interest to solo arrangements, I've found
myself doing those little chromatic runs down from the 5th to the 3rd
in a chord, or up from the root--something that Lucas did a lot of.
This among other little Lucas tricks to "fill up the spaces" as Joe
mentions in the interview.
--
Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden
In a great little interview with Joe Pass ( http://tinyurl.com/7ayvysj
) he says:
"I started on a Harmony guitar, an acoustic model with steel strings. I
began on simple chords like most everybody, and then I studied for a
year on the Nick Lucas book. After that I got on to the Carcassi
classical method for a while because the pieces in it were a lot
better. They had a lot of movement in them, more chord changes and
sophistication than the books of chords I'd come across. So I think
that developed some sense of harmony in me."
I had the Carcassi method when I was a kid, and could make little sense
of it. I went after it with renewed vigor, and a nylon string guitar,
about 30 years later, but it's most the etudes that were of value.
It occurs to me that despite my interest in Lucas I've never seen that
old book. I note that it is for sale at djangobooks.com (they sure
don't pimp their pdf books!). I wondered if it was just an old relic
or whether it has some interesting Lucas-isms in it.
For all of djangobooks current inventory of (guitar) ebooks:
http://tinyurl.com/7wzbmrc
Again, related to giving interest to solo arrangements, I've found
myself doing those little chromatic runs down from the 5th to the 3rd
in a chord, or up from the root--something that Lucas did a lot of.
This among other little Lucas tricks to "fill up the spaces" as Joe
mentions in the interview.
--
Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden
lukejazz
Jul 18, 2012, 2:10:04 PM7/18/12
to
On Wednesday, July 18, 2012 11:47:53 AM UTC-5, Gerry wrote:
> I'm a big fan of Nick Lucas.
> "I started on a Harmony guitar, an acoustic model with steel strings. I
> that developed some sense of harmony in me."
>
> It occurs to me that despite my interest in Lucas I've never seen that
Luke
> I'm a big fan of Nick Lucas.
> "I started on a Harmony guitar, an acoustic model with steel strings. I
> began on simple chords like most everybody, and then I studied for a
> year on the Nick Lucas book. After that I got on to the Carcassi
> classical method for a while because the pieces in it were a lot
> better. They had a lot of movement in them, more chord changes and
> sophistication than the books of chords I'd come across. So I think
> year on the Nick Lucas book. After that I got on to the Carcassi
> classical method for a while because the pieces in it were a lot
> better. They had a lot of movement in them, more chord changes and
> that developed some sense of harmony in me."
>
> I had the Carcassi method when I was a kid, and could make little sense
> of it. I went after it with renewed vigor, and a nylon string guitar,
> about 30 years later, but it's most the etudes that were of value.
> I had the Carcassi method when I was a kid, and could make little sense
> of it. I went after it with renewed vigor, and a nylon string guitar,
>
> It occurs to me that despite my interest in Lucas I've never seen that
> old book. I note that it is for sale at djangobooks.com (they sure
> don't pimp their pdf books!). I wondered if it was just an old relic
> or whether it has some interesting Lucas-isms in it.
>
> For all of djangobooks current inventory of (guitar) ebooks:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/7wzbmrc
>
> Again, related to giving interest to solo arrangements, I've found
>
> For all of djangobooks current inventory of (guitar) ebooks:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/7wzbmrc
>
> myself doing those little chromatic runs down from the 5th to the 3rd
> in a chord, or up from the root--something that Lucas did a lot of.
> This among other little Lucas tricks to "fill up the spaces" as Joe
> in a chord, or up from the root--something that Lucas did a lot of.
> mentions in the interview.
> --
> Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden
Thanks for that Joe Pass interview link - really good reading.
> --
> Music is the best means we have of digesting time. -- W. H. Auden
Luke
dunlop212
Jul 19, 2012, 4:30:19 PM7/19/12
to
On Wednesday, July 18, 2012 12:47:53 PM UTC-4, Gerry wrote:
> I'm a big fan of Nick Lucas.
>
I ran into this one the other day:
http://archive.org/details/theLiberaceShow-GreatPersonalities
Lucas appears on Liberace (with Gilda Gray; that's an eclectic guest list) in 1954.
> I'm a big fan of Nick Lucas.
>
I ran into this one the other day:
http://archive.org/details/theLiberaceShow-GreatPersonalities
Lucas appears on Liberace (with Gilda Gray; that's an eclectic guest list) in 1954.
Bill Williams
Jul 19, 2012, 5:16:57 PM7/19/12
to
Many thanks for this great find. I too started off with the Nick Lucas method back in the early 60's. Never expected to actually see him perform.
He solos shortly after 7.00,although audio sync isn't 100%, (and there's also a bonus "we want Cantor" at 3.55 for old timers who care about such things).
He solos shortly after 7.00,although audio sync isn't 100%, (and there's also a bonus "we want Cantor" at 3.55 for old timers who care about such things).
Gerry
Jul 19, 2012, 7:54:01 PM7/19/12
to
It's even gotten where "Tip Top" is no longer primarily associated with
Tiny Tim anymore.
And the last time I watched Liberace in any setting whatsover was
likely about 1957.
So this was damned interesting in any number of ways.
Gerry
Jul 19, 2012, 7:54:35 PM7/19/12
to
finb...@gmail.com
Jan 2, 2013, 7:26:34 AM1/2/13
to
Hello, I've only just discovered Nick Lucas. I do a bit of strumming and some fingerpicking but I'd love to learn some of Nick's style. I don't read music. Can anyone suggest any books or DVDs?
Gerry
Jan 2, 2013, 11:02:24 AM1/2/13
to
mentioned upstream, and am quick sure it pre-dates tablature. I know
of no DVD's specifically on his style, but I guess there might be a DVD
by someone who plays a derivative style; I wouldn't know who that would
be.
It doesn't take so long to learn to read music, and can have myriad paybacks.
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