Drifting

      About 4 weeks ago, I saw this video of Andy Mckee playing his song titled Drifting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4. I was blown away by his method of combining percussion, rhythm guitar and melody on a single instrument. The song is played in DADGAD tuning. By bringing the low E string down a step to D, power chords can be played by barring the lowest three strings (DAD) with the left hand. While bringing the high B and high E strings down a step allows them to be played openly with the song. After studying his technique, I noticed the melody of the song is played with the right hand, and the rhythm portion with the left hand. I had only been playing guitar for a month at this point, but knew this was the perfect song to cover. The song’s unconventional playing style is normally a challenge for anyone who plays standard guitar. However, Two years of piano lessons and 12 years of tapping on my desk left me with substantial dexterity on my right hand, perfect for playing the melody. While 12 years of playing drums taught me to be ambidextrous, exactly what one would need to play the distinct elements of the song simultaneously. I spent four weeks teaching myself to play the song, and this is the end result:

      If you’re interested in playing this style of music, I suggest you check out Michael Hedges. One of Mckee’s primary influences, Hedges songs include unique tunings and innovative playing styles I’ve come to enjoy.