I Walk The Line

Bluesyzep · #1 January 11th, 2007

I was watching Johnny Cash at Montreaux and was wondering how to re-create the opening chuck-a-chuck, chuck-a-chuck, sound. He explained that he came up with it to imitate the snare drum. He pulled out a sheet of paper and placed it under the strings at about the 1-4 frets then appeared to strum all the strings with his fret hand touching all six strings. I don't think it was fretted. Just deadened. I came up with similar sound but am not sure if that was correct. I can't see what difference the sheet of paper made since fret hand placement was below the paper and sounded similiar either way. Comments? Does that sound about right?

cshude · #2 January 11th, 2007

I'll reply just so your thread doesn't get lost- I've never watched much video of JC playing, but just by listening you should be able to get the sound with a bit of practice (of course, that's easier if you've been playing a while). I have no idea what the sheet of paper would be for. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

si16 · #3 January 11th, 2007

I know the song but I didn't know it was muted like that. I tried to learn another song where the strings were muted by a playing card which can make the guitar sound like kettle drums. I had to experiment a bit to get the required sound. A whole card was too much but I just kept trimming bits off it until it sounded right.

Stratrat · #4 January 11th, 2007

Your technique sounds about right for creating that sound. I don't know what the paper was for - maybe it gave it a more percussive sound because he was holding the strings slightly against the paper or something.

Bluesyzep · #5 January 11th, 2007

Thanks for the responses. I probably shouldn't expect to sound exactly the same but thought I might be doing it wrong. Also, I played the video back and saw that the celloist? played it to a greater effect. The drummer sat it out. My ears were fooled but not my eyes.

redrider37 · #6 January 12th, 2007

I went on a tour of Sun studios last may, the guy showing us around showed us how JC got that sound, he wrapped a doller bill around the neck where you suggest. Gerry Lee Lewis told him how to do it.

Yo

pete

Bluesyzep · #7 January 12th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by redrider37

I went on a tour of Sun studios last may, the guy showing us around showed us how JC got that sound, he wrapped a doller bill around the neck where you suggest. Gerry Lee Lewis told him how to do it.

Yo

pete

Do you know if he strummed all the strings or just certain ones and did he mute the strings? Still not certain precisely how it is done but my best efforts came from muting the middle of the fretboard and strumming the top 4 strings.

cshude · #8 January 13th, 2007

I've never heard of doing this before- is the paper wrapped around over the strings or under?

Bluesyzep · #9 January 14th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshude

I've never heard of doing this before- is the paper wrapped around over the strings or under?

Just under it. I posed the question over at the Johnny Cash forum. Will see what happens.

6string · #10 January 26th, 2007

Here it is, don't you just luv youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7K4jH7NqUw