This guitar solo, from the ever-popular tune “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” originates from Bill Napier, among the terrific and underrated artists of early bluegrass music. He was an excellent mandolin gamer, carried out frequently on banjo, and flatpicked amazing guitar leads long before the instrument was thought about more than a rhythm maker in bluegrass. Raised in Virginia, he transferred to Michigan for work before signing up with the Stanley Brothers in 1957 at age 22. A couple of years later on he partnered with singer Charlie Moore, and the 2 carried out and taped together till the late 1960s. At that point Napier returned to Michigan and quit working as a full-time artist, however he stayed musically active up until his death in 2000.
Napier’s guitar playing was tidy, driving, and smart. Compared to later on flatpickers who integrated blues and jazz components for a slick and syncopated noise, Napier was punchy and direct. Listen to Moore and Napier and the Dixie Boys’ very first record, Folk ‘n Hill (now out of print), for some ideal examples of his intense guitar design. It’s one of my preferred bluegrass albums. The music is enjoyable, the singing consistencies ring, and I can’t assist however believe the album title itself was a saucy pun that in some way snuck past the record label.
Another wonderful release from Moore and Napier was 1967’s Bluegrass Gospel and Sacred Songsthat includes “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” While the tune material is more mournful than on their previous records, Napier’s playing stays cheerful and fresh. One significant component of his design was cross-picking: playing throughout 3 or more strings in succession. “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” showcases the sweeter side of his technique. Modern guitar players frequently utilize cross-picking as a fancy masterpiece to wow audiences or win contest rewards, however the early flatpickers did it on slower choices to produce captivating and fascinating solos. Playing in this method is an essential and essential ability for the advancing flatpicker.
Napier plays “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in the secret of D significant, and his very first solo exists here. He cross-picks over the open D chord (bars 1, 7, 9, and 15), and in bar 5 he utilizes the exact same technique on the G chord (the open D, G, and B strings). Notification the passage in bar 15 is cross-picked in reverse, going from the first team to the 3rd string. In in between these areas Napier selects the tune in intentional quarter and half notes, with a couple of hammer-ons.
As you deal with discovering the solo, concentrate on fingerings and select instructions. For the worrying hand, make sure to hold down the D chord while cross-picking, permitting the notes sound out and mix with each other. Keep rotating choosing throughout so that downstrokes arrive on the beats, as displayed in the notation. While I am not able to validate that Napier utilized alternate selecting, I discover it is the very best method to establish control and accuracy.
Keep in mind the larger image. This solo has little flash– it’s a stylish analysis that appreciates a well-liked spiritual tune long related to fond memories and faith.
This short article initially appeared in the March/April 2024 concern of Acoustic Guitar publication.