Deep River Blues guitar solo

Doc Watson, 1964, from Doc Watson. Solo by Doc Watson.

Watson's alternating-bass fingerpicking carries the whole song, with melody and bass played together.

Deep River Blues is a showcase for Doc Watson's fingerpicking, a style rooted in the alternating-bass approach associated with Merle Travis. His thumb keeps a steady bass line while his fingers play the melody, making the guitar sound like two instruments at once. The playing is clean, relaxed and perfectly balanced, with every note clearly audible. Watson's warm voice and easygoing guitar make the song feel intimate and timeless. It has become a standard for fingerstyle guitarists. Listen for the independence between the bass and melody, and notice how Watson keeps the bass steady even as he adds melodic flourishes above it.

Deep River Blues by Doc Watson is ranked #535 in our consensus of 80 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Doc Watson and the song was released in 1964. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #137 (Guitar Tricks).

In our lists

• The 20 Greatest Bluegrass Guitar Solos — #5
• The Best Doc Watson Guitar Solos — #3
• Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1964 — #2

Sources

• Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #137