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  <a href="/alex-s-teaching-blog/blog/7736844/tony-rice-unit-at-mccabe-s-guitar-shop-1982-the-best-live-acoustic-recording-you-ve-never-heard">Tony Rice Unit at McCabe&#39;s Guitar Shop (1982): The Best Live Acoustic Recording You&#39;ve Never Heard</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>Every once in a while I'll stumble upon this recording — the Tony Rice Unit at McCabe's Guitar Shop from 1982 — and honestly, I think it's the best live acoustic recording I've ever heard. If you haven't checked it out yet, take some time to listen. It's a real gem. </p><div class="video-container size_l justify_left" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="AA7j1eo4Fvw" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AA7j1eo4Fvw?rel=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><h3> </h3><h3>Backwaters and a Period of Boundary-Pushing</h3><p>This was recorded right after Tony released <i>Backwaters</i> — my favorite Tony Rice studio recording — during a period when he was really pushing boundaries in acoustic music.</p><p>You can hear all of it: his ridiculous tone, the seamless interplay between the band, and that perfect balance between tradition and innovation. The Unit is locked in, and the recording quality is so good you can hear every nuance like you're right there in the room.</p><h3>What Makes It Special</h3><p>What makes it so special is how alive this performance feels. Tony's playing isn't just precise — it's thoughtful, dynamic, and completely engaging. This was a time when the Tony Rice Unit was carving out a space that wasn't strictly bluegrass but was still rooted deeply enough to connect with the tradition.</p><p>McCabe's itself adds to the magic. It's one of those legendary spots that has seen so many incredible performances, and this recording captures that intimate, authentic energy.</p><p>Give it a listen, and if you have a live recording you think might top this one — send it over. Always happy to geek out over Tony's playing.</p><h3>A Listening Exercise</h3><p>If this recording inspires you to pick up your guitar, try listening again while focusing just on Tony's rhythm playing. It's a masterclass in subtlety and timing — pure gold for anyone working on their rhythm chops.</p><hr><p>Want structured help developing your bluegrass guitar vocabulary — phrasing, rhythm, fretboard navigation, and more? Alex's Acoustic Club is a membership community for serious flatpickers at every level. Join 325+ guitarists working on the same things you are.</p><p>Here's the link: https://www.skool.com/alexs-acoustic-club-5005/about</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2026-04-01T09:00:00-06:00" title="April 01, 2026 09:00">04/01/2026</span></p>

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  <a href="/alex-s-teaching-blog/blog/7736838/crosspicking-for-rhythm-guitar-how-tony-rice-and-wyatt-rice-transformed-bluegrass-accompaniment">Crosspicking for Rhythm Guitar: How Tony Rice and Wyatt Rice Transformed Bluegrass Accompaniment</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><h2>Crosspicking for Rhythm Guitar: How Tony Rice and Wyatt Rice Transformed Bluegrass Accompaniment</h2><p>Both Tony and Wyatt Rice played, and continue to play, rhythm guitar like no one else in the bluegrass world. There are a few techniques they modified and made their own that have made their sound so unique.</p><p>One of those techniques — and perhaps the most powerful?</p><p>Crosspicking.</p><h3>Beyond Boom-Chuck: Using Crosspicking in Your Rhythm Playing</h3><p>Usually we think of crosspicking as a technique for playing lead and breaks. It can also be used to enhance your rhythm guitar and accompanying skills. If you've ever felt like there might be something more beyond the boom-chuck baseline of bluegrass rhythm guitar — which, don't get me wrong, is a great baseline, always — then you might be ready to dive into the world of crosspicking for rhythm.</p><h3>A G Chord Example</h3><p>Here's a quick example of a way Tony Rice liked to use crosspicking over a G chord.</p><img src="//images.zoogletools.com/s:bzglfiles/u/662979/2020181075518cb7bef0f13326349cbfab0ee3df/original/screenshot-2026-03-25-at-8-48-21-pm.png" class="size_m justify_inline border_" height="268" /><h3> </h3><h3>The Most Important Rule: Start Slow</h3><p>Try it out when you get a chance. The key is to start very slow. Let me repeat: very slow. The goal is to be articulate with this crosspicking when boosting the speed. If you are not articulate slow, how can you expect yourself to be articulate fast. Do not skip this step — ever.</p><hr><p>Want structured help developing your bluegrass guitar vocabulary — phrasing, rhythm, fretboard navigation, and more? Alex's Acoustic Club is a membership community for serious flatpickers at every level. Join 325+ guitarists working on the same things you are.</p><p>Learn more here: https://www.skool.com/alexs-acoustic-club-5005/about</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2026-03-28T09:05:00-06:00" title="March 28, 2026 09:05">03/28/2026</span></p>

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  <a href="/alex-s-teaching-blog/blog/7736492/tim-stafford-s-rhythm-guitar-a-masterclass-in-complex-simplicity">Tim Stafford&#39;s Rhythm Guitar: A Masterclass in Complex Simplicity</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>Have you ever listened to a rhythm player and thought, <i>How are they grooving so hard without overplaying?</i> That's the vibe I get every time I hear Tim Stafford.</p><p>Tim co-founded Blue Highway, one of the most celebrated modern bluegrass bands, with over 25 years of solid albums and performances. I don't think there is any Blue Highway album that I don't like — they're all instant classics.</p><p>These days, he's not only a master on stage but also shaping the next generation of players as a faculty member in the Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music Studies program at East Tennessee State University (ETSU).</p><p>But I want to make you hip to something that might fly under the radar if you're not paying close attention: Tim's rhythm guitar playing.</p><h2>Complex Simplicity</h2><p>Tim's approach is a masterclass in what I'd call "complex simplicity." He doesn't just play chords; he places them. There's a deliberate sense of space in his playing that lets every other instrument breathe while still anchoring the groove. It's this unshakeable pulse that makes him the perfect rhythm player for a band like Blue Highway — probably a perfect rhythm guitar player in any scenario.</p><h2>Quiet Loud</h2><p>Then there's the idea of "quiet loud." Tim shapes dynamics and has such nuanced control over his rhythmic attack. One moment, his playing is so subtle it's almost a whisper; the next, it's driving the band forward with powerful downstrokes. This control over dynamics is where rhythm becomes more than keeping time — it becomes an emotional force in the song.</p><h2>Tone</h2><p>And Tim's tone? It's unreal. There's a warmth and clarity that almost feels tactile, like you could reach out and touch the sound. It's the kind of tone that makes you stop and listen, even in the middle of a blazing instrumental.</p><h2>Serving the Song</h2><p>What I love most about Tim's playing is how it always serves the song. He's not in it to show off or steal the spotlight. He plays what the song needs, supporting the melody, the groove, and his bandmates with such generosity. It's selfless, but it's never boring. That's the magic: he sacrifices nothing while giving everything to the music.</p><p>Check out this recording to get started on some listening: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nax-btFQqQ">Blue Highway — YouTube</a></p><div class="video-container size_l justify_left" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="1nax-btFQqQ" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nax-btFQqQ?rel=0&amp;wmode=transparent&amp;enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p><p><strong>P.S.</strong> Did you know Tim started out on banjo? Check out videos of him playing and pay attention to his right hand technique.</p><hr><p>Want structured help developing your bluegrass guitar vocabulary — phrasing, rhythm, fretboard navigation, and more? <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.skool.com/alexs-acoustic-club-5005/about" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Alex's Acoustic Club</a> is a membership community for serious flatpickers at every level. Join 325+ guitarists working on the same things you are.</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2026-03-25T11:40:05-06:00" title="March 25, 2026 11:40">03/25/2026</span></p>

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