The Steel Guitar Forum

An acquaintence recently asked me which steel players he should listen to who could emulate the popular chicken pickin' Telecaster guitar style. Weldon was the first who popped into my mind. Who else?

Jimmy Crawford and Russ Hicks

Crawford and Hicks had the albums Chicken Pickin Good and Chicken Pickin Plus

Ralph Mooney did Corn Pickin & Slick Slidin with James Burton

to name a few more:
Lloyd Green
Hal Rugg
Doug Jernigan
JD Maness
Bobby Black
Tom Brumley
Norm Hamlet
Leo LeBlanc
Buddy Emmons
Sonny Garrish
John Hughey
Jim Murphy
Julian Tharpe

and check out Lew Houston with Conway Twitty:
https://youtu.be/FOZ4AWWLtXw

I’ve been trying to get this Lloyd Maines chicken picking solo down. It’s extremely chickeny.

https://youtu.be/hFum3Vnu5kA - starts around 2:50.

Great song the Joe Ely Band with Lloyd are some of my favorite albums

I don't agree with the title of this video, but check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw1ZQSgBiG8

Lou Houston!!

Hi Jack,
Chicken Picking can be found within every recorded steel players discography's. But none of those players used chicken picking for their entire body of work...Try informing him towards specific cuts instead of giving him specific names. Within all of the names mentioned in this thread there are many styles being played in their discography. The style originated in the 60's.

As with all things go back to the creator of the style..In this case it was Mooney
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-lohQ8w9EQ

This Connie cut probably defines Weldon's interpretation of the style best...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbyoTGDweU

This is Lloyd's interpretation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTyiiMz3eZI

Have him listen to a more subdued interpretation in Hal Ruggs chorus release fills so he can get a complete grasp of where the style goes

Slightly off topic but this is the way I am interpreting the style to fit into modern times...This combines the Weldon and Mooney inflections with some Hammer ons with slight distortion...It rocks but can not be confused as being too close to a guitar...My belief is we need to ID the instrument especially since the 90's are back...This is from the very soon to be released Chris Jansen CD...Good news is producers are asking steel guitarists to play...You can bet I will rely on this aggressive style every chance I get!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fqzPF_Oqco

it does make more sense to cite specific examples rather than players.
I thought about adding a link to each of the names I mentioned above but only got as far as Lew Houston

I'm thinking some of us have a broader definition of "chicken pickin" as well

I would say Buddy Cage.
Panama Red and many other songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9G0emfp87E

To me this is the earliest example of what I consider chicken picking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqHQbSxCZrs

I feel that Ralph Mooney's style is different, his unique Mooney style. Also Weldon on I'll come running isn't what I consider to be chicken picking (But still fabulous fast picking).

Norm Hamlet - Hammin It Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t4ugpM7sE8

should read HAMMIN' It Up

Paul Franklin doesn’t need confirmation in regards to “Chicken Pickin” obviously.
I will say, I began pedal steel in or around 1966, as my dad played, and played quite well. You might say I was raised with pedal steel.
That sound was around when I started. Most every pedal steel recording of that era had elements of Chicken Pickin , especially the pedal steel instrumental recordings. Again, I’ll agree with my life long friend and hero Paul Franklin. I’ll always tip my hat to those who could play that style, whether live or on recordings.
As a side note, my first influences of “ Chicken Pickin” was/were and still are Lloyd Green recordings on the Little Darlin label. Lotsa good stuff there. Just slamming staccato picking and not at all hoaky or corny. For me, Lloyd’s early recordings are still a go to for great technique.

Buddy Cage has always been a big early influence on me; listen to "Panama Red", or 'Hello Mary Lou"

Also check out John Call, from Pure Prairie League doing "I'll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle". Live version is best.

One of the best chicken pickers that no one seems to mention much here is Joe Wright. Listen to his YouTube video of "Rocky Top". His blinding speed & muting technique are awesome.

I always thought chicken picking was what you did when you were a little unsure of the chord changes…

Pretty much off topic, but Sol does some fun “chicken pickin” here at the 2 minute mark. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdEHlXEu_Yw

I always thought this cut was the chicken picking “gold standard”. Legend has it that they did about 25 takes to get it right but Lloyd was flawless on every one of them. Maybe someone who is connected with Lloyd could get his recollections.

Lynn Anderson-“Rocky Top” https://youtu.be/WROkIhZJLSY

and Hal Rugg played on the original https://youtu.be/FzG97IPg0y8

Joel Jackson wrote:Pretty much off topic, but Sol does some fun “chicken pickin” here at the 2 minute mark. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdEHlXEu_Yw

that's pretty great Joel!
(derka derka: chicken pickin or no?)

Scott, derka derka is the first thing that pops into my mind when someone says chicken pickin’.

For my money, the master was Lew Houston with Conway. Jimmie Crawford, Hal Rugg and Weldon could do it great, but it wasn't part of their style, like it was with Lew.

Working Girl - Conway Twitty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0L89pRhl2U

Working Girl - Conway Twitty - live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZ4AWWLtXw

Jimmie Crawford & Russ Hicks – their "Chicken pickin' good" album is the best example you will find anywhere. "Fowl Play" and "Roostin' the Rooster" are the definitive chicken pickin' tracks. None of the others mentioned here come close, not even Lloyd! Sadly not available on neither Youtube nor Spotify, it seems.

It was Bobby Thompson who played the 24 perfect banjo soloes Lloyd said HE had to do 24 passes to get his steelpart down at least thats what he told me