Revisiting "How I Fingerpick 'Hello In There'"

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Hello Out There!

Quite a few nice people have been asking for clarification about how I play this song- probably because my first attempt at a video demonstration wasn't very thorough or as helpful as I had hoped.

With any luck, a better guitarist and teacher will come along at some point with a proper "Hello In There" lesson, but until then I hope that this video is of help to those trying to learn my favorite John Prine song.

I've attempted to deconstruct each part of the way I play the signature introduction/instrumental part of the song. The verses use the same chord progression as this intro, but with a slightly simpler picking pattern.

The chords:
Intro/instrumental and verse: G Am D7 (play twice) then D6, which is xx0432, then C G and D.

Chorus: F G F G D6 C G D G.

Channel: Music
Uploaded: March 24, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Author: jordanthecat

Length: 00:07:18
Rating: 4.83
Views: 8247

Tags: John Prine Hello In There lesson how to acoustic guitar fingerpicking travis picking folk

Video Comments:
aebroyles (October 19, 2008 at 6:58 am)
thanks for the help with your videos, you should go into teaching. you play great and i love the john prine music. i hope someday you will teach us paradise. thanks again . keep up the good work.
nrmwntrs (September 25, 2008 at 5:58 pm)
Thanks for your help,I think I'm getting it after watching you many times. If someone learns something, then you are a good teacher.

NKenny
cgetman02 (August 24, 2008 at 3:39 am)
Terrific! I just started learning to play a couple of months ago (at 55) and your video is great. Sometimes I can even get my fingers to cooperate. I'll take all the Prine lessons you can give. I also enjoy trying to learn some of Jerry Jeff Walker's songs. Thanks and keep them coming!
atmjunkey (July 17, 2008 at 7:37 am)
thank you!..awesome!!
lovinmonterey (July 1, 2008 at 11:47 pm)
This took me some time, but I finally got it. Thank you so much for teaching me this lovely song. I love hearing you play this and now I can do it. My family thinks I'm listening to the video when actually it's me playing. Thank you...
jordanthecat (July 2, 2008 at 1:23 am)
I'm very glad to know if I've helped someone learn to play this classic song. Thank you!!!
masterassassin93 (August 28, 2008 at 4:47 am)
very good vid. i loved it. but did your wife really break that kids laptop?
jordanthecat (August 29, 2008 at 1:53 am)
Ha! Thanks for reminding me! At some point I really must get around to posting a comment to that video to end the ongoing debate.

But to answer what I deliberately misinterpret to be your question, no, she's not actually my wife.
vegetableswife (May 27, 2008 at 3:41 am)
Excellent video, really great job! I think this is really good for people just starting out on guitar because its really easy to play and sounds really good. it can be learnt in half an hour or so you only need to know a few basic chords and own a capo and perhaps have had a go at some basic picking. jordanthecat are you/could you do a teaching video like this for the other John Prine tracks you play?
kumgangpoepsa (May 14, 2008 at 2:14 pm)
As soon as some friend/student comes back from England with his camera. Actually we are thinking about posting some beautiful songs we play and also with my partner Eva (she's from Iceland and we are playing many Prine's songs along with many traditional songs -Jenny Jenkins and Will the Circle be Unbroken-). Best wishes and keep posting! Thanks a lot