Level: 2/3
Tuning: Standard

Rev. Davis's called the playing of "People That I Use To See, Can't See No More" "old-time picking". This was they way guitarists played at the turn of the last century. They picked the guitar like a piano with an alternating bass playing the "bum-chick" of the pianist's left hand. A technique we refer to as an alternating bass.

But as with most of Rev. Davis's playing there is a difference. Guitarists playing in the key of C using an alternating bass usually play the root note first (C note on the third fret/fifth string) and then the fourth string. This bass pattern can also be played fifth, fourth, sixth, fourth bass strings. Instead Rev. Davis fingers his first position C chord with the third fret/sixth string and second fret/fourth string and first fret/second string. In this "old-time picking" he does not finger the root note on the fifth string. The bass alternates between the sixth and fourth strings.

The resulting sound is unique and I have only seen Rev. Davis do this. He has several songs in the key of C that feature this approach: "Cocaine Blues", "You Got The Pocketbook But I Got The Key".

"People That I Use To See, Can't See No More" is almost identical to the arrangement of "Cocaine Blues" with the exception of a phrase extended. Once you feel comfortable with the playing of this song you should try comparing the sound to a Mississippi John Hurt tune in the key of C. By changing the bass picking pattern the feel and drive of the playing totally changes.