A handful of artists helped develop the Bakersfield sound, but none did more to define it than Buck Owens and His Buckaroos. Buck’s shuffling acoustic guitar, paired with Don Rich’s bright, twangy Telecaster, created an iconic honky-tonk style that continues to inspire new artists. Mastering this sound is essential for any modern guitarist aiming to be a well-rounded country player.

👉 This course is a deep dive into four classic Buckaroos tunes:
Act Naturally, Close Up The Honky Tonks, Hello Trouble and Love's Gonna Live Here Again

We’ll learn how Buck uses the country shuffle feel, different strum patterns, and layered acoustic guitars to give each of his tunes its unique identity.

🎸 We’ll also explore how Don Rich’s playing brings excitement through rock-and-roll-inspired rhythm guitar patterns, using tic-tac bass technique over shuffles, and blues-infused country licks.

Learning how these two played off each other is a masterclass in classic honky-tonk.

Each example includes an overview, performance, and note for note breakdown.

You'll get PDFs of notation and TAB for each lesson and original backing tracks that recreate these classic recordings.

If you’ve ever wondered what made this music take the country world by storm, it’s the rhythm, feel and personality that Buck and Don brought to every note. This course will set you on the path to becoming a great honky-tonk guitarist.

Click the link and let's get started!