andrews27 wrote on Mar 3
rd, 2018 at 9:13am:
Now, who plays the Tyrolean-style acoustic guitar on Sittin' on a Fence?
That would seem to be Brian. The Stones Monthly Book says Brian and Keith are on the acoustics, and if you listen the lead lines on Sittin' on a Fence are quite similar to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud: They repeat, almost like in a loop, and the solo is literally just the lead line. Whereas the rhythm acoustic is busier.
When looking at a string (guitar or other string instrument) part when determining whether it is Brian's or not I go along with a few qualifiers:
-Is the part simple, and does it repeat throughout the song (IE Lady Jane, slide on No Expectations)
-Does it sound harder than it actually is to play?
-Does it go along with the melody of the vocal (ala No Expectations)
-Does the solo section get inventive or simply follow the lead line?
Listen to Brian's parts on Get Off My Cloud, and then compare it to Sittin' on the Fence. It's the same playing style. Circular, repetitive.
Also one thing to note about the style and tone of the playing is that around the time Sitting on a Fence was recorded, Brian was listening to a lot of Richard Farina and was very inspired by him. Farina's music is what inspired him to pick up the dulcimer for one. The gentle style of his lead reminds me of the folky acoustics in Farina's work as well.