Carolan’s Cottage is a traditional Irish tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Played as an Air in 3/4 time, this fingerstyle arrangement for the guitar is in the key of Am. It has a slow, beautiful melody, that when played in this style on the guitar presents some challenging moments and is well suited to the advanced picker. Go to lesson...
Hangman’s Reel is a traditional fiddle tune, played in the key of A (capo 2) and has four parts. With French-Canadian origins and a popular old-time tune, it also works great in a bluegrass setting on the guitar. The arrangement features advanced techniques including some challenging crosspicking as part of the melody, great for the advanced picker. Go to lesson...
Fireball Mail is a bluegrass song, often played as an instrumental. This arrangement for the guitar explores two variations, in the key of G. The first is an intermediate take on the melody, sitting in the open position and utilises some great bluegrass licks. The second variation takes it up a notch, suited to the advancing picker and it becomes more adventurous with the rhythm, note choice, licks and moves up and down the neck. Go to lesson...
Salt Creek is a classic bluegrass fiddle tune, and you can never have too many versions! This guitar arrangement in A (capo 2) features both a melody and harmony break that combine into a fantastic variation.
In this lesson, we’ll learn both parts plus a harmonised tag. Played at a fast tempo with some challenging passages, it’s ideal for advanced intermediate pickers. Go to lesson...
Boston Boy is a great American fiddle tune, played in the key of C. This arrangement on the guitar is a variation that is inspired by the playing of Kenny Baker and is well suited to the advanced picker. It’s a fun tune to pick, makes use of some efficient slurs and rolls along quite nicely! Go to lesson...
Tarbolton Reel is a traditional Scottish reel, played at a fast tempo, in the key of Em. Using both the dorian & aeolian minor scales, this arrangement features a nice mixture of ornamentation & rhythmic variation. Up to tempo, this is a challenging tune, well suited to the advanced picker. Jump into the lesson & we’ll break down the techniques and variations found within the arrangement. Go to lesson...
Cherokee Shuffle is a popular American fiddle tune, played in the key of A (capo 2). This is the fourth arrangement here at Pickin’ Lessons on the guitar and is a variation that approaches the melody in a more advanced way, highlighting the melody while introducing some great bluegrass licks and movement all around the neck. Go to lesson...
The Kesh Jig is a traditional Irish jig in the key of G major. Played at a fast tempo and featuring some challenging right-hand picking, this tune is a great technique workout and is suited to the advanced picker. It’s a great traditional jig and one well worth having under your fingers! Go to lesson...
The Sligo Maid is a fantastic traditional Irish reel in the key of Am (Dorian). Featuring some challenging techniques throughout the tune, paired with a faster tempo, this arrangement is well suited to the advanced picker. It’s a great trad reel and an excellent technique workout! In the lesson we’ll break down how to approach the tune and work through the techniques you’ll need to focus on. Go to lesson...
Mountain Dew is a fantastic traditional Appalachian folk song, popular in bluegrass circles. This arrangement on the guitar has 2 variations, with a bunch of great lick ideas, recorded in the key of A (capo 2), but can be transposed easily. The first variation is inspired by The Stanley Brothers recording and the second break launches up the neck with a lot more bluegrass flair! Go to lesson...