Leather Britches is a great old-time fiddle tune, played at a medium/fast tempo, in the key of G. This arrangement features 2 variations for each section, played over a Texas Swing style backing. With a number of challenging techniques used throughout the tune, it’s well suited to the advanced picker. This is a fantastic tune to pick on the guitar, jump into the lesson and we’ll break it down together. Go to lesson...
Fishers Hornpipe is a popular bluegrass fiddle tune, played at a moderately fast tempo, in the key of D (capo 2). This arrangement stays pretty true to the melody, featuring some challenging techniques, well suited to the advanced picker. While a traditional hornpipe tends to ‘swing’, more often than not you’ll hear Fishers played straight and fast! Go to lesson...
Carolan’s Welcome is a traditional air (3/4), composed by Turlough O’Carolan. This fingerstyle arrangement on the guitar is in the key of Am, played out of standard tuning and is well suited to the advanced picker. All of O’Carolan’s melodies are beautiful and this is no exception. Played at a relatively fast tempo, there are some challenging positions to work through, but well worth the effort to get your fingers around the tune. Go to lesson...
The Cordal Jig is a traditional Irish jig in the key of D. This fingerstyle arrangement on the guitar is in open D tuning (DADF#AD), allowing for a really pretty way of approaching the melody and will be a great tune for the advanced picker. It is a fantastic melody to pick and will be a great addition to your trad fingerstyle repertoire! Go to lesson...
In this fourth volume of Bluegrass licks on the guitar, we’ll focus on applying licks to a melody. In the lesson we’ll be using the melody from ‘My Walkin’ Shoes’ in the key of B (capo 4), utilising the ‘G’ shapes against the capo, so can be transposed easily. There are two breaks in the lesson, and we’ll analyse both breaks against the basic melody and chord progression, working through the thought process and application of a variety of licks from the earlier lessons – some more generic, and others that are manipulated to fit the melody and even harmonise against it. Go to lesson...
Fanny Power is a beautiful tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan. It is an Air, that has a sweet sounding melody, played in the key of G, in the 6/8 time signature. In this fingerstyle arrangement, the melody is supported by bass lines from the harmony, delivering a wonderful combination of movement between the melody. Go to lesson...
The Boys of Ballycastle is a traditional Irish hornpipe in the key of Em. In this lesson, we’ll look at a fingerstyle arrangement that has some great movement in the bass line, while supporting the intricate melody. You’ll need to have a solid technique in both hands to play this tune well, and is suited to the advanced picker. Go to lesson...
In this third instalment of Bluegrass Licks, we’ll dive into improvising up & down the neck, in the key of G. We’ll focus on three triad shapes with surrounding major blues scale boxes, which are all movable and can be used for any chord or key. The example break and licks are played over the G, C & D chords, while looking at how to link and transition between the chords as we move into positions up the neck. Go to lesson...
Pig Ankle Rag – Version 2 – Advanced! As a follow up to the basic version of the tune, here is a great version with variations up the neck, embellishment of the melody and loads of blue notes and chromatic passages, which really suits the style. We’re in the key of D (capo 2), and I’d suggest you check out the basic version here first, if you haven’t already. Go to lesson...
Londonderry Air is a traditional Irish melody, that in 1913 English lawyer Frederic Weatherly, set the lyrics to his song Danny Boy. It is a beautiful melody, and in this arrangement on the guitar we’re in the key of G (drop D tuning) and is well suited to the advanced picker. Go to lesson...