Category Archives: Advanced Guitar

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 6: Guitar Lesson

In this sixth volume of Bluegrass licks on the guitar, we’ll follow up on the previous lesson in the key of C. This time we’ll cover licks for the 1 4 5 & 6m chords (C F G Am) both up & down the neck that incorporate the major blues scale, arpeggios, triads, all while building on concepts and ideas from the previous lessons. Go to lesson...

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 5: Guitar Lesson

In this fifth volume of Bluegrass licks on the guitar, we’ll look at a bunch of lick ideas in the key of C. In the lesson we’ll cover licks for the 1 4 & 5 chords (C F G), analyse the ideas and learn the scales & arpeggio shapes that have help build the licks. Go to lesson...

Leather Britches: Guitar Lesson

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: Guitar 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: Fingerstyle Guitar 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...

Cordal Jig: Fingerstyle Guitar 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...

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 4: Guitar 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 (O’Carolan): Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar 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...

Boys Of Ballycastle: Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar 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...