Go Tell It On The Mountain is a traditional Gospel Christmas Carol. This arrangement on the guitar is in the key of G, played at a medium tempo, and will be a great tune for the advancing beginner picker as there are a variety of techniques worth spending time on which will help develop your playing. 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 Finnish Polka is a traditional polka, in the key of Bm. This arrangement is played with the capo at fret 2, and features the 2/4 time signature, played at quite a brisk tempo. For the intermediate picker wanting to work on increasing speed, this lively tune is a great technique workout for the right-hand, but equally as fun for the more experienced picker! Go to lesson...
Old Grimes is an excellent traditional bluegrass tune, in the key of D. This arrangement is played in the open D position and is well suited to the intermediate picker. It will be a great addition to your repertoire! It’s a wonderful tune to pick and the combination of melody & chord movement has certainly moved this tune to quickly become one of my personal favourites. 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...
Blackberry Blossom is a popular bluegrass fiddle tune in the key of G. In this lesson, we’ll look at a straight ahead, basic version of the melody, well suited to the intermediate flatpicker. You’ll need to have a solid technique in both hands to play this tune well, and if you have a solid grasp of the open position G major scale, it will certainly help. 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...
Whiskey Before Breakfast is a wonderful fiddle tune, a real standard in Bluegrass sessions. This is the second arrangement on Pickin’ Lessons, and is a nice basic, straight ahead version of the tune, well suited to playing at a faster tempo. Having a solid right-hand technique is crucial to playing any fiddle tune well and in this lesson we’ll work through this and other important areas to focus on. Go to lesson...
Rhythm guitar is a crucial aspect of your playing, so let’s look at some great ways of approaching rhythm guitar in a Bluegrass style! In the lesson, we’ll cover the basic boom-chick rhythm style with some variation, single chord vamping, a bunch of walking lines connecting the G, C & D chords (key of G), plus we’ll learn an example chord progression incorporating these ideas. Go to lesson...