Bill Cheatham is a popular, traditional American fiddle tune, in the key of A (capo 2). With a melody that is often picked at a fast tempo, it features double stops, crosspicking arpeggios, some great scale movement and making use of both the first & second positions. If you’re familiar with the open G major scale, it will certainly help, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Sailor’s Hornpipe is a well known, traditional hornpipe, played at an up-beat tempo, in the key of G. With a jolly melody, the tune features arpeggios, some great scale movement, modulation and movement up & down the neck of the guitar. If you’re familiar with the open G major scale, it will help you get started, as I’d suggest this tune is suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
The Three Sea Captains is a traditional Irish jig, played at a medium tempo, in the key of G. With a jolly melody, both the A & B parts are longer than the usual fiddle tune, making for a more substantial tune to pick. I’d suggest that you need to be comfortable with the jig structure, as this tune takes it up a notch with a variety of rhythmic variation featured throughout, making this tune more suited to the advanced intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
The Temperance Reel is a popular fiddle tune, with a fantastic melody and chord progression. In the key of G, there are 2 parts, played at a quick tempo. The techniques required as we cover the movement of the melody are suited to the advanced intermediate picker, but we’ll break this down within the lessons. Go to lesson...
This is the third variation on the melody of Cherokee Shuffle here on Pickin’ Lessons. It is a popular fiddle tune, a common tune in bluegrass sessions and one of my personal favourites. In the key of A (capo 2), this is an intermediate arrangement, with a handful of great bluesy licks, working around a nice, straight ahead version of the melody. Go to lesson...
Turkey In The Straw is a popular American folk song, commonly played as an instrumental in bluegrass sessions. In the key of G, this is an arrangement of the basic melody, suited to the intermediate picker. Featuring some hammer-on & pull-off slurs, we’ll focus on technique as we work our way through the tune. Go to lesson...
Away In A Manger is traditional Christmas Carol, played at a slow tempo in 3/4 time. This arrangement is in the key of G, has two variations and features the ‘Cradle Song’ melody, being the most popular setting outside of the United States. Both variations are suitable for the intermediate picker, and work equally well in duet with the mandolin or played solo. Go to lesson...
The Rakes Of Kildare is traditional Irish jig, played at a medium/fast tempo, in the key of Am (dorian). During the lesson we’ll spend time working on the picking structure suited to the accents found in the 6/8 time signature, an important part of playing a jig. Part A keeps us in the open position, while Part B takes us up to the 5th position with some lovely movement, making the tune well suited to an intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
The Flowers Of Edinburgh is traditional Scottish reel, played at a medium/fast tempo, in the key of G. Well suited to the intermediate flatpicker, and with a fluent knowledge of the G Major scale, this tune is awfully fun to pick. Part A keeps us in the open position, while Part B takes us up to the 7th position with some lovely movement. Go to lesson...
The Sailor’s Wife is a traditional Irish jig (6/8), played at a fast tempo, in the key of Dm. The structure of the melody provides some challenging picking passages and left-hand movement, making it an appropriate study for the advanced intermediate picker. As part of the lesson, we’ll analyse the melody and picking technique within the 6/8 time signature and learn a fun tune! Go to lesson...