John Ryan’s Polka is a well known traditional Irish polka, played in the key of D (Drop D Tuning). There are two variations within this arrangement, a basic version of the melody and a variation focused on the deeper tones in the drop d tuning with some interesting syncopation. It’s a fast tune, perfect for an advancing picker, and the basic version is great to get up to speed, while the variation adds a bit of flare to the tune! Go to lesson...
Tag Archives: Drop D
O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar
‘O Come All Ye faithful’ is a beautiful Christmas carol and in this fingerstyle guitar lesson, we’ll learn a variation that supports the melody in both 2 & 3 part harmony. In the key of G (drop D tuning), the dynamic rises and falls as the harmony moves in and out of 2 & 3 part, high & low, creating a lovely sense of contrast to the piece. The Go to lesson...
Colonel John Irwin: Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson
Colonel John Irwin is an Air (6/8), composed by Turlough O’Carolan, in the key of D (drop D tuning), and has a very sweet melody. This fingerstyle arrangement is suited to the advanced picker, with challenging left-hand positions that require strong technique to play clearly and fluently. As part of this lesson, we’ll cover the techniques needed to play this beautiful tune. Go to lesson...
Handsome Molly: Fingerstyle Guitar
Handsome Molly is a traditional ballad and in this arrangement there are 2 solo variations, plus an accompaniment variation and outro. Played in the key of G in Drop D tuning, the Travis picking technique is a feature of this version. The parts can be arranged to suit many forms of the song, either with a singer or played as an instrumental. Go to lesson...
Amazing Grace: Fingerstyle Guitar
In this lesson we’ll look at a beautiful fingerstyle arrangement of Amazing Grace. There are two variations, a basic version plus a more advanced version, both suitable for the intermediate picker. The guitar is tuned in Drop D and for this lesson I’ve used the capo at fret 2, putting us in the key of E. Go to lesson...
First Noel, The: Christmas Fingerstyle Guitar
‘Tis the season! The First Noel is a traditional English Christmas carol and in this lesson we’ll look at an intermediate fingerstyle arrangement, in the key of D, played in drop D tuning. There are two variations within the arrangement, the first sticking close to the melody with a focus on 2 part harmony, while the second variation embellishes the melody while also developing a 3 part harmony. Go to lesson...
Celtic Backup in D: Guitar Lesson
In this lesson we’ll learn 8 chord variations in Drop D tuning, while we learn several rhythm variations in 4/4 time. We’ll use the traditional Celtic reel, The Merry Blacksmith, as an example during the lesson, but these chord voicing’s can work with any tune in the key of D and the rhythms will work with any reel. Go to lesson...
Bonaparte’s Retreat: Guitar
Bonaparte’s Retreat is a traditional tune in the key of D Major and we’re in Drop D tuning. This tune has such a great melody and within this arrangement we’ll focus on two main techniques, crosspicking & triplets. The form we’ll play for this version is ABBCBB, but once you know the parts, you may hear it played with a different structure, so be adaptable! Go to lesson...
Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine: Guitar Lesson
In this guitar lesson we’ll take a look at an Old Time tune, Bonaparte Crossing The Rhine. The tune is in the key of D Major and we are in drop D tuning (DADGBE). The arrangement features crosspicking, triplets and other articulation and is suited to the advanced intermediate student. Go to lesson...
Ash Grove, The: Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson
In this Celtic fingerstyle guitar lesson we’ll take a look at a pretty arrangement of a Traditional Waltz, The Ash Grove. The tune is in the key of D Major and we are in drop D tuning (DADGBE). The time signature we are in is 3/4 (three quarter note beats per measure), also commonly known as waltz time. Go to lesson...