Tag Archives: Flatpicking

Mug of Brown Ale: Guitar Lesson (Intermediate Benchmark)

The ‘Mug of Brown Ale’ is a great traditional Jig in the Key of Am (dorian mode), and the techniques required make it an excellent benchmark tune for the intermediate picker. The right-hand picking is certainly a challenge, and the left-hand needs to accomodate position changes and be efficient. In this lesson, we’ll break down the techniques to ensure you can get around the tune! Go to lesson...

Arpeggios 101: Guitar

Arpeggios are broken chords, in other words, the notes used to form a chord, played individually. Understanding how arpeggios are built and fluently being able to play many arpeggio variations will help your playing on all levels – improv, melody creation/analysis, building harmony lines, back-up…

In this Guitar Arpeggios 101 mini-course, we’ll cover:

  • Common intervals used in arpeggios;
  • Major & minor arpeggios;
  • 4 note extensions – major 7, minor 7 & dominant 7 arpeggios;
  • How to move the patterns to any position & octave;
  • Learn an example solo, using only arpeggio notes from each chord change;
  • Plus, beginning strategies for developing the use of arpeggios in your own playing.
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...

St Anne’s Reel (Version 2): Guitar Lesson (Floating & Crosspicking Techniques)

In this guitar lesson for the traditional tune, St Anne’s Reel, we’ll take a look at an arrangement that uses the floating & crosspicking techniques. Often referred to as ‘harp’ like, the floating technique allows us to stack our melody notes over each other, creating a very pretty, unique sound to the guitar. Go to lesson...

Bobby Casey’s | Floating Technique | Guitar Lesson

In this guitar lesson for the traditional Celtic tune, Bobby Casey’s, we’ll take a look at an arrangement that uses the floating technique. Often referred to as ‘harp’ like, the floating technique allows us to stack our melody notes over each other, creating a very pretty, unique sound to the guitar. Go to lesson...

Scales & Technical Practice | Guitar | Level 1

A course focusing on the flatpicking technique including scales, arpeggios, chords, rhythm, improvisation, speed development, general technique exercises & sight-reading.

Scales & Technical Work should form an important, structured part of your practice routine. It will improve your general technique, practical theory knowledge, improvisation, understanding of melody & harmony, rhythm, tone, and so on. Go to lesson...

Star of Munster: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this Star of Munster: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at an arrangement of this traditional Celtic reel for the advancing beginner/intermediate picker. The arrangement is played in both position 1 & 2, in the key of Am (dorian mode).

A feature of this arrangement is the lack of articulation, which makes for a great picking study, but also gives the tune a real drive. Go to lesson...

Joy To The World: Bluegrass Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this Joy To The World: Bluegrass Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at a fun arrangement of this Christmas Carol played in a bluegrass style, for the both the intermediate & advanced picker. The arrangement is played out of G shapes, capo’d at the 2nd fret, putting us in the key of A. Go to lesson...

La Bastringue: Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this La Bastringue: Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at a fun arrangement for the intermediate picker, containing various ornaments within the melody. The tune is a traditional French Canadian reel in the key of D and the arrangement is played in an open tuning: DADAAD.

Lesson #1:

  • Tuning: DADAAD
  • Learn the melody for Part A;
  • Exercises for learning the ornaments and rhythm.
Go to lesson...

Boys of Ballycastle: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this Boys of Ballycastle: Flatpicking Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at a fun arrangement for the advancing intermediate picker, containing various ornaments within the melody. The tune is a traditional Irish hornpipe in the key of Em and the arrangement is played in both the open position & up the neck in the 7th position. Go to lesson...