Tag Archives: Key of Am

O’Carolan’s Dream: (Chord Melody) Mandolin Lesson

O’Carolan’s Dream has a beautiful melody composed by Turlough O’Carolan. In the key of Am, this arrangement features the chord melody technique throughout, which enables us to support the melody with the chords we find in the harmony, allowing this piece to sound great as a solo mandolin arrangement. With some difficult fretting hand positions, this piece is suited to the advancing intermediate picker – but, spend some time learning the melody and chord positions, and this piece will certainly be a rewarding addition to your repertoire.  Go to lesson...

Da New Rigged Ship: Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Da New Rigged Ship is a traditional Scottish reel, with a 3 part form. Part A & C are in Am (dorian), while part B modulates into A Major. In this lesson we’ll dive into an arrangement that contains two variations, that will suit the advanced picker.

The first variation sets the melody & positions, while the second variation includes more variation and articulation. Go to lesson...

Lesson 10 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (The Clare Jig & 6/8 Time)

In this tenth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we’ll cover:

  • The A Dorian Minor Scale;
  • Am, G & Em Arpeggios;
  • the 6/8 time signature;
  • Rhythm exercises in 6/8 time;
  • And finally, we’ll look at a great tune, The Clare Jig, using the techniques covered in the tech work exercises.
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Childgrove: Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Childgrove is a traditional English country dance, played in the key of Am. In this lesson. we’ll dive into an arrangement that works its way up the neck in part A, with plenty of triads and harmony, while playing down the neck in part B with the melody and deep tones really setting the mood. Go to lesson...

O’Carolan’s Dream (Chord Melody): Banjo lesson

O’Carolan’s Dream has a beautiful melody composed by Turlough O’Carolan. In the key of Am, this arrangement features the banjo tuning gCGBD, giving us access to the lovely sounding open C on the 4th string – a real feature of the arrangement. Using the chord melody technique throughout, we’re able to support the beautiful melody with the chords we find in the harmony, allowing this piece to sound great as a solo banjo arrangement.  Go to lesson...

Lesson 07 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Wayfaring Stranger & Key of Am)

In this seventh instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we’ll cover:

  • The A Natural & Harmonic Minor Scales, and the Am Arpeggio;
  • Chords relative to the key of Am and Wayfaring Stranger;
  • Double Stops;
  • Tremolo technique;
  • And finally, we’ll learn 2 versions of ‘Wayfaring Stranger’, a popular folk song. (Basic & Embellished).
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Mug of Brown Ale: Mandolin Lesson (Advanced Intermediate Benchmark)

The ‘Mug of Brown Ale’ is a great traditional Jig in the Key of Am (dorian), and loads of fun to play! The techniques used in the arrangement combined with the tempo make this a great benchmark for the advanced intermediate picker. The right-hand picking is certainly a challenge, with the 6/8 time signature needing a high level of control, and the left-hand needs to be efficient and make use of all fingers. Go to lesson...

Mug of Brown Ale: Banjo Lesson (Advanced Intermediate Benchmark)

The ‘Mug of Brown Ale’ is a great traditional Jig in the Key of Am (dorian mode – standard tuning), and loads of fun to play! The techniques used in the arrangement combined with the tempo make this a great benchmark for the advanced intermediate picker. The right-hand picking is certainly a challenge, combining both single-string and melodic techniques, and the left-hand needs to accomodate position changes and be efficient. Go to lesson...

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...

Childgrove: Mandolin Lesson (Advanced Beginner Benchmark)

Childgrove is a traditional English country dance, played in the key of Am. There are 2 variations in the arrangement, and is a great benchmark for the advanced beginner. If you’re comfortable with the rhythm, left-hand position, articulation and variation’s within the tune, I would consider you to be an advanced beginner, and well on your way to an intermediate player. Go to lesson...