Hangman’s Reel is a traditional fiddle tune, played in the key of A (capo 2) and has four parts. With French-Canadian origins and a popular old-time tune, it also works great in a bluegrass setting on the guitar. The arrangement features advanced techniques including some challenging crosspicking as part of the melody, great for the advanced picker. Go to lesson...
Fireball Mail is a bluegrass song, often played as an instrumental. This arrangement for the guitar explores two variations, in the key of G. The first is an intermediate take on the melody, sitting in the open position and utilises some great bluegrass licks. The second variation takes it up a notch, suited to the advancing picker and it becomes more adventurous with the rhythm, note choice, licks and moves up and down the neck. Go to lesson...
Worried Man Blues is a traditional American/Bluegrass folk song, and this arrangement for the guitar is in the key of G. Perfect for a kick-off or break, we’re taking the basic melody and adding a bunch of licks and variation, perfect for the intermediate picker! This is a companion lesson for the Beginner Bluegrass Licks lesson, where we discuss how to approach playing licks over this progression and break down some fundamental theory. Go to lesson...
Worried Man Blues is a traditional American/Bluegrass folk song, and this arrangement for the mandolin is in the key of G. Perfect for a kick-off or break, we’re taking the basic melody and adding a bunch of licks and variation, perfect for the intermediate picker! This is a companion lesson for the Beginner Bluegrass Licks lesson, where we discuss how to approach playing licks over this progression and break down some fundamental theory. Go to lesson...
Worried Man Blues is a traditional American/Bluegrass folk song, and this arrangement for the banjo is in the key of G (standard tuning). There are two variations in the arrangement, the first is perfect for a kick-off or break, and the second gets us up the neck while embellishing the melody with some added bluesy licks.
In part two of this lesson, we’ll learn some more great beginner bluegrass licks on the guitar, perfect to further develop improvisation in the bluegrass style for the intermediate picker! Firstly, the example solo/licks for part two are in the key of G, played over the chord progression from Old Home Place. Go to lesson...
In part two of this lesson, we’ll continue to learn some great beginner friendly bluegrass licks on the mandolin! Firstly, the example solo/licks in this lesson are in the key of G, played over the chord progression from Old Home Place. The chord progression offers the opportunity to look at chords that are from outside the key signature and ideas on approaching the overall progression. Go to lesson...
In this lesson, we’ll learn some great beginner bluegrass licks on the guitar, perfect for an introduction in the style for the intermediate picker! Firstly, the example solo/licks are in the key of G, played over the chord progression from Worried Man Blues. As part of the full lesson we’ll break down all the lick ideas, plus cover some important detail in the scales, arpeggios and blue notes for each of the chords in the progression. Go to lesson...
In this lesson, we’ll learn some great beginner bluegrass licks on the mandolin, perfect for an introduction in the style for the intermediate picker! Firstly, the example solo/licks are in the key of G, played over the chord progression from Worried Man Blues. As part of the full lesson we’ll break down all the lick ideas, plus cover some important detail in the scales, arpeggios and blue notes for each of the chords in the progression. Go to lesson...
John Hardy is a well known bluegrass standard, popular in picking circles. In this lesson, we’ll learn a mandolin arrangement in the key of G, suited to the intermediate picker, but still quite accomodating for the beginner. Played at a moderate to fast tempo, the break features double stops and some great licks around the melody. Go to lesson...