Tag Archives: Licks

Beginner Bluegrass Licks (Part 2): Mandolin 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...

Beginner Bluegrass Licks: Guitar 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...

Beginner Bluegrass Licks: Mandolin 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: Mandolin 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...

Cherokee Shuffle (V4): Guitar Lesson

Cherokee Shuffle is a popular American fiddle tune, played in the key of A (capo 2). This is the fourth arrangement here at Pickin’ Lessons on the guitar and is a variation that approaches the melody in a more advanced way, highlighting the melody while introducing some great bluegrass licks and movement all around the neck. Go to lesson...

Jingle Bells: Guitar Lesson

Jingle Bells on the guitar! Featuring both the verse and chorus melodies, this arrangement is in the key of G and embellishes the melody in a Bluegrass style. Featuring some great Bluegrass licks, crosspicking, bluesy passages and some fun chord changes this version is suitable for the intermediate picker. It’s a great Christmas Carol and one well worth having under your fingers during the holiday season! Go to lesson...

Mountain Dew: Guitar Lesson

Mountain Dew is a fantastic traditional Appalachian folk song, popular in bluegrass circles. This arrangement on the guitar has 2 variations, with a bunch of great lick ideas, recorded in the key of A (capo 2), but can be transposed easily. The first variation is inspired by The Stanley Brothers recording and the second break launches up the neck with a lot more bluegrass flair! Go to lesson...

Lesson 16: Banks Of The Ohio (Crosspicking) – Flatpicking Crash Course

In lesson 16 of the Flatpicker’s Crash Course, we’ll dive in to the crosspicking technique! As part of the lesson we’ll learn an arrangement of Banks of the Ohio in the key of G that features the crosspicking technique and some cool beginner friendly bluegrass licks! Breaking down the technique during the lesson, we’ll also cover 4 great exercises that cover the forward and backward style crosspicking patterns.  Go to lesson...

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 3: Mandolin Lesson

In this third instalment of Bluegrass Licks on the mandolin, we’ll dive into an open position set of licks, in the key of G. In the lesson we’ll cover an example break, over 23 individual licks for the G, C & D chords plus the open position arpeggios and major blues and minor pentatonic scales that are used within the licks. Go to lesson...

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 6: Guitar Lesson

In this sixth volume of Bluegrass licks on the guitar, we’ll follow up on the previous lesson in the key of C. This time we’ll cover licks for the 1 4 5 & 6m chords (C F G Am) both up & down the neck that incorporate the major blues scale, arpeggios, triads, all while building on concepts and ideas from the previous lessons. Go to lesson...