Tag Archives: Theory

Blues Licks: Mandolin Lesson

G’day! In this mandolin lesson we’ll take a look at some Blues Licks using the blues scale, major blues scale and arpeggios for the chords in the 12 bar blues, played in G. Other techniques we’ll be focusing on are down stroke picking, double stops & tremolo. The licks & concepts in this lesson will be suited to the advancing intermediate picker, wanting to develop their improvising skills. Go to lesson...

Fill Licks #2: Mandolin Lesson

G’day! In this Fill Licks #2: Mandolin Lesson we’ll take a look at 6 movable licks that are built with the hybrid mixolydian blues scale. Make sure you’ve checked out the first Fill Licks: Mandolin Lesson as we are using the same scales, arpeggio patterns & theory when playing these new licks. Go to lesson...

Fill Licks: Mandolin Lesson

G’day! In this Fill Licks: Mandolin Lesson we’ll take a look at 4 movable licks that are built with the hybrid mixolydian blues scale. These licks work great when played between vocal phrases in a song, but can also be used in general improvisation. The licks are all positioned conveniently around their equivalent chop chord. Go to lesson...

Fretboard Freedom 103: Major & Minor 3rd’s (Mandolin)

Using the major & minor 3rd interval patterns to gain fretboard freedom is a crucial and quick step to build arpeggios, double stops & develop your improvising anywhere on the fretboard. By using the interval patterns and your knowledge of the notes on the fretboard (see Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet) it becomes quite simple to unlock any chord, arpeggio, double stop, etc. Go to lesson...

Hot Major Blues Licks: Mandolin Lesson

G’day! In this mandolin lesson we’ll take a look at nine hot licks that are built with the major blues scale. We’re in the key of G for this lesson, with licks over the G, C & D chords in both the open position and up the neck. As part of this lesson we’ll dive into a little theory (major blues scale in open & movable patterns, plus the major arpeggio found inside the scale)  to help you understand how to use these licks and also start to build your own! Go to lesson...

Improv Up The Neck (w/ Worried Man Blues): Guitar Lesson

G’day! In this Improv Up The Neck: Guitar Lesson, we’ll take a look at improvising up the neck for the advanced picker. We’ll learn 3 major chord arpeggio shapes in the key of A, the major & minor blues scales, identify chord tones & passing tones, including the b3, b5 & b7, plus learn some example licks that are featured in the up the neck break for “Worried Man Blues”. Go to lesson...

102 Flatpicking Guitar: Beginner’s Crash Course

G’day and welcome to the second instalment of the beginner’s crash course, 102 Flatpicking Guitar: Beginner’s Crash Course. In this next level, we’ll continue to learn new techniques, new tunes and expand your ability and knowledge on the guitar, focusing on Bluegrass and other folk styles.

This crash course is for the complete beginner wanting to learn to flatpick. Go to lesson...

Fretboard Freedom 102: The Guitar Octave Pattern

Using the guitar octave pattern to gain fretboard freedom is a crucial and quick step to locate a note anywhere on the fretboard. By using the guitar octave pattern and your knowledge of the notes on one or two strings (see Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet) it becomes quite simple to locate any note on any string, then play a chord, scale, arpeggio, etc. Go to lesson...

Fretboard Freedom 102: The Banjo Octave Pattern

Using the banjo octave pattern to gain fretboard freedom is a crucial and quick step to locate a note anywhere on the fretboard. By using the banjo octave pattern and your knowledge of the notes on one or two strings (see Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet) it becomes quite simple to locate any note on any string, then play a chord, scale, arpeggio, etc. Go to lesson...

Fretboard Freedom 102: The Mandolin Octave Pattern

Using the mandolin octave pattern to gain fretboard freedom is a crucial and quick step to locate a note anywhere on the fretboard. By using the mandolin octave pattern and your knowledge of the notes on one or two strings (see Fretboard Freedom 101: The Musical Alphabet) it becomes quite simple to locate any note on any string, then play a chord, scale, arpeggio, etc. Go to lesson...