Devin 
Lesson ID: A0226
Download the chord chart below! In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn 7 different ways to play the G chord—probably the most common chord on guitar. Each shape works better in different situations, and learning them will be a game-changer for your country and bluegrass rhythm guitar playing!
This 12-bar fingerstyle guitar workout is a great way to develop your Travis picking skills in the country and blues style. It’s a fun and challenging Travis Picking riff with that classic country blues feel—perfect for players who love the sounds of artists like Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, or Mississippi John Hurt.
The riff features an alternating bass line played with your thumb (I’m using a thumb pick, which helps get that punchy, percussive tone), while your index and middle fingers pluck melody notes in between. It’s a loopable 12-bar progression that makes for a solid warm-up or focused practice routine.
You can download the full tablature below the video and follow along. If you’re an acoustic guitarist wanting to dig deeper into fingerstyle country, blues rhythm guitar, or solo bluegrass flatpicking, sign up today to unlock all of my premium guitar lessons and tablature here at Country Guitar Online.
Don’t forget to use the AB Loop toolbar below to SLOW DOWN the video for easy learning.
Looking to improve your acoustic guitar chops for country and bluegrass? Here’s a 12-bar picking workout that’s perfect for building your flatpicking technique and rhythm skills. This short guitar lesson features a classic 12-bar progression in a traditional country and bluegrass style.
Every time I sit down to practice, I like to warm up with something like this—simple, melodic, and rooted in the traditions of acoustic country and bluegrass guitar. This wasn’t rehearsed or polished—just some spontaneous flatpicking, strumming, and riff ideas I thought I’d share with tablature included.
If you’re a fan of players like Tony Rice, Norman Blake, or Doc Watson, or you’re just starting your journey into bluegrass and country acoustic styles, this video is for you. Take a listen, grab the tab, and pick up a few new licks for your next jam session.
Also, if you like the progression in this lesson, try combining it with the 12 bar progression that I teach over in Lesson A0227 Smooth Flowing Bass Line w/ Hammer-Ons.
Don’t forget to use the AB Loop toolbar below to SLOW DOWN the video for easy learning.
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play a bluegrass flatpicking arrangement for the traditional song “Over the Waterfall”. This arrangement is inspired by a lesson request submitted through our Forum that included a performance by greekflatpicker on YouTube. Check out their YouTube channel when you get a chance! They have a several nice flatpicking tunes posted to YouTube.
After you learn the arrangement, practice it with our “Over the Waterfall” backing track included with this guitar lesson. Also, tablature is available for download below the lesson video.
After you’re done here