Devin – Page 54 – Country Guitar Online

Basic Bluegrass Licks and Guitar Scales

April 13, 2025January 28, 2017 by Devin

easy bluegrass licks improvising course lesson 1 scales and licks

Lesson 1 – Bluegrass Guitar Solo Improvising Course

Lesson ID: A0112

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you some basic bluegrass licks in the key of G that will get you started improvising bluegrass lead guitar. We’ll also talk about the guitar scales that you need to learn for improvising bluegrass solos. After you master the guitar licks, practice the arranged solo and your bluegrass improvising skills with the jam along video!

Important Points:

⇒ All four of these licks are in the key of G.
⇒ In bluegrass, it’s common to form licks around the chord progression.
⇒ Lick 1 is a key of G lick formed around the G major chord.
⇒ Lick 2 is a key of G lick formed around the C major chord.
⇒ Lick 3 is a key of G lick formed around the D major chord.
⇒ Lick 4 is a key of G lick formed around the G major chord.

Overview

Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Chord Progression
00:39 min	How to Play the Licks over the Progression
01:07 min	Bluegrass Licks Formed Around Chords

Lick 1

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lick 1 Breakdown with Tablature
01:29 min	Guitar Scales You Need to Learn for Bluegrass Improvising
03:44 min	How the Scales are Used to Create Lick 1
04:53 min	Improvising with Scales

Lick 2

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lick 2 Breakdown with Tablature
01:16 min	How Lick 2 is Formed Around the C7 Chord
02:07 min	How the Scales are Used to Create Lick 2

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Lick 3

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lick 3 Breakdown with Tablature
01:00 min	Following the Rhythm Guitar’s Chord Progression
01:37 min	How the Scales are Used to Create Lick 3
03:18 min	Scales You Should Learn First for Bluegrass Improvising

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Lick 4

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lick 4 Breakdown with Tablature
00:38 min	The Most Important Lick in Bluegrass
02:24 min	How the Scales are Used to Create Lick 4
03:19 min	Using the Scales to Get that Bluegrass Sound

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Example

Jam Track Example:

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Practice Licks 1 through 4
00:34 min	Jam Track – Format
00:55 min	Jam Track – Count In

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MP3 Jam Tracks

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Scale Charts

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Guitar Tablature Woodtone Strings

Nine Pound Hammer with Tony Rice Style Solo Breaks

April 13, 2025January 23, 2017 by Devin

nine pound hammer guitar lesson bluegrass style of tony rice flatpicking licks

Capo 2nd Fret – Key of A

Lesson ID: A0111

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you how to play the traditional bluegrass song “Nine Pound Hammer” with some instrumental solo breaks in the style of Tony Rice. First we’ll go over the chord progression and a strumming pattern that you can play behind your vocals. Then I’ll teach you four different instrumental breaks — the first break will be nice and easy for the beginner pickers, the second break will mix the melody line with strumming, and the last two advanced instrumental breaks will be in the style of Tony Rice.

Overview

Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Chord Progression
02:18 min	Chord Progression with Lyrics
03:53 min	Song Structure
04:42 min	Strumming Pattern Options

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Basic Break

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Bass Line Walk-ups Overview
01:25 min	Instrumental Break Chord Progression
02:33 min	Playthrough with Tablature
03:47 min	Extra Detail and Tips

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Melodic Break

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to the Melodic Break
01:21 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
04:58 min	Measures 6 to 8 – Breakdown
06:06 min	Practice the First Half
06:35 min	Measures 9 to 13 – Breakdown
09:56 min	Measures 14 to 19 – Breakdown
11:43 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Tony Rice Break 1

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to Tony Rice Break 1
00:58 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
03:54 min	Measures 6 to 8 – Breakdown
06:01 min	Practice the First Half
06:39 min	Measures 9 to 13 – Breakdown
09:23 min	Measures 14 to 19 – Breakdown
11:40 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

Tony Rice Break 2

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to Tony Rice Break 2
01:02 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
02:29 min	Measures 6 to 9 – Breakdown
04:22 min	Practice the First Half
05:01 min	Measures 10 to 12 – Breakdown
06:46 min	Measures 13 to 15 – Breakdown
08:49 min	Measures 16 to 19 – Breakdown
09:09 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Jam Track

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Chords & Lyrics Chord Progression TAB Basic Break TAB Melodic Break TAB Tony Rice Break 1 TAB Tony Rice Break 2 TAB Woodtone Strings

Country Bluegrass Flatpicking Licks Key of D

April 13, 2025January 17, 2017 by Devin

country guitar licks bluegrass flatpicking licks key of D guitar lesson

Lesson ID: A0109

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you four classic country and bluegrass guitar licks in the key of D. If you play these licks slowly, they’ll have a nice outlaw country sound. If you speed them up, they’ll sound great with bluegrass songs. We’ll break down all four licks with tablature and we’ll also discuss the scales that are used to create key of D lead guitar licks that sound country and bluegrass. Check out our Bluegrass Lick Library to learn more country & bluegrass flatpicking licks.

Guitar Lesson Video

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lesson Overview
00:40 min	Lick 1 Breakdown with Tablature & Extra Flatpicking Tips
05:23 min	Guitar Scales Discussion
06:42 min	Lick 2 Breakdown with Tablature
09:45 min	Lick 3 Breakdown with Tablature
13:55 min	Lick 4 Breakdown with Tablature

Scale Charts

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Guitar Tablature Woodtone Strings

Shady Grove in the Style of Doc Watson

April 13, 2025January 10, 2017 by Devin

shady grove doc watson chords guitar lesson with tablature bluegrass flatpicking

Lesson ID: A0110

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you how to play the traditional Appalachian folk song “Shady Grove” in the style of Doc Watson. First we’ll go over the chord progression and a strumming pattern that you can play behind your vocals. Then I’ll teach you two variations of the instrumental break — the first instrumental break will mix a nice melody line with strumming and the second instrumental break will sound more like a bluegrass flatpicking guitar solo.

Lesson Overview

Basic Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Chord Progression
00:45 min	Strumming Pattern
01:18 min	Alternating Bass Notes
03:42 min	Progression with Vocals
05:18 min	Song Structure

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Melodic Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Melodic Rhythm Example
00:47 min	Measures 1 through 4 – Breakdown
03:49 min	Measures 5 through 8 – Breakdown
08:00 min	Practice Along with Me
08:39 min	Instrumental Breaks and Song Structure

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Flatpicking Solo

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Flatpicking Solo Example
00:52 min	Measures 1 through 4 – Breakdown
03:24 min	Measures 5 through 8 – Breakdown
04:52 min	Practice the First Half
05:54 min	Measures 9 through 12 – Breakdown
07:10 min	Measures 13 through 16 – Breakdown
08:53 min	Practice the Second Half
09:41 min	Practice the Full Flatpicking Solo

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Backing Track

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Basic Rhythm TAB Melodic Rhythm TAB Flatpicking Solo TAB Chords & Lyrics Song Lyrics Only Woodtone Strings