Lesson ID: A0178
In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the old classic “Blue Railroad Train” in the style of Tony Rice. We’ll cover three different instrumental breaks that are loaded with some really nice country & bluegrass licks on acoustic guitar. The first two instrumental breaks are a little more advanced for the intermediate guitar players, and the third instrumental break is an easier version for the less experienced guitar players. The easier break will have some really nice Tony Rice style guitar licks as well and it will be a good challenge that’ll push your flatpicking to the next level. Later in the lesson, we’ll also go over the rhythm guitar part and chord progressions for “Blue Railroad Train”.
Overview
Guitar Break 1
Video 1 – Intermediate Break 1 – Playthrough with Tablature
Video 2 – Intermediate Break 1 – Full Breakdown
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | Measures 1 through 4 |
| 06:17 min | Measures 5 through 9 |
| 14:00 min | Practice the First Half of the Instrumental Break |
| 15:15 min | Measures 10 through 13 |
| 22:26 min | Measures 14 through 18 |
| 25:09 min | Practice the Entire Instrumental Break |
Guitar Break 2
Video 1 – Intermediate Break 2 – Playthrough with Tablature
Video 2 – Intermediate Break 2 – Full Breakdown
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | Measures 1 through 4 |
| 06:16 min | Measures 5 through 9 |
| 08:13 min | Measures 10 through 13 |
| 15:16 min | Measures 14 through 18 |
| 16:25 min | Slower Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break |
| 17:44 min | Faster Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break |
Easier Break
Video 1 – Easier Instrumental Break – Playthrough with Tablature
Video 2 – Easier Instrumental Break – Full Breakdown
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | Measures 1 through 4 |
| 03:38 min | Syncopated Rhythm |
| 05:31 min | Measures 1 through 4 Continued |
| 08:34 min | Measures 5 through 9 |
| 11:44 min | Pick Direction for Downbeats vs. Upbeats |
| 17:20 min | Measures 10 through 13 |
| 19:59 min | Measures 14 through 18 |
| 22:30 min | Key of D vs. D Position |
| 23:52 min | Slower Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break |
| 25:07 min | Faster Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break |
Chords
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | Rhythm Overview |
| 00:30 min | Instrumental Break Chord Progression |
| 01:54 min | Verse Chord Progression |
| 02:46 min | Verse Chord Progression with Singing |
| 04:19 min | Strumming Patterns and Strumming Examples |
| 12:27 min | Rhythm Guitar Fill Riff |
New lesson! We’ve been really busy the past couple of months moving into our new studio and building some new website features but we finally got everything set up and ready to go! I still have a few more videos to finish up on this Blue Railroad Train lesson, but figured I’d post the instrumental breaks and tablature files in the meantime.
Hope y’all are having a nice new year so far!
Thanks Devin! I have been hoping you would do this lesson. Great job as always!
Thanks Bill!
Great! I’m a huge fan of the Delmore Brothers. This one is a classic.
Hey Devin. I really appreciated the AB loop toolbar it is an excellent way to learn and practice…..again thanks!
Excellent lesson!
I just added the rhythm guitar video and some new tablature to the Blue Railroad Train lesson if y’all are interested…
Jocelyn 
Bill 
Tanner 
JB
Of course I am ….thanks Devin!
Nice fill riff…
Great lesson Devin ! And what a beautiful guitar you got there !
Great pick. Thanks Devin!
Hi, I’m Vassia from France, I’m new (2 weeks), I like this website for a lot of reasons…Thanks Devin, since two weeks I play better. For fun I transposed an octave up Blue Railroad Train (intermediate instrumental 1 & 2). For those who want to work it, here is the PDF. For the right hand do the same as Devin lesson. Hope you like it. [purchase_link id="5574080" text="Purchase" style="button" color="blue"]
Thanks for sharing Vassia! I updated the pdf attachment so it can be downloaded by members at CGO when you’re logged in to the site since this is a lesson arrangement. Thanks!
Great lesson, should keep me busy for a while.
Thanks Devin! Great lesson, I wasn’t completely sure I could pull this off but persevered and got it! Fun. Can’t wait to play with the gang