Bluegrass Standards Archives

Using Jazzy Chords in Your Bluegrass Rhythm

April 13, 2025July 7, 2019 by Devin

using-jazzy-guitar-chords-in-bluegrass-rhythm

Lesson ID: A0172

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to use jazzy chord shapes in your bluegrass rhythm guitar. This technique will really make your rhythm guitar stand out at your next bluegrass jam. First, we’ll go over some useful jazzy chords that you can use to replace standard open chords. Then, you’ll learn some strumming patterns that work great with these jazzy chord shapes. Finally, we’ll work through a practice progression so you can get an idea of how to use these jazzy chords in a bluegrass song.

Overview

Chords & Strumming

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	G6 Chord
02:13 min	C7 Chord
03:29 min	D7 Chord
04:05 min	“Foggy Mountain Special” Chord Progression
06:24 min	Alternate Voicing for a G Major chord
08:07 min	C9 Chord
09:14 min	D9 Chord
09:38 min	Strumming Patterns
15:24 min	Standard Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
19:06 min	Jazzy Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
23:57 min	Extra Tips (Available to CGO Members)

Practice Progression

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Jam Along

Here is a video of Russ Carson and Jake Workman playing “Foggy Mountain Special” on banjo and guitar. Try jamming along by playing the jazzy practice progression that you learned in this guitar lesson. You can hear Jake Workman playing some jazzy bluegrass rhythm guitar at 1:50 in this video.

Practice Progression TAB Jazzy Chord Charts Woodtone Strings

Salt Creek

April 13, 2025June 13, 2019 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0171

“Salt Creek” is a popular bluegrass flatpicking tune that you’ll hear at bluegrass jams all the time. This song was originally titled “Salt River” and it was renamed by Bill Monroe in the 1960s to honor the actual Salt Creek in Indiana near the location of Monroe’s annual Bean Blossom Festival. This song has been recorded by several bluegrass artists over the years, including Tony Rice, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Norman Blake, Clarence White, Billy Strings, and many others.

In this bluegrass guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play two flatpicking guitar solo breaks for “Salt Creek”. Both of the guitar solo breaks have a ton of momentum and they are loaded with some really nice bluegrass guitar licks. First we’ll play through each of the flatpicking guitar solos with guitar tablature. Then Devin will teach you each solo line by line and he’ll give you some helpful flatpicking tips along the way. The “Salt Creek” guitar tablature is available for download below the lesson videos.

Overview

Flatpicking Solo 1

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Kickoff – Measures 1 through 4
03:27 min	A Part – Measures 5 through 8
08:55 min	A Part – Measures 9 through 12
14:06 min	A Part – Measures 13 through 16
15:52 min	A Part – Measures 17 through 20
18:47 min	Practice the A Part with Me
20:14 min	B Part – Measures 21 through 24
25:24 min	B Part – Measures 25 through 28
30:05 min	B Part – Measures 29 through 32
31:42 min	B Part – Measures 33 through 36
33:16 min	Practice the B Part with Me

Flatpicking Solo 2

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

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Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	A Part – Measures 1 through 4
03:09 min	A Part – Measures 5 through 8
08:46 min	A Part – Measures 9 through 12
10:17 min	A Part – Measures 13 through 16
16:01 min	Practice the A Part with Me
17:30 min	B Part – Measures 17 through 20
22:39 min	B Part – Measures 21 through 24
27:50 min	B Part – Measures 25 through 28
28:57 min	B Part – Measures 29 through 32
31:37 min	Practice the B Part with Me

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Chord Progression

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Backing Track

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Flatpicking Solo 1 TAB Flatpicking Solo 2 TAB Woodtone Strings

Little Sadie

April 13, 2025May 10, 2019 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0169

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play “Little Sadie” in the style of Doc Watson. First, we’ll work through the “Little Sadie” chord progression using traditional country & bluegrass strumming. Then, we’ll make the progression sound a little fancier with a Doc Watson style bass line walk and a fill riff. After we talk about the rhythm guitar, we’ll work through a couple rounds of the progression with vocals. Finally, we’ll cover three different guitar solo breaks for “Little Sadie” in the style of Doc Watson. The first guitar solo is the easiest and the last two are a little more difficult. Overall this must-know country & bluegrass song that will sound great at your next jam. Guitar tablature is available below the lesson videos.

Overview

Rhythm Guitar & Vocals

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Little Sadie Chord Progression
01:54 min	Chord Progression with Tablature
03:14 min	Doc Watson Style Bass Line Walk and Fill Riff
05:44 min	Chord Progression with Vocals

Solo 1

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Solo 2

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Solo 3

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Advanced Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Video Overview
00:22 min	Strumming Pattern 1
00:50 min	Strumming Pattern 2
01:23 min	Strumming Pattern 3
03:07 min	Strumming Pattern 4
03:48 min	Strumming Pattern 5
04:41 min	Practice Progression – Measures 1 through 4
08:19 min	Practice Progression – Measures 5 through 8
10:15 min	Practice Progression – Measures 9 through 10
11:43 min	Practice the Progression with Me

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Backing Track

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Guitar Solo 1 TAB Guitar Solo 2 TAB Guitar Solo 3 TAB Basic Rhythm TAB Advanced Rhythm TAB Woodtone Strings

Banks of the Ohio Crosspicking Guitar Lesson

April 13, 2025April 5, 2019 by Devin

banks-of-the-ohio-bluegrass-crosspicking-guitar-lesson

Lesson ID: A0167

“Banks of the Ohio” is a traditional 19th century ballad that has become a common crosspicking tune at bluegrass jams. The exact origins of this song are unknown. It has been recorded by several artists over the years, including Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, and many others.

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play two crosspicking guitar arrangements for “Banks of the Ohio”. The first crosspicking arrangement will be played down near the nut using standard key of C open chords. We’ll use forward and backward crosspicking rolls along with some nice chord embellishments and fills. Then, in the second arrangement, we’ll travel up the guitar neck and incorporate crosspicking over alternate chord voicings. After you learn the crosspicking guitar breaks, practice your bluegrass crosspicking over our “Banks of the Ohio” backing track in C.

Overview

Arrangement 1

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Breakdown – Measures 1 through 5
07:05 min	Breakdown – Measures 6 through 9
11:09 min	Breakdown – Measures 10 through 13
15:35 min	Breakdown – Measures 14 through 17
18:29 min	Practice With Me

Arrangement 2

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Breakdown – Measures 1 through 5
06:09 min	Breakdown – Measures 6 through 9
11:10 min	Breakdown – Measures 10 through 13
16:19 min	Breakdown – Measures 14 through 17
18:07 min	Easier Option for Transitioning Down the Neck
21:07 min	Practice With Me

Backing Track

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Arrangement 1 Tablature Arrangement 2 Tablature Woodtone Strings