Crosspicking Archives

Wayfaring Stranger Alternate Picking Workout (SHORT)

July 30, 2026July 30, 2026 by Devin

thumbnail-wayfaring-stranger-alternate-picking-workout

Lesson ID: A0230

This guitar “workout” will really improve your pick control, and it’s WAY harder than it looks. Learn this Wayfaring Stranger-inspired alternate picking workout in Am.

Helpful Tips:

• Try not to look at your hands while you’re learning and practicing this progression.
• Keep reminding yourself to relax your picking hand and work on getting solid down picks. For me, the down picks were my weakness.
• The HARDEST PART is the picking pattern over the Dm chord. It’ll definitely make you frustrated! While I’m relaxing my hands, I like to play the Dm chord pattern over and over several times. Be sure to take breaks! And try practicing in “fours” — play through difficult sections in groups of four, take a five second break, and then play four more times. This really helps build the proper muscle memory.

Download the tablature by clicking the small download button at the top-right of the tablature PDF viewer (you must be a CGO member to download this TAB).

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Wildwood Flower in G

April 5, 2026November 24, 2025 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0228

Learn the classic American folk standard “Wildwood Flower” with this step-by-step traditional country and bluegrass guitar lesson. Originally recorded by the legendary Carter Family, “Wildwood Flower” has become one of the most iconic flatpicking songs for anyone wanting to master old-time country guitar, bluegrass rhythm, and melody-based lead breaks. In this lesson here at Country Guitar Online, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of how to play “Wildwood Flower” in the key of G—even though the tune is most commonly played out of the C position—so you can expand your arranging skills and build confidence playing in different keys. This lesson is perfect for guitar players searching for beginner-friendly bluegrass songs, traditional country guitar tutorials, Carter Family guitar arrangements, and flatpicking melodies that sound great at jams.

Inside the lesson, you’ll find full video instruction, on-screen guitar tabs, and tips for mastering the melody with clean country-style flatpicking technique. Country Guitar Online members can also download a print-friendly PDF tablature of the entire arrangement to help with practice away from the screen.

Once you’ve learned the tune, you can sharpen your timing by playing along with the practice video included below from my girlfriend Soonka’s YouTube Channel. You can easily stay updated with our newest performance videos by subscribing to Soonka’s YouTube channel here.

So if you’re looking for easy bluegrass guitar songs, classic country guitar lessons, or timeless folk melodies to add to your repertoire, this “Wildwood Flower” tutorial is a great place to start.

Lesson Overview

Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	A Part – Measures 1 through 5
03:25 min	A Part – Measure 6 plus repeat Measures 1 to 5
05:08 min	A Part – Measure 7 (second ending)
05:39 min	Practice the A Part
06:16 min	B Part – Measure 8 through 11
11:51 min	B Part – Measure 12 through 16
17:09 min	Practice the Entire Arrangement

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Playthrough with TAB

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Tablature

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Practice Along

Note

To practice along, you’ll need to CAPO 1st FRET.

Woodtone Strings ➜

Crosspicking Patterns and Alternate Chord Voicings

April 11, 2025April 28, 2020 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0184

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn some important crosspicking patterns and alternate chord voicings that will spice up your rhythm and lead guitar. First we’ll work on the crosspicking patterns and we’ll practice them using key of G open chords (G, C, and D). Then we’ll take a look at how you can play the G, C, and D chords at different locations up the guitar neck using alternate chord voicings. We’ll practice crosspicking over these new chord voicings and you’ll also learn some nice chord embellishments and licks that will make your crosspicking sound great.

In the second half of this lesson, we’ll work on some George Shuffler style crosspicking. George Shuffler was basically the pioneer of the crosspicking style in bluegrass music and he used a signature Down Down Up crosspicking pattern in most of his playing. We’ll work through an entire crosspicking progression in the style of George Shuffler to give you some different crosspicking ideas that you can use in your own country bluegrass rhythm and lead guitar. After you watch the lesson videos, practice your country bluegrass crosspicking with the two full-length backing tracks that are available with this lesson.

Overview

Crosspicking Patterns

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Crosspicking Over Key of G Open Chords
02:44 min	Hammer-On and Slide Chord Embellishments
05:39 min	Connect a Crosspicking Pattern to a Country Bluegrass Lick
08:11 min	Alternate Chord Voicings for Crosspicking and Extra Tips
19:41 min	Forward Roll vs. Reverse (Backward) Roll
22:25 min	Combining Forward Rolls and Reverse Rolls
23:52 min	Practice Your Crosspicking Over Country Bluegrass Strumming

George Shuffler Style

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Backing Tracks

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George Shuffler Practice Tablature Guitar Lick Library 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