Unlock all premium guitar lessons now! Try One Month Free ➜

More Bluegrass Licks and Guitar Scale Theory

bluegrass licks for improvising guitar lesson course beginner
Lesson 2 – Bluegrass Guitar Solo Improvising Course
Lesson ID: A0113

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you four more bluegrass licks that are great for improvising in the key of G. We’ll also talk about the guitar scale theory behind each of the bluegrass licks. After you master the guitar licks, practice the arranged solo and your bluegrass improvising skills with the jam track!

Overview

Lick 1

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lick 1 Breakdown with Tablature
00:50 min Guitar Scales for Bluegrass Licks
01:52 min Getting That Country & Bluegrass Sound

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 1!

Lick 2

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lick 2 Breakdown with Tablature
01:26 min Building Licks Around Open Chords Using Key of G Scales
02:23 min More Chord and Scale Theory Tips for Bluegrass Licks

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 2!

Lick 3

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lick 3 Breakdown with Tablature
01:36 min Easier Way to Play Lick 3
02:33 min How Lick 3 is Formed Around the D Chord

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 3!

Lick 4

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lick 4 Breakdown with Tablature
00:52 min Left Hand Fingering for Easy Lick Transition

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 4!

Example

Jam Track Example:

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Listen to All Four Bluegrass Licks Played in a Row
00:43 min Bluegrass Lick Example with the Jam Track
01:21 min Lesson Wrap Up

Member Content

Log in or register to practice with jam tracks!

MP3 Jam Tracks

Member Content

Log in or register to watch the jam along video!

Scale Charts

Member Content

Log in or register to view the scale charts!

Basic Bluegrass Licks and Guitar Scales

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 2!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 3!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn Lick 4!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to watch the jam along video!

MP3 Jam Tracks

Member Content

Log in or register to watch the jam along video!

Scale Charts

Member Content

Log in or register to view the scale charts!

Nine Pound Hammer with Tony Rice Style Solo Breaks

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the chord progression!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the basic break!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the intermediate break!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn advanced break 2!

Jam Track

Member Content

Log in or register to watch the jam along video!

Shady Grove in the Style of Doc Watson

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the basic rhythm!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the melodic rhythm!

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

Member Content

Log in or register to learn the flatpicking solo!

Backing Track

Member Content

Log in or register to watch the jam along video!