Guitar Solos Archives

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

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

Short Bluegrass Licks and Practice with Backing Track

April 13, 2025December 16, 2016 by Devin

how to improvise easy bluegrass flatpicking guitar licks solo breaks lesson pentatonic scales

Lesson ID: A0108

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you some short bluegrass licks that will get you started improvising your own bluegrass guitar solos. We’ll break down the licks with tablature and then I’ll show you how to use these licks to play a basic guitar solo over a common bluegrass chord progression. After you master the licks, practice the arranged solo and your improvising skills with the jam along video! If you like this lesson, check out our Bluegrass Lick Library.

Improvising in the Key of G

Learn the Licks

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Overview
01:56 min	Lick 1 – Breakdown with Tablature
02:30 min	Proper Left Hand Fingering
04:36 min	Lick 2 – Breakdown with Tablature
05:19 min	Lick 3 – Breakdown with Tablature
05:51 min	Lick 4 – Breakdown with Tablature

Basic Guitar Solo

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Rhythm Progression
01:27 min	Playing Bluegrass Licks over Rhythm
02:37 min	Basic Bluegrass Solo – Measures 1 through 8
04:07 min	Basic Bluegrass Solo – Measures 9 through 16
05:32 min	Practice the Solo Arrangement with Me
06:19 min	Wrap Up

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Jam Track

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Jam Track – Format
00:43 min	Jam Track – Count In

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Scale Charts

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Bluegrass Licks Tablature Guitar Solo Tablature Woodtone Strings

Gold Rush in the Style of Tony Rice

April 13, 2025December 2, 2016 by Devin

gold rush guitar lesson with tablature bluegrass licks

Lesson ID: A0105

Capo 2nd Fret – Key of A

In this week’s guitar lesson, I’m going to teach y’all how to play the traditional bluegrass song “Gold Rush”. First, I’ll play through the entire song with tablature at three speeds. Then, I’ll break down each of the flatpicking melodies, give you some extra bluegrass flatpicking tips, and teach you all the rhythm guitar parts. After you learn the flatpicking solo break, practice it with the rhythm jam along video where I play three rhythm backing tracks at different speeds. This song will come in handy at your next bluegrass jam!

Lesson Overview

Playthrough with Tablature

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Playthrough with Tablature – Slow Speed
03:02 min	Playthrough with Tablature – Medium Speed
04:49 min	Playthrough with Tablature – Faster Speed

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Flatpicking Breakdown

Flatpicking Breakdown Videos

Watch the three videos below to learn the song kickoff and an entire flatpicking solo break of “Gold Rush”. In the first video, I’ll teach you the Kickoff and give you some extra tips on pick direction. Then I’ll show you how to play the A and B Parts in the following videos below.

Video 1 – Kickoff

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Song Structure
01:28 min	Kickoff
03:43 min	Flatpicking Method – Pick Direction

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Video 2 – A Part

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	A Part Structure
00:44 min	A Part – Line 1
03:01 min	Flatpicking Method – Bluegrass Style Pull-offs
05:35 min	Practice – Kickoff through A Part Line 1
06:41 min	A Part – Line 2
11:55 min	Practice – Kickoff through A Part Lines 1 & 2

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Video 3 – B Part

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	B Part – Line 1
03:52 min	Practice – B Part Line 1
04:40 min	B Part – Line 2
07:29 min	Solo Break Recap
09:07 min	Looping the Break with a Turnaround
10:46 min	Practice – B Part Lines 1 & 2

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Rhythm Lesson

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Song Structure
00:59 min	Strumming Pattern
02:07 min	A Part Chord Progression
04:11 min	B Part Chord Progression
05:49 min	Bluegrass Jams and Playing Your Solo Break

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Jam Track

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	How to Use the Jam Along Tracks
01:52 min	Rhythm Backing Track – Slow Speed
05:04 min	Rhythm Backing Track – Medium Speed
07:11 min	Rhythm Backing Track – Fast Speed

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Gold Rush Guitar Tablature Chord Progressions Woodtone Strings