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12 Bar Bluesy Country Guitar Solo in E

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Lesson ID: A0182

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a 12 bar bluesy country guitar solo in the key of E. This guitar solo sounds great over the 12 bar blues progression that we studied in the previous guitar lesson here at Country Guitar Online called 12 Bar Blues in the Style of Merle Haggard. Download the guitar solo tablature below the lesson video, and after you learn the guitar solo, try practicing along with the backing track on this lesson post. This solo has a simple bluesy melody and it is a perfect example of how less can be more when you’re playing lead guitar. Also try using the key of E blues scale and the E major pentatonic scale to create your own bluesy country solo over this lesson’s backing track.

Overview

Playthrough with Tablature

Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Line 1 – Measures 1 through 5
08:19 min Line 2 – Measures 6 through 9
13:01 min Line 3 – Measures 10 through 13
18:42 min Practice the Solo With Me

Backing Track

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Crosspicking Patterns and Alternate Chord Voicings

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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

George Shuffler Style

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Backing Tracks

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Man of Constant Sorrow

man of constant sorrow guitar lesson chords soggy bottom boys oh brother where art thou
Lesson ID: A0120

Man of Constant Sorrow” was first published by Dick Burnett in 1913 and later made popular by the Stanley Brothers in the 1950s. In this guitar lesson, we’ll show you how to play “Man of Constant Sorrow” in the style of The Soggy Bottom Boys. This song will turn some heads at your next jam! First, we’ll break down the song’s intro and guitar solo with tablature. Then, we’ll teach you the rhythm guitar part with lyrics along with some nice rhythm fills. Tablature files are available for download below the video!

Lesson Overview

Song Intro

Part 1 – Slow Playthrough of Intro with Tablature

Part 2 – Fast Playthrough of Intro with Tablature

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Part 3 – Full Breakdown of Intro

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Part 4 – Easier Way to Play the Intro

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Guitar Solo Break

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Rhythm Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Chords You Need
03:56 min Chords & Lyrics Download
04:34 min Intro Chord Progression
06:37 min Main Chord Progression
07:56 min Strumming Patterns
09:34 min Progression with Lyrics
11:42 min Rhythm Fill #1
13:26 min Rhythm Fill #2
15:47 min Instrumental Break Chord Progression
17:12 min Song Ending Riff

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Chord Charts

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Tony Rice Style “G Lick” to Play Over C Chord

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Lesson ID: A0183

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play an easy country and bluegrass guitar lick that sounds great over the C major chord when you’re soloing in the key of G. Then we’ll practice using the lick in a guitar solo over a 12 bar chord progression. As we’re working through the guitar solo, you’ll learn how to use bluegrass licks effectively to play powerful solos that follow a song’s chord progression. Later in the lesson, we’ll also talk about the guitar scales for playing country and bluegrass guitar solos and we’ll go over some easy improvising techniques. After you watch the lesson, practice your guitar solo improvising using the three bluegrass backing tracks in the key of G that you’ll find on this guitar lesson post.

Slow Backing Track

Medium Backing Track

Fast Backing Track

Scale Charts

G Major Scale

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G Blues Scale

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