Lead Guitar – Country Guitar Online

Country Bluegrass Jam in G – 12 Bar Picking Workout

May 9, 2025April 24, 2025 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0223

Looking to improve your acoustic guitar chops for country and bluegrass? Here’s a 12-bar picking workout that’s perfect for building your flatpicking technique and rhythm skills. This short guitar lesson features a classic 12-bar progression in a traditional country and bluegrass style.

Every time I sit down to practice, I like to warm up with something like this—simple, melodic, and rooted in the traditions of acoustic country and bluegrass guitar. This wasn’t rehearsed or polished—just some spontaneous flatpicking, strumming, and riff ideas I thought I’d share with tablature included.

If you’re a fan of players like Tony Rice, Norman Blake, or Doc Watson, or you’re just starting your journey into bluegrass and country acoustic styles, this video is for you. Take a listen, grab the tab, and pick up a few new licks for your next jam session.

12 Bar Picking Workout TAB Woodtone Strings

Over the Waterfall

April 11, 2025May 4, 2024 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0222

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play a bluegrass flatpicking arrangement for the traditional song “Over the Waterfall”. This arrangement is inspired by a lesson request submitted through our Forum that included a performance by greekflatpicker on YouTube. Check out their YouTube channel when you get a chance! They have a several nice flatpicking tunes posted to YouTube.

After you learn the arrangement, practice it with our “Over the Waterfall” backing track included with this guitar lesson. Also, tablature is available for download below the lesson video.

Lesson Overview

Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Potatoes – Measures 1 through 4
01:57 min	A Part, Round 1 – Measures 5 through 8
06:28 min	A Part, Round 1 – Measures 9 through 12
11:34 min	A Part, Round 2 – Measures 13 through 16
14:50 min	A Part, Round 2 – Measures 17 through 20
19:52 min	B Part, Round 1 – Measures 21 through 24
26:25 min	B Part, Round 1 – Measures 25 through 28
29:49 min	B Part, Round 2 – Measures 29 through 32
31:12 min	B Part, Round 2 – Measures 33 through 36
33:38 min	Practice along with me

Playthrough with TAB

Member Content

Backing Track

Member Content

Over the Waterfall Tablature Woodtone Strings

Old Joe Clark

April 11, 2025March 12, 2024 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0221

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to play one a flatpicking guitar arrangement for the traditional fiddle tune “Old Joe Clark“. This mountain ballad was popular among soldiers from eastern Kentucky during World War I and afterwards. Its lyrics refer to a real person named Joseph Clark, a Kentucky mountaineer who was born in 1839 and murdered in 1885.

After you learn the flatpicking break, practice along with the “Old Joe Clark” backing track that accompanies this guitar lesson. Also, be sure to navigate to the “Bonus Bluegrass Licks” tab below to learn a few common bluegrass licks that work well with this song when you’re improvising. “Old Joe Clark” guitar tablature is available for download below the lesson video.

Lesson Overview

Playthrough with TAB

Full Breakdown

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	A Part – Measures 1 through 4
03:10 min	A Part – Measures 5 through 8
05:36 min	A Part – Repeat Measures 1 through 8
06:48 min	B Part – Measures 9 through 12
10:49 min	B Part – Measures 13 through 16
12:53 min	Practice along with me

Bonus Bluegrass Licks

Member Content

Backing Track

Member Content

Old Joe Clark Tablature Bonus Bluegrass Licks Woodtone Strings

Red Haired Boy

April 11, 2025July 17, 2023 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0220

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a nice bluegrass flatpicking arrangement for “Red Haired Boy”. This song is one of the most common fiddle tunes played at bluegrass jams. NOTE: We’re going to play “Red Haired Boy” using key of G chords and scales, but we’ll capo the 2nd fret so technically this is in the key of A.

After you learn the flatpicking break, practice along with the “Red Haired Boy” backing track that comes with this guitar lesson. “Red Haired Boy” guitar tablature is available for download below the lesson video.

Lesson Overview

Playthrough with TAB

Member Content

Full Breakdown

Member Content

Backing Track

Member Content

Red Haired Boy Tablature Woodtone Strings