Licks and Tricks 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).

Short

Full-Screen Version

Member Content

Download the TAB

Log in or Register to download this lesson’s tablature.

Another 12 Bar Picking Workout in G (SHORT)

July 31, 2026July 10, 2026 by Devin

free country bluegrass practice progression 12 bar loop with tablature

Lesson ID: A0229

Here’s another 12 bar country bluegrass jam from the Woodshed — full of useful hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides that you can use to improvise in the key of G.

Helpful Tips:

• Relax your picking hand and use a light touch — don’t worry about playing loud; volume will come over time as you build the right muscle memory.
• Learn it at a slow pace, then increase your speed in increments.
• Loop the progression — play the 12 bars repeatedly and come up with variations of your own.

Don’t forget to use the AB Loop toolbar below to SLOW DOWN the video for easy learning.

Short

Full-Screen Version

Member Content

Download the TAB

Smooth Flowing Bass Line w/ Hammer-Ons (SHORT)

July 31, 2026October 5, 2025 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0227

Download the guitar tablature below! There are many ways to add accents to your country & bluegrass guitar rhythm, but here’s how you can do it by combining bass line notes with hammer-ons. This style of guitar playing is heavily influenced by Doc Watson, Norman Blake, and Tony Rice. Try these smooth flowing chord embellishments in my new 12 bar flatpicking workout in the key of G!

Also, if you like the progression in this lesson, try combining it with the 12 bar progression that I teach over in Lesson A0223 Country Bluegrass Jam in G – 12 Bar Picking Workout.

Don’t forget to use the AB Loop toolbar below to SLOW DOWN the video for easy learning.

Short

Full-Screen Version

Member Content

Download Free TAB

Laid Back Flatpicking Jam in C (SHORT)

July 31, 2026September 25, 2025 by Devin

laid-back-flatpicking-jam-in-C-on-guitar-lesson

Lesson ID: A0225

Download the guitar tablature below! Here’s a mellow flatpicking jam in the key of C — perfect if you’re learning to blend rhythm guitar and melody in a traditional style. This simple strumming pattern combined with a few classic guitar licks will give you a warm country & bluegrass sound in the style of Doc Watson and Maybelle Carter. Great one for beginner guitar players looking to level up their picking!

Don’t forget to use the AB Loop toolbar below to SLOW DOWN the video for easy learning.

Short

Full-Screen Version

Member Content

Download the TAB

Log in or Register to download this lesson’s tablature.