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12 Bar Bluesy Country Guitar Solo in E

12-bar-bluesy-country-guitar-solo-merle-haggard-a0182
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

country-bluegrass-crosspicking-patterns-and-alternate-chord-voicings
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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Blue Railroad Train

cgo-blue-railroad-train-guitar-lesson-tony-rice-solo
Lesson ID: A0178

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the old classic “Blue Railroad Train” in the style of Tony Rice. We’ll cover three different instrumental breaks that are loaded with some really nice country & bluegrass licks on acoustic guitar. The first two instrumental breaks are a little more advanced for the intermediate guitar players, and the third instrumental break is an easier version for the less experienced guitar players. The easier break will have some really nice Tony Rice style guitar licks as well and it will be a good challenge that’ll push your flatpicking to the next level. Later in the lesson, we’ll also go over the rhythm guitar part and chord progressions for “Blue Railroad Train”.

Overview

Guitar Break 1

Video 1 – Intermediate Break 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Intermediate Break 1 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Measures 1 through 4
06:17 min Measures 5 through 9
14:00 min Practice the First Half of the Instrumental Break
15:15 min Measures 10 through 13
22:26 min Measures 14 through 18
25:09 min Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

Guitar Break 2

Video 1 – Intermediate Break 2 – Playthrough with Tablature

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Video 2 – Intermediate Break 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Measures 1 through 4
06:16 min Measures 5 through 9
08:13 min Measures 10 through 13
15:16 min Measures 14 through 18
16:25 min Slower Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break
17:44 min Faster Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Easier Break

Video 1 – Easier Instrumental Break – Playthrough with Tablature

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Video 2 – Easier Instrumental Break – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Measures 1 through 4
03:38 min Syncopated Rhythm
05:31 min Measures 1 through 4 Continued
08:34 min Measures 5 through 9
11:44 min Pick Direction for Downbeats vs. Upbeats
17:20 min Measures 10 through 13
19:59 min Measures 14 through 18
22:30 min Key of D vs. D Position
23:52 min Slower Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break
25:07 min Faster Speed – Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Chords

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Rhythm Overview
00:30 min Instrumental Break Chord Progression
01:54 min Verse Chord Progression
02:46 min Verse Chord Progression with Singing
04:19 min Strumming Patterns and Strumming Examples
12:27 min Rhythm Guitar Fill Riff

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Backing Track

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Bluesy Country Licks for Acoustic Guitar in D

bluesy-country-licks-for-acoustic-guitar-fl0002
Lesson ID: FL0002

In this country guitar lesson, I’ll teach you how to play three bluesy country licks on acoustic guitar in the key of D. The first two guitar licks are great to play as fill riffs when you switch between chords. The third lick is a little longer and it sounds nice as a fill riff or as part of a full-length country guitar solo. Later in the lesson, you’ll also learn a more advanced country strumming pattern that works really well for playing country rhythm guitar in the key of D.

Video Start TimeLesson Topic
00:00 minListen to the Guitar Licks
00:41 minLesson Overview
01:16 minLearn How to Play Lick 1
02:52 minHow to Use Lick 1 as a Fill Riff
04:37 minLearn How to Play Lick 2
06:00 minExample of Lick 2 as a Fill Riff
06:33 minUsing the Licks to Switch Between Chords
08:12 minLearn How to Play Lick 3
13:38 minMore Advanced Country Strumming Pattern for Key of D
15:30 minMore Advanced Country Strumming with Fill Riffs