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Country & Bluegrass Lick in G and How to Use It

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Lesson ID: FL0001

In this guitar lesson video, I’ll teach you one of my favorite country & bluegrass guitar licks that sounds great on acoustic guitar. First I’ll play through the lick a couple times, then one time slowly with the tablature, and then I’ll break it down measure by measure. I’ll also show you how to play the rhythm guitar part that you heard me play at the beginning of the video and we’ll get some practice playing this G lick as a fill riff with rhythm.

Video Start TimeLesson Topic
00:00 minLesson Overview
00:18 minListen to the Guitar Lick
00:54 minPlaythrough with Tablature
01:54 minFull Breakdown Measure by Measure and Extra Flatpicking Tips
08:15 minCountry & Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Tips
12:37 minDifferent Ways to Practice the Lick

Using Jazzy Chords in Your Bluegrass Rhythm

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Lesson ID: A0172

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to use jazzy chord shapes in your bluegrass rhythm guitar. This technique will really make your rhythm guitar stand out at your next bluegrass jam. First, we’ll go over some useful jazzy chords that you can use to replace standard open chords. Then, you’ll learn some strumming patterns that work great with these jazzy chord shapes. Finally, we’ll work through a practice progression so you can get an idea of how to use these jazzy chords in a bluegrass song.

Overview

Chords & Strumming

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min G6 Chord
02:13 min C7 Chord
03:29 min D7 Chord
04:05 min “Foggy Mountain Special” Chord Progression
06:24 min Alternate Voicing for a G Major chord
08:07 min C9 Chord
09:14 min D9 Chord
09:38 min Strumming Patterns
15:24 min Standard Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
19:06 min Jazzy Bass Line Walk (Available to CGO Members)
23:57 min Extra Tips (Available to CGO Members)

Practice Progression

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Jam Along

Here is a video of Russ Carson and Jake Workman playing “Foggy Mountain Special” on banjo and guitar. Try jamming along by playing the jazzy practice progression that you learned in this guitar lesson. You can hear Jake Workman playing some jazzy bluegrass rhythm guitar at 1:50 in this video.

Banks of the Ohio Crosspicking Guitar Lesson

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Lesson ID: A0167

“Banks of the Ohio” is a traditional 19th century ballad that has become a common crosspicking tune at bluegrass jams. The exact origins of this song are unknown. It has been recorded by several artists over the years, including Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, The Carter Family, Dolly Parton, and many others.

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play two crosspicking guitar arrangements for “Banks of the Ohio”. The first crosspicking arrangement will be played down near the nut using standard key of C open chords. We’ll use forward and backward crosspicking rolls along with some nice chord embellishments and fills. Then, in the second arrangement, we’ll travel up the guitar neck and incorporate crosspicking over alternate chord voicings. After you learn the crosspicking guitar breaks, practice your bluegrass crosspicking over our “Banks of the Ohio” backing track in C.

Overview

Arrangement 1

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Breakdown – Measures 1 through 5
07:05 min Breakdown – Measures 6 through 9
11:09 min Breakdown – Measures 10 through 13
15:35 min Breakdown – Measures 14 through 17
18:29 min Practice With Me

Arrangement 2

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Breakdown – Measures 1 through 5
06:09 min Breakdown – Measures 6 through 9
11:10 min Breakdown – Measures 10 through 13
16:19 min Breakdown – Measures 14 through 17
18:07 min Easier Option for Transitioning Down the Neck
21:07 min Practice With Me

Backing Track

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St. Anne’s Reel

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Lesson ID: A0165

“St. Anne’s Reel” is a traditional French-Canadian tune in the public domain that was made popular by Joseph Allard in the 1930s. This song was originally played on the fiddle but it has become a favorite flatpicking tune of guitarists at bluegrass jams.

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a traditional melody for “St. Anne’s Reel” on guitar. We’ll work through two different flatpicking guitar arrangements with tablature. The first arrangement will be played at a higher octave and it will work up the guitar neck on the B and E strings. The second arrangement has a nice low-pitched sound that will turn some heads at your next bluegrass jam. After you learn the guitar breaks, practice your bluegrass flatpicking over our “St. Anne’s Reel” backing track in D.

Overview

Arrangement 1

Video 1 – Playthrough with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Breakdown – Measures 1 through 5
05:34 min Breakdown – Measures 6 through 9
08:36 min Breakdown – Measures 10 through 17
10:38 min Practice the A Part
11:49 min Breakdown – Measures 18 through 21
17:11 min Breakdown – Measures 22 through 25
19:03 min Breakdown – Measures 26 through 33
20:41 min Practice the B Part

Arrangement 2

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Backing Track

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