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Whiskey Before Breakfast

April 13, 2025February 27, 2017 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0116

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the standard bluegrass tune “Whiskey Before Breakfast“. Many believe this song is an old tune from the Appalachians or the British Isles. We’ll teach you a nice bluegrass flatpicking instrumental break and we’ll also go over the chords and lyrics for those of y’all that want to sing along. After you watch the lesson, prepare for your next bluegrass jam with Devin’s jam track!

Instrumental Break

Video 1 – Overview

Video 2 – Learn the A Part

Video 3 – Learn the B Part

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Video 4 – Practice Along

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Rhythm & Lyrics

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Backing Track

Instrumental Break Tablature Rhythm Tablature Chords & Lyrics Woodtone Strings

Nine Pound Hammer with Tony Rice Style Solo Breaks

April 13, 2025January 23, 2017 by Devin

nine pound hammer guitar lesson bluegrass style of tony rice flatpicking licks

Capo 2nd Fret – Key of A

Lesson ID: A0111

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you how to play the traditional bluegrass song “Nine Pound Hammer” with some instrumental solo breaks in the style of Tony Rice. First we’ll go over the chord progression and a strumming pattern that you can play behind your vocals. Then I’ll teach you four different instrumental breaks — the first break will be nice and easy for the beginner pickers, the second break will mix the melody line with strumming, and the last two advanced instrumental breaks will be in the style of Tony Rice.

Overview

Rhythm

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Chord Progression
02:18 min	Chord Progression with Lyrics
03:53 min	Song Structure
04:42 min	Strumming Pattern Options

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Basic Break

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Bass Line Walk-ups Overview
01:25 min	Instrumental Break Chord Progression
02:33 min	Playthrough with Tablature
03:47 min	Extra Detail and Tips

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Melodic Break

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to the Melodic Break
01:21 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
04:58 min	Measures 6 to 8 – Breakdown
06:06 min	Practice the First Half
06:35 min	Measures 9 to 13 – Breakdown
09:56 min	Measures 14 to 19 – Breakdown
11:43 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Tony Rice Break 1

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to Tony Rice Break 1
00:58 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
03:54 min	Measures 6 to 8 – Breakdown
06:01 min	Practice the First Half
06:39 min	Measures 9 to 13 – Breakdown
09:23 min	Measures 14 to 19 – Breakdown
11:40 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

Tony Rice Break 2

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Listen to Tony Rice Break 2
01:02 min	Measures 1 to 5 – Breakdown
02:29 min	Measures 6 to 9 – Breakdown
04:22 min	Practice the First Half
05:01 min	Measures 10 to 12 – Breakdown
06:46 min	Measures 13 to 15 – Breakdown
08:49 min	Measures 16 to 19 – Breakdown
09:09 min	Practice the Entire Instrumental Break

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Jam Track

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Chords & Lyrics Chord Progression TAB Basic Break TAB Melodic Break TAB Tony Rice Break 1 TAB Tony Rice Break 2 TAB Woodtone Strings

Hot Bluegrass Flatpicking Licks That Travel the Neck

April 13, 2025October 31, 2016 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0100

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you four of my favorite bluegrass flatpicking licks that travel the guitar neck. I use these licks all the time in my bluegrass guitar solo breaks and also as rhythm guitar fill riffs. All four licks are in the key of G and they’re built with a combination of the blues scales and the major pentatonic scales. Our tablature download includes comments that’ll tell you the scale positions each lick travels through up and down the neck. As you’re learning these licks, try to visualize the scales in each position. If you like this lesson, you might also like our Bluegrass Lick Library.

Lick 1

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lesson Overview
01:34 min	Important Guitar Scale Positions
04:16 min	Lick 1 Breakdown – Measures 1 & 2
06:58 min	Lick 1 Breakdown – Measures 3 & 4
10:30 min	Practice Along with Me

How to Practice

Flatpicking Method

Lick 2

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Lick 3

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Lick 4

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Guitar Licks TAB Woodtone Strings

Bluegrass Guitar Lick for a Song Intro or Solo Break

April 13, 2025October 27, 2016 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0099

In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach y’all a nice bluegrass guitar lick you can use during the intro of a bluegrass song or a solo break. Check out this YouTube video (guitar lick starts at 15 seconds) to watch Rhonda Vincent’s guitar player play a bluegrass intro lick similar to the one we’re covering in this lesson. Also watch this YouTube video on the “Lick Sample” tab of this lesson post below.

This lick sounds fast and tricky, but I’d encourage all levels to learn this one because it’s not too bad if you slow it down to a reasonable pace. Relax your right hand grip and focus on gettin’ those clean pick strokes.

Guitar Lesson

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Lesson Overview
01:20 min	Measures 1 & 2
04:12 min	Measures 3 & 4
07:43 min	Measures 5 & 6
10:29 min	Measures 7 & 8
12:51 min	Measure 9
14:07 min	Practice Along with Me

Lick Sample

See how this style of lick can be used in a bluegrass song (lick starts around 15 seconds).

Guitar Licks TAB Woodtone Strings