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Flatpicking in the Style of Molly Tuttle

Lesson ID: A0187

In this guitar lesson, we’ll work on some flatpicking in the style of Molly Tuttle using a common “I-IV-V” chord progression that we’ll borrow from the song “White Freightliner Blues” by Townes Van Zandt. Molly Tuttle adds her own twist to this song and we’ll take a look at how she uses chord embellishments, crosspicking, and fill riffs to spice up her bluegrass rhythm guitar playing.

Lesson Overview

Full Breakdown

Playthrough

Bonus Guitar Solo

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jerseychicadee
jerseychicadee(@jerseychicadee)

Wow! Dude! This is nice! You made that seem easy! I watched Molly Tuttle play this and didn’t think I could do that. I like your arrangement (maybe because it’s so good!) I like this tempo better too.

Eric Reinhardt
Eric Reinhardt(@rinny51)

Probably one of my favorite lessons so far. Good one Devin!

Alice
Alice(@alicelarhotmail-com)

This is wonderful, Devin! I love your arrangement, and how you’ve made it so accessible to us! Thanks!
Alice

jerseychicadee
jerseychicadee(@jerseychicadee)

I can actually play through measure 8 at this point!! I’m gonna enjoy this. Such a dainty sound!

rickmcdaniel
rickmcdaniel(@rickmcdanielme-com)

Thank you for all the work you put into these lessons, it really shows! Also, love the looper gizmo!

Last edited 5 years ago by rickmcdaniel
Jocelyn
Jocelyn(@jocelyn)

It is such a good flatpicking lesson! Thanks a lot Devin and have a nice weekend!

Jocelyn
Jocelyn(@jocelyn)

The tablature has been changed a little bit, first measure when you do the hammer on you let your finger on the third string.I saw it on the playthrough video. It’s sound just great. Thanks Devin!

Jocelyn
Jocelyn(@jocelyn)
Reply to  Devin

Yes I really like this one thanks again!

dom
dom(@dom)

My first thought while listening was, this sounds like Pretty Boy Floyd, then as it got going i thought, no it sounds like Townes Van Zandt. Which of course it is. Good choice. Thanks Devin!

jerseychicadee
jerseychicadee(@jerseychicadee)
Reply to  dom

I’ve been trying to learn the picking style patterns of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark with minimal progress. I love their sounds and don’t like to just strum strum strum. Love the sound of fingerpicking melodies. I’m going very very slow. I watch their fingers all day long.

Last edited 5 years ago by jerseychicadee
hscollins05
hscollins05(@hscollins05yahoo-com)

Sounds so good. Thanks for the intermediate version and not the advanced.

Gerry O'Brien
Gerry O'Brien(@jerry-the-juice)

I am having the best time.
So glad I found your site.
My journey with bluegrass music started with Billy Strings.
Thank you Billy.
Top man.
Thank you Devin. Great lessons.

Kate
Kate(@kate)

Devin, I’m loving the bonus tabs you’re adding to your lessons right now. Gives us time to get the first bit down (well, usually 90% in my case) and then build on it.
The new solo is awesome. I’m coming up for 18 months’ of membership, but this and Tennessee Waltz is really some of the best stuff you’ve done.
Thanks so much

Last edited 5 years ago by Kate
Jocelyn
Jocelyn(@jocelyn)

Amazing!

Gareth Ayres
Gareth Ayres(@chilli-strings)

Really enjoying this one Devin. Really having trouble breaking my fingerpicking hardwiring. Great lessons.

zornjohn
zornjohn(@zornjohn)

Great lesson. I understand it’s ideal to get the pick direction down as marked, but I often go astray especially with the double upstrokes. My question is if I can get through the main and solo slowly, mostly clean, but missing some of the pick directions, do you recommend to really taking time to try and nail them as posted, or should I not get too hung up about it?

Thanks
ZJ

zornjohn
zornjohn(@zornjohn)
Reply to  Devin

Ok, having seen your skill and precision on some of those faster barn burner demos, I’ll definitely follow that advice. As I’m sure others do, I’ll just have to fight the urge to speed up if it means sacrificing optimal technique. Thanks for getting back

jrick92
jrick92(@jrick92)
Reply to  zornjohn

Thanks for asking that..I usually don’t think about it until I have already developed a different pattern. I will try it Devin’s way next time.

jrick92
jrick92(@jrick92)

I like this one, Thanks

fransverboom
fransverboom(@fransverboomgmail-com)

Great lesson Devin !

Owen Whitton
Owen Whitton(@owenwhitton)

Loved this lesson. Do you think you could do more lessons with this kind of playing style? I love the cross picking merged with the bluegrass strumming

Dennis Fried
Dennis Fried(@denny)

Hi Devin, in this bonus solo I’m wondering why you don’t keep the up/down picking consistent in measure #2 .

James DiLorenzo
James DiLorenzo(@seaside-jimmy)

I can get the player to play every clip except “main progression 29 through 32”. Just keeps spinning. Is this a known issue?…I’ll try again tomorrow perhaps but it seems weird that everything else (every other section) plays just fine for me.
Love this breakdown lesson by the way. I really am so happy with it.

Last edited 4 years ago by James DiLorenzo
James DiLorenzo
James DiLorenzo(@seaside-jimmy)
Reply to  Devin

Yes thank you! It was some kind of weird temporary glitch. Not sure why it was happening but all is well now and still enjoying the lesson. Cleaning up my picking on measures 21-24 and Reviewing the “Practice Along With Me” for a while then moving onto the solo…then progressive metronome practice. Do metronomes go as fast as Molly? Prestissimo Molly.
Ciao!
Seaside Jimmy

Last edited 4 years ago by James DiLorenzo
Bill Cirino
Bill Cirino(@newbflat)

Just great!, the has helped me Immensely. It would be great if at some point you could do the rest of the solos, or at least one more. Also the way she ends the song would be nice. Great job!

Last edited 4 years ago by Bill Cirino
Jean Galou
Jean Galou(@galou)

Love this one!

Michael Graham
Michael Graham(@jambongris)

Oh, the bonus solo is much harder. That’s awesome! I didn’t want this lesson to be over yet.

Leese
Leese(@leese)

This is the song that brought me to your website! Thank you for this breakdown!

James Yates
James Yates(@guitarmike)

Love it