Get a more natural acoustic tone with Woodtone Strings Learn More
After you complete this lesson, showcase your playing in our Community Forum!
A quick note from your instructor:
"I design and manufacture the Woodtone FlexGrip™ Picks myself here in Texas. They really have a great tone and I think y'all would like them. If you're interested, check them out through the link below!" - Devin

Improvising with Bluegrass G Licks

Lesson ID: A0070

In this guitar lesson video, we’ll break down the scales that are commonly played in key of G open bluegrass licks. They’re called “open” licks or open riffs because they incorporate a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs to and from the open strings. These licks are used all the time in country and bluegrass music and they sound great over a standard I – IV – V chord progression. Clamp on your capo and you can play these open riffs at any location on the guitar neck!

Lesson Video

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lesson Overview
01:31 min How to Use Open G Licks
02:21 min Bluegrass Scale Chart Breakdown
05:37 min Creating Licks with the Chart
06:35 min Most Common Open G Lick
07:31 min Mixing Major and Minor Pentatonics
09:02 min Blues Note
09:51 min Hammer-On Ideas
15:16 min Double Stop Technique
17:51 min Pull-Off Ideas
20:43 min Lesson Recap

bluegrass_open_licks_scale_chart

Bluegrass Open Licks Chart © Country Guitar Online, LLC. All rights reserved.

Jam Tracks

Standard Open Tuning

Standard Open Tuning

Capo 2nd Fret

Capo 2nd Fret

Capo 3rd Fret

Capo 4th Fret

Capo 2nd Fret

Capo 2nd Fret

Open Standard Tuning

Capo 3rd Fret

Open Standard Tuning

Capo 3rd Fret

Open Standard Tuning

Capo 2nd Fret

Open Standard Tuning

Open Lick Chart

Member Content

Log in or register to view this chart!

Subscribe
Notify of
8 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kenneth
Kenneth (@guest_212)
7 years ago

Amazing lesson

Chris T
Chris T (@guest_213)
7 years ago

This is so helpful. Thanks a lot Devin.

Julien
Julien (@guest_214)
7 years ago

Really nice lesson, keep it up!

John-72
John-72 (@guest_216)
7 years ago

I’m liking the jam tracks! Great picks

John
John(@wjssavhotmail-co-uk)
3 years ago

great lesson.

jerseychicadee
jerseychicadee(@jerseychicadee)
3 years ago

I prefer playing with the capo. I search out songs with the capo around the 3rd or higher fret. Hurts my fingers less and I can fret the 1,2, and 3 strings easier.

Tim Mason
Tim Mason(@deepwatermarine)
2 years ago

I learned a lot today.

Justin Eastling
Justin Eastling(@justin-eastling)
2 years ago

Man, this really opens up a LOT for me. It helps explain how I can breakdown licks I know already to use in all kinds of situations and not sound redundant. Thanks Devin!