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Jimmie Rodgers Style Rhythm and Fills

Lesson 12 – Country & Bluegrass Rhythm Course
Lesson ID: A0156

In this guitar lesson, we’re going to work on some Jimmie Rodgers style rhythm guitar techniques. First, we’ll go over a nice classic country strumming pattern that has a hint of Texas swing. After we break down the strumming pattern, we’ll practice our “boom chuck” country strumming over a Jimmie Rodgers style chord progression. You’ll also learn a few Jimmie Rodgers style country guitar riffs. The first riff sounds great as a song intro, the second riff mimics Jimmie Rodgers’ signature yodeling, and the third is a nice guitar riff that you can play as a song ending. At the end of this lesson, you should be able to practice your country strumming and fills along with the iconic song “Waiting for a Train” by Jimmie Rodgers.

Lesson Overview

Strumming

Progression

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Guitar Riffs

Video 1 – Intro Riff

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Video 2 – “Yodal” Riff

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Video 3 – Ending Riff

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Song Example

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Practice

Practice Strumming with Jimmie Rodgers

Capo 1st fret to make your guitar sound close to the tuning Jimmie Rodgers used in this video.

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Michael
Michael(@bryanblokemangmail-com)
5 years ago

I think I may have made a request for some Jimmie Rodgers-style lessons when I filled out your survey. Looks like I’ll need to dive in and master this stuff. Thanks for doing this one. That HD-28 sounds fantastic btw

Collin
Collin(@collin)
5 years ago

Nice one!!

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
5 years ago

That’s what makes this site really educational and rewarding …thanks Devin!

keithfinch316
keithfinch316(@keithfinch316btinternet-com)
5 years ago

Another great lesson. Can’t wait to try this different style. Thanks Devin.

Jack
Jack(@jacques-vadotyahoo-fr)
5 years ago

It’s a great lesson indeed, with those riffs, the strumming, the practice, wonderful. I heard Doc Watson play that style at Merlefest 2001. He used to say that Jimmie Rodgers was the first favorite he claimed.
He sang “My rough and rowdy days” and others with the yodelling he was doing so well.
IMHO Devin you are too hard on your singing, not so bad really !
Warm greetings from France

masonskip76
masonskip76(@masonskip76gmail-com)
5 years ago

Like this in crosspicking

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
5 years ago

As I often mentioned clear teaching and nice singing….thanks for all Devin!

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
5 years ago

Hi Devin, at the yodal riff boxes 3 and 4 could you explain the timing: eight note with the quarter note? I tried to count it out load but I don’t get it well. Thanks

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
5 years ago

I think I resolved the problem could you just take a look at it? Thanks Devin…

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
5 years ago
Reply to  Devin

Thank you very much!

bjbobsprague
bjbobsprague(@bjbobspraguegmail-com)
5 years ago

Great lesson Thanks

Jocelyn
Jocelyn(@jocelyn)
5 years ago

Fun to play…the guitar riffs is a little tricky, (timing is important here) thanks Devin!

Bill
Bill(@bjbobspraguegmail-com)
5 years ago

Great lesson I love the old Jimmie Rodgers tunes. I used to listen to the originals back in the 60’s. I used to drive my buddies crazy playing the old vinyls. Then Merle Haggard did a wonderful tribute called Same train different time on 33 1/3 vinyl. Several years back it was redone onCD.
Thanks Devin

Bill
Bill(@bjbobspraguegmail-com)
4 years ago

Thanks Devin. I’ve been a Jimmie Rodgers fan for many years since Merle Haggard did a tribute to him back in the 60’s. It’s great to finally learn some of those great guitar riffs. Hope you will have the time to do some more. Thanks again!

Dylan Dowd
Dylan Dowd(@dylankdowd)
3 years ago

I am so happy to finely find a useful lesson on this song , 80% of the reason I bought a guitar was from that live video of this song on YouTube.

Dylan Dowd
Dylan Dowd(@dylankdowd)
3 years ago

If I prefer to do the yodel instead of that complicated riff with the slides. What should I play in the back ? I’ve just been doing a c major alternating the bass then give it a few seconds till I can comfortably hit the right bass line to start the second verse. It works but jimmies doin somethin dif in the vid than the both of us. Thanks in advance if u can clear this up for me. I am playing this song all the way through with an intro I learned else where then everything you have supplied… Read more »

John Doe
John Doe(@jimmies-a-god)
1 year ago

Could you do any more of these Jimmie Rodger lessons? I’m pretty new to this, bought a guitar to learn how to play like him, his basic strumming pattern is pretty much just repeated throughout his different songs, but there are different riffs, and intros, that would be great to learn, as this stuff was really helpful.