C Archives

The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

April 13, 2025April 21, 2019 by Devin

Lesson ID: A0168

In this country guitar lesson, we’ll work on a traditional country strumming pattern in the style of Tom T. Hall. First, I’ll show you a few common chords that are used all the time in classic country. Then, we’ll work on the country strumming pattern using these chords. After that, we’ll work through a chord progression that we’ll borrow from Tom T. Hall’s song called “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died“. Overall, this is a great guitar lesson to help you smooth out your traditional country strumming on an acoustic guitar.

Overview

Chords & Strumming

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	C/G Chord Explanation
01:16 min	Strumming Pattern Breakdown
03:16 min	F/C Chord Explanation
04:31 min	Alternating Bass Line Notes over G Chord
05:21 min	Practice Chord Progression
06:51 min	Extra Tips

Guitar Riffs

Video Start Time	Lesson Topic
00:00 min	Intro Riff in the Style of Tom T. Hall
06:11 min	Transitioning from Intro Riff to Main Chord Progression
08:10 min	Bass Line Walk over C Chord
11:13 min	Ending Riff in the Style of Tom T. Hall

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Example with Vocals

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Guitar Solo

Here’s a bonus guitar solo that you can play over the main progression from “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died”. Pay attention to how the licks are structured over the C, F, and G chords. Also, remember that you can slow down the Playthrough with Tablature video with the speed control feature on the video play bar.

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Listen

Listen to Tom T. Hall playing “The Year That Clayton Delaney Died”

Guitar Riff Tablature Guitar Solo Tablature Lesson Notes Woodtone Strings

Banks of the Ohio Crosspicking Guitar Lesson

April 13, 2025April 5, 2019 by Devin

banks-of-the-ohio-bluegrass-crosspicking-guitar-lesson

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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Arrangement 1 Tablature Arrangement 2 Tablature Woodtone Strings

Country Guitar Lick Library

April 13, 2025November 29, 2018 by Devin

Our Bluegrass Lick Library has been really popular, so I’m putting together a Country Guitar Lick Library that will cover a bunch of country artist signature licks. I’ll be adding several more country guitar licks to this library in the coming weeks in between recording the full-length guitar lessons.

I just posted the first six guitar licks in the style of Brad Paisley, and below you can watch a sample of Brad Paisley Guitar Lick 1. You can find the Country Guitar Lick Library at the top menu under “Lessons” and I’ll also add a link below this video. Later, I’ll post country guitar licks in the style of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, and more. If you have an artist you’d like me to cover, you can send me your request in the Country Guitar Lick Library community forum thread.

Guitar Lick Library Woodtone Strings

Jimmie Rodgers Style Rhythm and Fills

April 13, 2025June 28, 2018 by Devin

waiting-for-a-train-guitar-lesson-jimmie-rodgers

Lesson 12 – Country & Bluegrass Rhythm Course

Course Outline Previous Lesson Next Lesson

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.

Guitar Riffs Rhythm Progression Woodtone Strings