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Start Climbing the Neck in D Riffs and Scale Theory

Lesson 13 – Rhythm Fill Riffs and Lead Guitar Course
Lesson ID: A0138

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn four country & bluegrass guitar riffs in the key of D that work up the neck a ways. These four riffs can be pieced together to create a guitar solo or you can use them as rhythm fill riffs. They’re all around great riffs that’ll give that country & bluegrass sound we’re going for. After you learn the riffs, we’ll talk about the guitar scales we’re using today to create these riffs so you can see where the notes are coming from instead of just learning licks and playing them from memory.

Lesson Overview

Guitar Riffs

Video 1 – Intermediate Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Overview
00:17 min Riff 1 with Tablature
01:36 min Riff 2 with Tablature
03:25 min Riff 3 with Tablature
06:10 min Riff 4 with Tablature

Video 2 – Full Breakdown

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Riff 1 Breakdown
04:14 min Riff 2 Breakdown
05:18 min Syncopated Rhythm in Country & Bluegrass
06:32 min Riff 2 Breakdown Cont’d
09:17 min Riff 3 Breakdown
13:18 min Riff 4 Breakdown
18:05 min Riff Recap

Scale Theory

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Overview
00:58 min D Major Scale, 3rd Position Shape
02:10 min Major Scale Practice Tips
02:44 min D Blues Scale, 3rd Position Shape
03:52 min How to Use These Scales When You’re Improvising Solos
05:06 min Simple Country & Bluegrass Improvising Example
07:08 min Analyze Riff 1 with the Scales
09:20 min Your Homework

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Martin
Martin(@martinfan)
7 years ago

Great stuff!!

Paul
Paul (@guest_1113)
7 years ago

I learned a lot, thanks man. Still the best country and bluegrass lessons i’ve found on the web

Doc dillon
Doc dillon (@guest_1121)
7 years ago

Cool teaching

naskorhan
naskorhan(@naskorhanlive-com)
6 years ago

My guitar picking is really starting to pick up since I found your lesson page. Man I love this music and licks.

naskorhan
naskorhan(@naskorhanlive-com)
6 years ago

Super lesson Devin.

Jocelyn Beauregard
Jocelyn Beauregard(@jocelyn)
6 years ago

Is it possible to transpose these riffs in G, C and son so on?

George Lange
George Lange(@georgeanddoris66hotmail-com)
4 years ago

Amazing lessons from an amazing teacher. I’m learning a lot of theory and really am starting to understand what is going on.

dom
dom(@dom)
4 years ago

Hi Devin. Great lesson thanks. Really enjoying working my way through these licks, particularly since i notice the improvements to my own style which isn’t especially Bluegrassy. I would say this is invaluable training regardless of what style you play, and i’m grateful for the opportunity to broaden my skills. Sorry if this sounds stupid, but how come the dmajor scale has two b notes next to each other (4th fret on G string and open B string.) When i follow the scale pattern i find myself playing the same note twice in a row which can’t be right. Should… Read more »