“Old Grimes” has become popular at bluegrass jams largely due to Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage. I reached out to Chris and he said it’s a traditional tune that he learned from Jesse Cobb, his old bandmate in the Infamous Stringdusters, who may have learned it from Matt Combs in Nashville. In this guitar lesson, I’ll teach you the main guitar melody for “Old Grimes”. Download the tablature below the lesson video.
Eric Moore & Friends
This is a nice version of “Old Grimes” performed by Eric Moore and his friends Mark and Bryan. Big fan of Eric’s YouTube channel — he regularly posts traditional bluegrass tunes on guitar that y’all would enjoy. Subscribe to Eric’s YouTube channel to watch more of his videos.
Audio – Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage
Practice “Old Grimes” with Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage using the embedded player from Spotify. We’d highly recommend using Spotify for online radio. If you don’t have a Spotify account, click here to sign up free with your Facebook account or with an e-mail address.
Video – Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage
Practice along with Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage in this video from Fretboard Journal. You can also download some great music from Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage here and check out their 2017 Grammy award winning album Mount Royal that features “Old Grimes”.
New lesson! Hope y’all like this one. I actually hadn’t heard this song until it popped up on my YouTube feed last week. Such a great melody. I’ve got the main guitar lesson posted and working to wrap up the rhythm lesson video…hope to have that uploaded by the end of the week!
It’s like a happy pony trail in the country melody..enjoy learning it.. technical question, I’m using windows 10 and what am I to use for guitar pro file? Do I need it/missing out on something or is same as the download pdf tab sheet which is easy enough as is…? I don’t need the pro if I have the pfd tab or is it better feature? tia
Thanks Devin ..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pdr-D0Z4fe8
if you got Time for that one … same artist .. would be great to have a shot all together on this one ..
Love this lesson Devin!
I learn a lot…thanks Devin!
Once again Devin, you are hitting the great ones. Thanks so much!
Another fun song and perfect for my skill level. Thanks for the lesson!
Nice peaceful backwoods kinda country tune! Real easy too! Devin how do you like the Martin D28? Really sounds superb! What string brand size and how often do you change strings and why? What is your favorite acoustic and is that the only Martin acoustic you own?
Thanks John!! This one here is a D-16GT that I picked up used in Dallas about five years ago. So far I love it. Such a great guitar for the money. I really like Elixer Nanoweb phosphor bronze mediums. They’re soft to the touch, last forever, and they have great tone. I’ve experimented with a ton of different brands and gauges. I’ll be sticking with these for a while. The Elixers really do last longer like the packaging says…I’d say I change the strings every few months when they start sounding dead and get sticky…fingers don’t seem to slide as… Read more »
Wow really cool rhythm section !!! I really enjoyed/enjoy this voice accompaniment with the strummig technique and you are specific and that is probably why I went premium.. but really happy you help me learn singing cause I need such voice practice! Thanks Devin great lesson good work !
Also cool you specify the 8 bar / measure chord progression.. interesting about the 1st position A chord fingering.. i can do any them fingerings as like you tried each way but usually do fine with bar index or middle.. which ever is useful for chord progressions,, but really like all these basic teachings,, cause i feel more confident with everything you demonstrate.. getting in the habit now to singing along with the rhythm.. something I neglected too long ,,you brought it to light here again! Good teaching!
Hey man really impressed, i enjoyed and got a lot out of this lesson,, I’ll be back,, also did recommend you on another site,, looking forward to anything you care to show next lessons! I’m happy to practice your lessons!
I like this. Just saw Lage and Entheridge at Grey Fox. Most of there stuff is impossible to play… Would love a backing track to practice along with on this one. Thanks.
(Eldridge…!)
Nice! I still haven’t had a chance to see them live but I will one of these days. I bet it was a great show. They’re both so talented. Also want to check out Chris Eldridge in Punch Brothers. I think Julian Lage is touring with Punch Brothers now..might need to look into buying some tickets. Missed them in Austin when the played down here a couple years ago. For sure…I’ll plan to post a backing track for this one sometime soon.
Finally got the chance to record a backing track for “Old Grimes” yesterday. Hope y’all like it! Still one of my favorite tunes to play these days…and just saw that Chris Eldridge and Julian Lage won a 2017 Grammy for their album Mount Royal with “Old Grimes”..Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Pretty cool. Great album if you haven’t heard it.
erfonville 
survivebehappy 
Jocelyn 
John 
Martin
Hey Devin. Great tune that I had never heard. Thx for making lessons that are challenging but not overwhelming. Thx also for not charging an arm and a leg to subscribe. Ever thought of doing something in dropped D tuning?
For sure! Thanks for the comment. I have thought about adding some more lessons in drop D tuning. I’ve got the Man of Constant Sorrow lesson posted and that’s in Drop D, but could add some more lessons in drop D if you like. I’ll try to post more, and let me know if you like to see anything in particular.
I was thinking about Bonaparte’s Retreat. That would be great in dropped D. I didn’t know Man of Constant Sorrow was in drop D. I’m relatively new to your site. I’ll be sure to check it out. By the way, love the hat.
Another great lesson! You still have the best lessons I’ve found on the web. Thanks Devin. Keep up the good work.
Great lesson. I would love to see more of these old classics and a play along track. Thanks for all you do!
For sure, plenty more old classics on the way…also still planning to record a jam along track for Old Grimes as soon as I can work that in between lessons. Thanks for the comment!
This is such a good lesson great job.
Great tune! Thanks for lesson Devin.
Great lesson and a tune that to me has an Irish melody background some how. It also works well on the mandolin.
im really enjoying playing this but sometimes my up/down strokes are a bit different from what is laid out. how much should i try to learn the recommended way vs just letting myself do what feels right?
I’ve been working on this song this past week. I’ve become a ‘sawtooth picker’ lately. I really prefer this style at present. I was wondering if you could edit the introduction you do to the 1:05 mark so it is just the play through. I set the A/B but every time I leave the page I have to reset the the looper. It’s not vital just a PIA while practicing. I love the looper.