Description
I’ve had lots of requests lately for country so I decided to put together the first (of several) mini-series that is split into three parts. The first two parts I’ll show you note for note how to play the solo, and the third part will cover how to play the rhythm part. I have always loved fast country lead guitar players, but have never been able to play at the speed of a Danny Gatton or Brent Mason, so this lesson is my version of country lead (played at a more relaxed pace). I made sure to incorporate some of those signature pedal steel licks that you usually hear in a country solo, but stayed away from the fast runs using open strings, at least for this lesson. If there is enough interest, I’ll make more country lessons.Again, this is only part 1 of 3, so be sure to check out the other 2 parts to learn this in it’s entirety.
Country Style Guitar Lesson - First Half of Lead
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telemeister says
Great stuff Brian, thank-you. While I wouldn’t play country stuff at a jam or gig, I really love fiddling around with country riffs and rhythms, a great style to add in to your repertoire - particularly love mucking around with stuff like Lester Flatt runs etc.
Thanks again, keep ‘em coming.
Brett
country boy says
Brian: I don’t care what your lesson is all about, there is always something that I learn from you. I grew up playing alot of Johhny Cash style but my all time favorites are Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. That is what I call great country. Not fast players but great artist.
I trying “Tennesee Waltz” but trying to make it sound great is very difficult.
Robert G says
Wish you pickers would STOP telling Brian your personal likes and dislikes!! We all know how great Brian can play! Instead PLEASE try to offer something constructive in all your comments so we all can learn to be better guitar players! “One potato two potato”! Nobody cares about your life stories! Thanks Brian
droidlizard says
Great job Brian! I’m still a beginner and right now I play to relaax and enjoy myself. I’m dabbling into everything I can learn here and there just building skills. I may sit down one day and do rythm patterns, and another day work on your blues course, or work on patterns. I’ve not tried much plucking yet so all that finger work will be new to me. I may have to pick it out but ill try :) this will be a real good lesson for me. Like a guy I work with told me once,“I don’t think I’m biting off more than I can chew, but I might be gnawing on this thing for quite a while”. Well played!
timyt says
How do you get the twangy country sound??? I can play it but it doesn’t sound like the steel pedal guitar like yours does.
droidlizard says
So this is why my amp has that button called REVERB! So far I’ve kept it down but I crank it up to five or six and it sounds good with a little speed up. I’m still on the first part of the first part, but I like it.
englishjorge says
@timyt - just a little bit of overdrive and some reverb - that’s it 🙂
nicky says
got some good lessons that i learn from but ur stuff sounds great taught great and i feel im getting somewere after each lesson thanks for being available with ur teaching and playing on the web.
Mrfingerdancer says
Hi Brian, I loved your lesson of two years ago on Chet Atkins fingerstyle guitar, I can’t believe you have not been requested a follow up lesson, or maybe you have but haven’t gotten around to it yet? but, just in case, here is a reminder to give it a thought please. Brian (Mrfingerdancer)
Alanlb says
Brian, i bought your blues course, my first love, but since i am RV ing, most of the people play Honky tonk. I really didn’t want to look for another teacher, because i think you are the best, but i had resigned myself to do so because of the need to learn country music. You have my vote to continue the effort. If you come out with a country lesson series to purchase, i will be one of the first. Keep up the good work. Alan B
country boy says
There are alot of video out there on you tube where you can pick up a few hints. It all depends on what style of country music your interested in. I personaly like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
Most of those on You Tube are out there to just to get themselves out there. Brian is the only one that is serious about teaching. Just look at the quality, time and effort he puts into every lesson. Videos are clear and precise, the audio is clear and precise and he goes to great effort to put his point across. Thanks Brian, you have helped me a great deal.
R. Claremont says
Hi Brian, love your guitar lessons on blues & also country. I’m just a begginer & enjoying playing u’r riffs.Thanks so much Brian, u made my day.Keep up the good work and a Big God Bless.
Mrfingerdancer says
Hi Brian heres a question on the country lesson, can I use my thumb pick to do this lesson ? B
Brian says
You can definitely use a thumb pick for this - would probably work best in fact. I wish I could get used to a thumb pick but no matter how many times I try, I just can’t get it.
striper says
hi brian , just picked up a guitar after 25 years.!fret fingers sooooo sore.! lol love your lessons , one of the best teachers on here in my book, keep up the good work.
ShivaShambo says
Brian,
Love this lesson. Not a country player at all, but have been wanting to use double stops in my playing for a while now. Thank you!
glandry9 says
Brian,
I am new to your website. I have been playing off and on since I was 16. but never was able to play lead that well. I am now 55! I bought a hollow body electric guitar to start playing again. Great stuff on your website. I believe I have mastered part 1 of your country lesson and am working on lesson 2. I also love your blues rhythm/lead guitar leason. I am having a blast. Thanks you for bringing me back to the love of guitar playing!
DrGolf says
Hi Brian,
I seem to have got the rhythm off and can play it up to speed but am struggling with accuracy on the lead. For some reason I can’t match the lead to the backing track which has never been a problem to me before. Have you any tips? I can’t see how they go together.
Dr Golf
DrGolf says
Hey Brian,
Hello-oh, hello-oh, have you gone off on your travels again?
I think I could benefit by a longer count in on the backing track. You are off and gone before I can get started.
Got my next big operation coming on 6th December so want to get this off before I can’t hold the guitar for a while.
Hope things are good with you,
Dr Golf
Brian says
Hey Doc, I’m still here! Just been slammed w/ work and life. I have to agree with you on this lesson I could have made an 8 bar intro instead of 4 so that you can be more mentally prepared. Will keep that into consideration for future lessons. I wish you the best of luck with your operation and hope to have some new lesson goodies waiting your return. Hopefully you’ll be back online to check in with us before Christmas!
les kutsera says
Hi Brian, would there be any chance of you showing us how to play a song by David wilcox called Hot, hot Papa…I would love to learn that song…sincerely …Les .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/*= 0){out += unescape(l[i].replace(/^ss*/, '&#'));}while (--j >= 0){/**/if (el[j].getAttribute('data-eeEncEmail_wLxFCuEjMz')){el[j].innerHTML = out;}}/*]]>*/
duncan1963 says
Hi brain you are amazing, you have really inspired me to pick up my guitar again could you please show me the proper way to play poison by alice cooper. There are so many tabs but they all seem wrong. I seen Alice on Halloween and it brought back so many memories when I was a boy listening to him .please could you show me.
DrGolf says
Hi Brian,
I know you inspire a lot of people to take up their guitars again BUT you have limited time, given that you also have a full time job (and children)! I started on your site because of the blues and you have blossomed out into jazz and rockabilly but with blues in the background. It depends on the time you have available (you seem to have done a lot recently) but, frankly, Alice Cooper is a niche market and duncan1963 could probably get this elsewhere on YouTube. Please don’t be like Hitler and fight on too many fronts - you have many students who enjoy your lessons and I’d rather you stuck to your roots. Sorry duncan1963 but I don’t agree with you! All the very best though as we guitarists must stick together.
Dr Golf
Brian says
@duncan1963 - thanks for the compliment.. glad that you’re inspired to pick up your guitar and start picking again. Unfortunately I have a long list of new requests that I’m trying to get through and Alice Cooper is a style that probably won’t resonate w/ this audience. I’m trying to stick to more blues / roots based songs and artists. Alice Cooper is a great entertainer, and a lot of fun… but I have to be choosy. Hope you’ll understand!
John Tillis Jr. says
the very best in the biz play ALL very well. Im 62 years old was in a bar band for 40 years. I was never the best in the band. I love looking at the style of ALL pickers.. I have learned this; double stops are just parts of cords….. they cross all types of music ITS THE WHY THEY WORK SO WELL THAT IS IMPORTANT. jam away my friends
DrGolf says
Hey Brian.
There is s lovely little interview/lesson on YouTube between a guy with a pony tail and BB King in which they discuss soloing over a G chord progression. It’s really relaxed and enjoyable but, although I’ve watched it several times, I can’t work out what he plays. Any chance you could have a look at it and decode it? Don’t worry if you haven’t time - I will just have to replay and replay it until I get it.
You wrote a blog some time ago about seeing BB and being disappointed (I think it was at a Crossroads event). I recently watched a TV programme recorded at the Albert Hall, London which was similar and, if it hadn’t been for Susan Tereschi (great voice) and her husband Derek Trucks it would have been sad. I guess BB is getting past performing at these big occasions but people love to see him as he is one of the last “old blues men” left and should be given the respect he deserves. Perhaps he may retire gracefully soon and enjoy some relaxation at 86 - he deserves it and surely he can afford it now.
Dr Golf
Brian says
Dr Golf - just email me the YouTube link to the video you referring to and I can break down what BB is doing.
Yeah, he was amazing to see live back in the mid 90s.. still on fire! But as of late, I think B.B. just just retire gracefully (as you state). Although, the man loves to perform, and he’s still able to pull a crowd so more power to him.
chaslcoleman says
Hi,Brian,
I love your lessons and especially the parts where you digress a bit to explain the why and wherefore behind a scale or note sequence. Do you ever use a slide? I am intrigued by Mr. Banker by Lynyrd Skynyrd (possibly too many ‘ys’ there?). I would especially like another jazz chord sequence such as the recent 3 part posting of yours. I loved working on it.
Charles
flyerone says
Hi Brian.
I am new to your site thanks for this lesson i have downloaded the jam tracks and am working my way through them. its realy great to find someone who takes the time to explain whats happening and why.
I like the way you showed how to use the pick and fingers together i watched Mark knopfler on tv at the Avero sessions and he uses this techneque in loads of his music i am greatful that you have put a lesson together where this can be used and expanded on.
one thing i have noticed is that guitarist dont put the noteation on a seperate stave on the tabs,i know it would mean more work on each piece but it would help to remind learners where each note is.
anyway i loved the lesson and country music andi am also finding i like some of the blues chord sequences so thanks again.
wokka says
man..my first lesson from ya…i really loved it..learnt a swag of new licks from thois one..enjoyed playing to the down load jam tracks..and then just jammed away coin my own thing and throwing in some of the new licks i just learnt….
great fun….i just throw blues, ragtime,rock n roll and country all into in big bag of fun…cheers
buzzard says
Brian, is that called the “Memphis Scale” when you pluck notes on the 2nd and 4th string. Just about to embark on your country lessons.
RayPoth says
I can’t get the video, or most of the vids on the site.
Yes, I paid up!
Brian says
Ray, everything should be working… if not it must be a browser setting on your end perhaps. Try and download the Google Chrome browser (it’s free) and see if that doesn’t fix things.
rockingringo says
Hi Brian, thanks for the lesson. One of favorite players is James Burton and I would love to see you cover it in a future video.
regards
JukeJointJoe says
Just getting around to this one. This will help greatly on finally learning and incorporating some pedal steel licks
Thank you
Aself says
Brian
Lessons are great I learn something everytime I check
out a new lesson
Bluesman5364 says
HA, you say you’re not fast! I must be worse than I thought speed wise. How depressing, I told my wife that means I need to practice a lot more and NO time to do the Honey Do’s. 🙂
jccaster says
one word….. Waylon Waylon Waylon Waylon Waylon
sunburst says
playing in 6ths ( play the root and the 6th note off a major scale. 6th double stops. great lesson! taking my time watching and picking up what I can! ty much Brian
sunburst says
okay and notice playing double stop 3rds..too counting three from major scale playing the root and 3rd note of major scale.
Gilbert B says
Love the country Brian thanks I am hoping that more older folks like myself will want more country to .
adam j says
pourquoi une es335 et pas une telecaster
Robert G says
It would be helpful to US if YOU would FIRST tell us the bar # that you are trying to teach us, And do that at the start of EVERY bar!
Tony Smith says
First lesson with episode 001. Here on you are teaching me to play guitar. I like the way you roll. Thanx Brian.