Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Rhythm fill licks and embellishments – Bluegrass Style Guitar lesson EP394

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn several useful embellishments and fill licks to play over basic chords in first position. You’ll also be learning a stand-alone bluegrass style composition that is the perfect exercise for practicing synchronization between left and right hand.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  6. Pat P says

    New Years’ Day – now that’s commitment! Thank you Brian- but please now, take a break!
    Another great loss this – oops, last year, with Tony Rice leaving us.
    After hearing that I watched an online lesson with Molly Tuttle and got into crosspicking, so this lesson should be a good companion to that.
    Happy New Year everyone.

  17. Ralph P. says

    Although I’ve never delved deeply into Bluegrass Music, as a guitarist I very much aware of the great Bluegrass Pickers like Tony Rice and Doc Watson. It’s amazing the music they could get out of Martin Dreadnaughts. Those guitars sound amazing, but they ain’t easy to play, especially the way Tony Rice played. Tony is right up there on Guitars Mt. Rushmore along with Andres Segovia, Chet Atkins, Charlie Christian, and Jimi Hendrix. About 20 years ago I sat in on a Bluegrass jam, and I thought I was a pretty hot acoustic guitarist, but these guys kicked my ass. I decided to just stay in the background and play rhythm. Bluegrass, like any other genre of guitar playing takes years of practice and dedication to learn. Even though Bluegrass isn’t my main influence as a guitarist, I appreciate the talent of the players. I doesn’t matter what style of music you are into, you have to admit Tony Rice was a scary-good guitarist. A great loss to the guitar playing world.

  21. Kathryn L says

    Me too! I am anxious to get into this lesson. You, Brian, ” right off the bat” – made it easy for me to get into a rhythm with taking off a finger while strumming – which I’ve always felt was a challenge, but I can actually do it! So, I very much appreciate this one, although I just got a beginning taste of it. Yea!! Kathy

  22. David S says

    Having a lot of fun with this one.I always had a lot of trouble with speed picking with blue grass but after playing with this for a few minutes it just took off and it got easy.Having a ball with this.Thanks for making it easy. Dave ALSO 2 square shapes for easy lead Greattttt!!!!

  28. Jonathan Amos says

    Thank you, Brian, for introducing me to Tony Rice, it only took me 50 years to get here! His Church Street Blues is angelic. And did someone tell you I’ve just joined a bluegrass band? This is perfect for me, full of little gems and altogether a great composition I aim to master.

  32. Michael M says

    I already knew some little fill licks in the key of C, but this lesson gives me some great ideas for connecting them together. Thank you for putting another great lesson in front of me. I love your approach and the way it helps me learn. I really love that old Martin. Guitar envy! Happy New Year!

  33. Walter D says

    The challenge I find with Bluegrass is you really have to play it with other instruments and players. Really hard to get the timing and feel by yourself. Syncopation is critical. I love this lesson and if you want material to practice timing and speed, this is it.

    • Walter D says

      Following up on my comment… If you play EP-391 in C instead of the original G in the lesson (just move it up 5 frets since there are no open strings in 391), it plays right along with this lesson, sort of like a third pass. Very cool.

  34. George O says

    Great lesson, as usual.

    I’ve been watching Tony Rice videos since I got the sad news of his passing on Christmas, and J.D. Crowe and the New South are on repeat on my CD player (check out, fans of Brian, Tony’s version of “Shenandoah” on YT, preferably the studio version), so this lesson was perfect.

    It’s fun to build one’s own licks using your templates.

    Happy New Year to all.

  35. peter v says

    You really force me to use a plectron, what I normally don`t do. I cant manage bluegrass without this little plastic piece. But I have to practice hard finding the right string.But even when I dont succeed it doesnt sound bad.
    Ein gesundes Neues Jahr aus Germany
    Peter

  37. David E says

    Hi everyone and Happy New Year from here in the Uk.

    Thanks, Brian for yet another really interesting guitar lesson. Never thought of Blue Grass before now.

    You are a brilliant teacher and breaking everything down and connection to chord shapes really helps everything that has been a mystery, for me, for the last 40 yrs of playing.

  38. Tony D says

    I have been a member for a couple months and would like to ask if you could do a lesson on the William Tell Overture…aka The Lone Ranger Theme song..with tablature.

    Thank You
    Tony D.

  39. Steven B says

    Its so helpful to me to explore the different genres. And to discover the great players we don’t know of. Thanks AM and Brian for playing a very big part in finding joy in difficult circumstances. A great AM year to look forward too!

  41. Henry G says

    You’re so good
    You’re so good
    You’re so good
    Brian you’re so good
    I’m gonna say it again
    You’re so good
    You’re so good
    You’re so good
    Brian you’re so good …….with apologies to Linda Ronstadt and Clint Ballard, Jr.

    Thanks Brian! Happy New Year to you and to all the AM viewers and members. And…if you’re an unsubscribed viewer, please do hit that “Subscribe” button!

  42. Donald K says

    Need some help. Likely due to my own musical skill and notation deficit.

    However the video instuction begins with the rhythm counting: down \ down \ down \ up \ down \ up
    which is six movements of the pick.

    But the tab shows two movements of the pick (pluck of the C note, 3rd string, followed by the C chord) and then a triplet (three strums of the C-chord) which equals 5.

    These wrinkles drive me nuts in trying to understand guitar,.
    And make me feel I’ll never get it.

    Help appreciated.

    Don K

    • Renee A says

      I was just leafing through the comments looking for discussion on exactly this. It seems that often the third “down” is played “air guitar style” (ie: not strummed at all) creating the syncopated sound. Brian, can you confirm this? I am just starting this lesson and noticed it on the very first lick.

  50. Jack W says

    What a GREAT lesson…and a perfect start to the New Year! What a rich introduction to riffs in the key of C. You’ve made my day, Brian, and given me something to look forward to in 2021. Thanks for your willingness to create new ways to keep us engaged in learning.

  53. Tom M says

    I taught H.S. for probably too many years. Really high praise from H.S. kids sounds like this, “Mr. M… He don’t suck”. I here to say, Brian, you don’t suck. Keep up the good work and keep the hits coming. Thanks.

  58. Brooks C says

    Brian,
    I have been a premium member now for about 2+ years and this is my first post. Every time you do a lesson like this on court embellishments (or something very similar), I think it’s the best you’ve ever done…….And then you do one even better! This one, the one in the key of E, (367) and the ones you do on triads just completely open my eyes to the possibilities that I somehow couldn’t find on my own! Keep up the great work and I will keep learning.

    Thank you,

    Brooks C.
    Sanford, FL

  60. Alex G says

    Alex G says
    Thanks a lot for the Bluegrass lessons Brian , I have been a fan of the late greats Doc & Merle Watson for many years and those little extra embellishments and fancy runs are going to add a lot more to bluegrass tunes that I am very fond of playing . I’m in my 80s now and this really keeps the old fingers agile LOL . Thanks again Brian !

  61. Teri S says

    Of all the guitar courses I’ve signed up for on-line, yours is absolutely the BEST. Your lessons are accessible, you break things down, you provide so many materials and you offer a variety of ways for us to learn the information. Every time I go to your site I say, “I can’t believe this guy!” THANK YOU. You bring joy and enthusiasm to my guitar playing, And, hopefully, I’m improving, too. 🙂

  62. James L says

    Brian I’ve just rejoined after a couple of years absence, but what a less to come back too. I’ll never be a bluegrass guitarist, or any guitarist for the matter, but I love trying to get better, and this certainly helps, and so much fun to boot!

    James L (Jim to his friends (Spalding, Lincolnshire UK)

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