Beginning Bluegrass Licks

Lcjones · #1 July 28th, 2007

Hey guys,

I used to play Bluegrass guitar many, many, let me reiterate, many years ago. I haven't played Bluegrass guitar in at least 20 years. So I'm really rusty and I'm sure there are others on the board that play much better than I.

I've put together a couple bluegrass licks that are the mainstay of bluegrass guitar playing, plus a couple of bluegrass tags. These are pretty simple and with a bit of practice anyone can get these down without too much trouble.

And, let me apologize in advance for the background noise. I'm baby sitting and my Open Aire Studio, is really open air!

Here's the sounds

Beginning Bluegrass Licks [6mb @ 6:17]

Here's some tab. (I'm not a tab guy, so I hope these are right!)

G Chord Lick Tab

|----------------------|
|----------------------|
|---------------0------|
|-------0-0h2p0--------|
|---0h2----------------|
|-3--------------------|

C Chord Lick Tab

|----------------------|
|-------------------1--|
|-----------0-0h2p0----|
|-------0h2------------|
|---3------------------|
|----------------------|

D Chord Lick Tab

|----------------------|
|------------------3---|
|----------2-2h4p2-----|
|--0---2h4-------------|
|----------------------|
|----------------------|

A Chord Lick Tab

|----------------------|
|----------------------|
|------------------2---|
|----------2-2h4p2-----|
|--0---2h4-------------|
|----------------------|

Anyway. I hope these get some bluegrassers fired up!

**
LC

Europa · #2 July 28th, 2007

Hi Les.

Good timing, I was looking around for some "easy" bluegrass licks. I'm going to try these out as soon as possible.

Going to the Bluegrass festival in America (can't remember where exactly) is still on my to do list, looks like fun.

Thanks Les.

Europa · #3 July 28th, 2007

By the way the mp3 adds quite alot to the lesson. I like the way you talk with a bit of enthusiasm, you know your stuff Les.

Very well done and very good job on that too.

eddiez152 · #4 July 28th, 2007

Thanks Les,
Now were cookin !

justinthyme · #5 July 28th, 2007

Thanks for that Les - toward the end there I was expecting 'duelling banjos' to start up! That bluegrass is foot-tapping music, for sure

Hmmm ... think I may have just found a new genre to listen to.

mattz196 · #6 July 28th, 2007

Thanks Les very informative lesson.

fireblade · #7 July 29th, 2007

Stratrat · #8 July 29th, 2007

Awesome lesson, Les - thanks a million! I just had a go at those and really enjoyed it. The mp3 file was a great addition too.

I certainly hope you crank out a few more of these as time allows!

DonalN · #9 July 29th, 2007

Great stuff!!..

I'm off to the Bluegrass festival in Waterford, IRL at the end of August. I was there last year for the first time, and wow - it's some weekend with some excellent musicians. Can't wait!

tonedeaf · #10 July 29th, 2007

Nice post Les and thanks! By the way you are not that rusty listening to your recording.

knight46 · #11 July 30th, 2007

Way to go Les, great post and lesson.

solidwalnut · #12 August 1st, 2007

Great stuff Les! I love the muskrat tune. That intro rhythm lick is a staple, for sure.

Steve

carol m · #13 August 2nd, 2007

Thanks for a great lesson, Les - you old name-dropper you! You just casually slipped in a mention that you learned that lick from Doc Watson, do you mean in person?????

Clancy · #14 August 2nd, 2007

I copied this lesson over to our Lesson forum, hope you don't mind Les.

Clancy

Lcjones · #15 August 2nd, 2007

Thanks Clancy!

Hey Guys,

Apologies. I didn't mean to imply I've taken lessons directly from Doc Watson. I've spent years listening to and learning to play Doc Watson style guitar. He has been probably the biggest influence to my guitar playing, though, I might add, I'm no where near his level of proficiency. You'll probably always find a Doc born lick in my tunes whether rock or folk style. It's almost an unconscious effort for me to add them in. I should bone up on a few Doc numbers and shoot them out there.

I have met Doc, shook his hand and talked with him a few minutes. He is a Southern Gentleman. Of course, Doc is the father of flat pick guitar. His playing has so much clarity it is simply mind boggling. Folks like Tony Rice, who himself is a virtuoso player as well, and while amazing in his dexterity of the strings, rides on Doc's coat-tails.

I've seen Doc several times over the years and even though he is in his late years now, he is still the finest guitarist in the acoustic folk/bluegrass genre. When he and his son, Merle, played with T. Michael Coleman, there were none that could hold a candle to their music. I keep meaning to go to MerleFest but it's just not been in the cards for me. Doc advanced acoustic guitar playing to the level that it is today.

Another often overlooked player is John Hartford, a beautiful person. I met John once and spoke with him. He is, rather was, as witty in person as he was in his writings. Of course he made his name by writing hit tunes for folks like Glen Campbell. But John is one of those multi-talented folks that no matter what instrument he picked up, he was a master and awesome to listen to. Guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and the ever popular sand shuffle! Unfortunately, both John and Merle are gone now.

Anyway, no. I never took direct lessons from Doc, however, I was and still am, an attentive student of Doc's.

**
LC