Improve your speed and accuracy with this fun Bluegrass Rag. Guitar Lesson - EP590

In this week's guitar lesson, you'll learn how to play a standalone Bluegrass Rag composition that was written to help you improve your speed and accuracy by the inclusion of several short lead runs that are alternate picked.

0:00 - Introduction (Song we'll learn)
03:05 - How alternate picking works
04:02 - Making the major scale sound interesting
04:30 - The C major scale in 1st position (exercise)
06:05 - Chord breakdown
07:46 - Song breakdown

[ghflcity]

Ok Brian, you win. While I have never been a fan of bluegrass (but I have always had a huge respect for the amazing bluegrass guitarists), I will be working on this lesson. Those licks have captivated me to the point that I have to learn them & I do believe that as a guitarist, one needs to know & understand genres that are not necessarily their wheelhouse. And, of course, I do love the "so you play guitar, here's a guitar, play us something!" 😨 As always, thank you for your incredible lessons. I'm amazed how you can be so prolific & create unique & different lessons every week.

[jeffmcdonald]

Man….your lessons and explanations are second to none. Truly. Can’t thank you enough for these videos.

[dionnpeterson]

These tricks made me fall in love with Garcia's playing the rag, bluegrass feel, hitting those thirds. Great stuff. Thanks again

[martynspooner]

A great little bluegrassy composition. How he does this week aftee week is so impressive and so appreciated. Thanks a Lot as always.

[rgbart]

Brian, this is a good one, simple but great exercises embedded to improve basic skills. This is definitely one I'll work on. I've watched almost every one of your videos but this one has me picking up my guitar to learn. A recommendation that's been made before, most of us love guitars and we always want to know more about your guitars - this D28 sounds wonderful. It'd be great to have you add a simple note in your descriptions on the guitar and it's year. I know it's been suggested that you do a video just showing your favorite instruments ... maybe even the ones we don't get to see played.... I've seen a mandolin, a pedal steel, a bass, and I believe a fiddle.

[chriscooper]

Simple and very effective! Lots of light bulbs coming on - great explanation of the music and techniques. Thank you!

[stephenbouchelle]

In addition to your technical and theoretical expertise, every genre you play sounds deeply genuine.

[christopherhudson]

Sheesh, Brian … you knocked this one out of the park. I don’t usually catch you on YouTube … but scrolling around and found this little gem. Tying in the runs and strums beautifully and gave me something to play with … you da man!

[fishzebra]

Looking into that middle eastern sound when doing chromatic runs in C major over an E major chord seems to emulate a Phrygian dominant sound, pretty cool, I like these serendipitous sounds that arise from playing simply and not trying to hard

[Mycroftsbrother]

Nice! .... and then learn Beaumont Rag where you can use every lick known to man and even some that aren't known yet. It's a great learning piece with both up and down flat picking and cross picking as well.

[GuitarJoLa]

Such an awesome lesson and yes - very helpful, Brian! It makes me wanna play using the pick more 😁💕

[vernfollis]

Wow! That's great. I've been going through the Essential Theory lessons and thinking I jumped the gun on jumping into your lessons, but some of this is starting to make sense! How fun to think I'll play this one day!!!

[lorawesterfield]

Doc loved to play in c and so do alot of ragtimers great arrangement Brian love those short bursts instead of full auto

[pushrodify]

Thanks so much Brian-Doc Watson, may he rest in peace, never recorded instruction like this and I'm grateful.

[jeffro.]

Hey Brian, love to see these kinds of compositions!
Ever since I started back playing guitar (after a 30+ year gap), I've been alternate picking.
When I played before, I could do fingerstyle really, really well...
But that's because that's what I learned first, and what I practiced the most!
So, duh.
And, when I used a pick, I had great rhythm but I kept dropping my pick, for some reason ....
But when I started back playing, I started out using a pick.
Now, I barely even hold onto the pick! I hold it very loosely.
I can play very accurately, and fairly quickly.
And I always alternately pick.
But, like your say, sometimes it's better to do a series of downstrokes. It just depends on the part.
I recently wrote a piece where I lightly brush 3 upstrokes in a row at a certain part. But that's because it's the sound that needs to be there, just those 2 strings....
Anyway, this looks like another good one to learn!
Thanks, as usual!
👍👍👍

[GuitarisGreat]

Upon the blue ridge mountain, there ill take my stand

[rajennaidoo]

Hi Brian. I stand to be corrected : The C major scale going down towards the C base on 5th string ends on an UP - STROKE, not a DOWN-STROKE as you pointed out. I humbly enquire if I'm wrong. Warm regards from Sunny South Africa

[owenanstey]

Nice one Brian, thanks so much for making these videos, I particularly like this one and look forward to the new ones every week, kind regards o

[СергейБогданович-сд]

Hello guitarist. Thanks Brain. Love music.🍀👌🙏🎼🎵🎶❤️🎸🌹✌️

[markbelanger]

Just have to say your style of teaching is great! You send me a lesson in my email. And sometimes I can't help but learn them. I have belonged to two paid lesson. I was disatisfied. If I was going to join any other it would be you. Thanks so much.