Common Bluegrass Flatpicking Licks - Guitar Lesson Tutorial

Country Guitar Online - Lesson ID: A0083

In this guitar lesson video, I’ll teach you 16 common bluegrass flatpicking guitar licks that will come in handy at your next bluegrass jam. We’ll break down each lick with tablature and I’ll show you how you can use these licks with the majority of bluegrass songs. All of these flatpicking licks are in the key of G and they’re designed to help you improvise your guitar solo in bluegrass fiddle tunes like Red Haired Boy, Salt Creek, Gold Rush, Cripple Creek, Cherokee Shuffle, etc.

The Gear I Use:
Acoustic Guitar - Martin D18 Ambertone Finish, Collings D2H, Atkin D28, Martin D-16GT, Martin D-15
Guitar Pick - BlueChip TP40
Thumb Pick - Dunlop 9003P White Plastic Thumbpicks, Large
Capo - Shub S1 Deluxe

[ant]

I love lessons like this where, as a musician, you’re given a bunch of “templates” to use or modify at your will. Instead of forcing a scale to practice over and over until your fingers bleed. 10/10

[richardjones]

Man I called off work sick today .. been a crappy couple weeks. Haven't read a tab in ages mostly just pick my own improv blues and bluegrass all the time.. watching this and learning these licks turned my morning around. Thanks sir.

[SjaakShirly]

Finally a teacher who pointed out that he was once a student too and speed was not in his 'system' first! Great lesson.

[chrischartrand]

New to bluegrass…..always been a blues player. Some really good content in there for us newbs.
I never realized I always did pull offs down, and never up. Great stuff my friend.

[leviridge]

been playin for 35 yrs just started with bluegrass awesome video

[lorenvguitar]

Thank you so much, great licks and you are a great player. My wife and I spent 5 weeks in Georgia before this pandemic and I played so much Bluegrass and Country music, we loved it and this helps me in learning more and more on the guitar.

[johnnypalacios]

Now that tharn is some mighty fine pickin there boa! 🤠👍🤣
Thank you so much for your willingness to share your skills.
I am a 62 year old guitar player and have never learned tablature.
I always thought it was for the pro guitar player.
Today you showed me how sinple it is.
Grant it, it will take time to perfect the sound and timing.
But now, you have taken this guitar player and placed him on anorher level of learning and self teaching.
A track to run on.

[tablature]

Awesome tutorial. Especially like the "plug and play" licks method. Breaking down the individual "go to" licks of great BG pickers, makes it much easier to understand and a less daunting task to get up to their speed (or close) on your own. Thanks.

[markross]

Wow, this is super cool! I've been searching for some good bluegrass instructions for guitar!

[joehaefner]

Bought several guitars this year including a Martin D-41. However, Andrew White gave me a deal on his Freja 103J, Jatoba wood. That is what I practice Devin's licks on most often.

[ttexastom]

what a great picker AND teacher you are.

[ct]

Hay y'all, this guy really knows how to teach! And, the licks really aren't hard to play. They just sound intimidating when they're played fast.

[JamesW]

Just discovered. I like the way he talks to us as student players no matter our level of playing. Because if its new or you dont know it....you are a student. Thanks

[Nate_Lloyd]

Awesome licks man! I watched through and learned a couple pretty quickly! Another good way to increase the speed as well is to implement a “chicken pickin” technique for a country style sound! Ton of fun to play!

[jordanhook]

Really good stuff dude. I've played for years and got stagnant lately, especially with my speed. I never took lessons, so no one taught me things like the alternate picking that make so much of a difference. It's really hard unlearning bad habits but so good to be progressing again! Def something to be said for learning things the right way first time around. Thanks for covering all the little things, these lessons/tabs are great.

[Sam-nkhk]

Thanks, man. You're a great teacher, and these licks are super cool. I'm already enjoying playing them, and I'll bet they'll really help me add some B.G. tastiness to my performance.

[alansouthall]

Such a great teacher a cool humble guy thank you for this

[terraformingthesubconsciou]

great tip on matching the direction of the pull-off with the next string!

[lucasb]

damn, this is a great video .. I grew up playing metal, but deep down, I've always had an affinity for bluegrass, ragtime, country, etc .. I've been thinking that it's time to get real, and this lesson is perfect .. Thanks so much for this

[alanleemaxwell]

Great guitarist, awesome teacher! Many thanks, much respect, and best wishes from 🇬🇧👍🎸