Basic Bluegrass Strumming Pattern

Great video from Peter Vogl of  FreeGuitarVideos.com.   In this video, Peter demonstrates some popular Bluegrass Guitar Strumming Patterns, which are excellent building blocks for learning more complicated patterns.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzuesR26kFk

How to play Acoustic Bluegrass Guitar -- Standard Bluegrass Progression

Here is another great lesson from the folks over at Next Level Guitar.  In this video, Marty Schwartz demonstrates how to play a standard, but very enjoyable bluegrass guitar progression.  He teaches you how to play the chords and the rhythm.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=elDlXamesM8

Basic Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Lesson

In this video, guitarist and teacher Ryan Crist demonstrates how to play some basic bluegrass guitar rhythms, progressions, chords and licks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLbQMi2T7-Q

Acoustic Guitar Flatpicking Tips for Faster, Cleaner, Crisper Playing
By Lee Griffith

Whether you pick bluegrass, fiddle tunes, and old-time music on a guitar like I do, or other styles of music, here are some good basics to learn that will get you on the road to playing fast, clean, crisp lead on an acoustic guitar:

1. The first thing you need to do is start with a pick that is thick enough! Use at least a medium pick–usually about .73-.81mm. This may seem difficult at first, but it is absolutely necessary, so that you’ll get strong, snappy notes that really make a statement.

2. Be sure to grip the pick firmly so that your thumb and index finger cover most of the area of the pick. Choke up on that pick! You don’t want to play little wimpy licks!

3. DO NOT rest the palm or wrist of your picking hand on the bridge or on the top of your guitar. Your hand needs to float freely so that you can keep the edge of the pick at pretty much a 90 degree angle from the strings. Keep your pinky or ring finger (or both) stiff so that one of these fingers glides LOOSELY over the top as a reference. This will definitely seem awkward if you are not used to it, but it is a must if you’re going to be a good acoustic guitar picker!

4. On the left hand (or the hand that works the fretboard): Keep those fingernails trimmed well! You need to be able to press the strings down with the least amount of effort in order to be a good picker–and long fingernails throw a monkey wrench into the works.

5. When you pick out guitar lead parts in the first position, the index finger will cover the notes played at the first fret. The second finger will cover notes in the second fret. The third finger will finger the notes in the third fret. And, “Mr. Pinkie” will finger the notes played on the fourth fret. As with most things in life, there are exceptions. This principle should be regarded primarily as a guideline. From time to time, you will find it
necessary to break this rule. Many chords, for instance, simplycannot be played unless the “one finger per fret” rule is violated. Certain licks will be played more speedily and cleanly by straying from the principle. But as a general rule, it is best to discipline yourself to abide by the precept of “every finger has its fret and
every fret has its finger.” Make exceptions only when there is a definite purpose in doing so.

6. Play the G Chord, not as it is commonly played, but like this: Put my THIRD finger behind the third fret of the sixth string, you SECOND finger behind the second fret of the fifth string, and MR. PINKIE behind the third fret of the first string. THE FIRST FINGER WILL NOT EVEN BE USED IN THE CHORD! This will allow you to switch
to the C chord with much more speed that ever before. And when you switch to the C chord, you have the option of leaving your pinkie behind the third fret of the high E string, which gives the C chord an entirely new dimension. Then leave it on the same way and go right back to G. Most importantly, playing the G this way leaves your first finger and other fingers in an ideal position to go quickly into lead licks. It may seem difficult to learn, but once you learn, you’ll never go back!

7. If you want to be a fast and clean flatpicker, one of the smartest things you can do is to practice using a metronome. You might say, “I don’t have a metronome.” Well, I will not allow you to use that as an excuse–because you can now go to an online metronome any time you wish, and it doesn’t cost you a cent! Just
go to:

http://www.metronomeonline.com/

These are, I believe, the most important basics. If you would like to read more details about these techniques and other valuable acoustic guitar information, plus some danged good recipes, read my articles at:

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Griffith

Copyright © 2007 Lee Griffith. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Griffith is an avid acoustic guitar player and a vintage instrument enthusiast. He invites you to receive a FREE REPORT on a revolutionary acoustic guitar lesson kit, along with his weekly newsletter via email. just click on http://optin.flatpickpost.com

Check out Lee’s blog, “The Flatpick Post” at http://flatpickpost.com

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