Beaumont Rag, what is there to say? It’s a timeless classic from deep in the heart of Texas. A consummate standard played by Doc, Clarence & Tony to name a few.

My arrangement is played out of the C position capoed at the 2nd fret for the key of D. The crosspicking sections can be played with the DDU pattern but I generally incorporate alternate picking.

This is my rendition of the classic tune from the movie “Deliverance”.
Key of A, capo 2nd fret.

Tab for this tune includes the entire banjo & guitar parts.

Whiskey Before Breakfast is a must know tune regardless of what instrument you play. While some pickers play it in standard D position with no capo, I prefer the sound of it in the C position with the capo at the second fret.

Key of D, Capo 2nd Fret

Crosspicking is basically the technique of using a flatpick to simulate the fluid sound of finger-picking. It’s most commonly associated with Bluegrass guitar and mandolin players.

The effect is a rolling syncopated sound similar to Scruggs style banjo playing and just like three finger banjo rolls, crosspicking is based on three note phrases played across multiple strings with a four beat pulse.

There are three fundamental patterns or rolls.
The first is alternate picking or down-up-down (DUD) – This is the equivalent to the Square or Double Thumb banjo roll.
The second is down-down-up (DDU) – This is basically a forward roll
And the third is down-up-up (DUU) – Which is like a backward roll

Once you become familiar with these three patterns you’ll start mixing them up in order to fit them into four beat measures. The ultimate goal is to accent melody notes so they stand out among the array of filler notes.

To hear classic examples of crosspicking check out Jesse McReynolds’ mandolin playing with Jim & Jesse, George Shuffler’s guitar playing with the Stanley Brothers or just about anything from Doc Watson, Clarence White or Norman Blake.

The following videos demonstrate the three fundamental patterns and give you some ideas of how to use them along with open string drones, harmonized scales and double-stops.