Clinch Mountain Backstep
August 31st, 2010This arrangement is based off the playing of Ron Stewart.
Key of A, capo 2nd fret.
Tab
Scale Harmony – “Double-Stops”
August 29th, 2010There is really no big mystery to “partial chord shapes” or “double-stops” if you prefer that name. It all boils down to harmony or scale harmony to be more specific.
In Bluegrass the most common use of double-stops (as I like to think of them) happen on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd strings and use open strings in order to get things rolling. There are no rules of course so you can play them on whatever string combinations you like.
To familiarize yourself with the shapes all you need to do is chose a key, pick a couple of stings and walk up and down harmonized scale intervals. Throw in some open string drones, a picking pattern and you’re off to the races.
I threw together some examples of various patterns to give you an idea of some possibilities. Here is the free PDF for download.
Home Sweet Home
August 15th, 2010Home Sweet Home has been a banjo standard since at least the days of Charlie Poole. My approach is somewhere between Scruggs & Crowe.
Key of C, dropped C tuning (gCGBD).
Blackberry Blossom
August 15th, 2010Blackberry Blossom in the key of G.
It’s hard not to avoid playing some melodic style on a tune like this but I throw in a little single string and some sixths to mix it up.
