Sally Goodin
September 30th, 2010Sally Goodin is a classic fiddle tune. I stick pretty close to the Scruggs version though I approach the down-neck break differently.
Key of A, capo 2nd fret.
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Tab
Clinch Mountain Backstep
August 31st, 2010This arrangement is based off the playing of Ron Stewart.
Key of A, capo 2nd fret.
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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).
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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.
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Cherokee Shuffle
August 15th, 2010This is my arrangement based off the playing of Steve Huber.
Key of A, capo 2nd fret.
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Dueling Banjos
August 1st, 2010This 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.
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Tab in PDF and TablEdit formats - $6.00
Whiskey Before Breakfast
April 27th, 2010Whiskey 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
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Come Hither to go Yonder
April 27th, 2010Come Hither to go Yonder is a classic Bill Monroe composition. According to Bill the original album title was misprinted as Go Hither to go Yonder. Regardless of what you call this tune it’s an excellent example of Monroe’s later work.
I try to keep the song as Scruggsy as possible but there is no getting around the melodic run needed to pull off the signature lick.
Key of A, Capo 2nd Fret
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Crosspicking 101
April 24th, 2010Crosspicking 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.
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Tab in PDF and TablEdit formats - $6.00
