Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Bluegrass and Scales with Open Strings – Play this by yourself – EP523

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn a Bluegrass style composition that you can play by yourself on guitar, also learn about playing scales in open position and taking advantage of open strings.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

  2. Robert Burlin says

    Holy Smokes!
    A Friday Morning Surprise!
    I just logged in at 8:30 am to tighten up last week’s lesson and wha lah a brand-new creation to
    explore and learn from. Pretty much my main reason for staying alive are these Fridays lessons.
    It gives my life meaning, for real don’t know what I would do without them because my whole week
    is all about what I can get done, or don’t really have to do, so I can get back to the guitar.
    stay alive
    and practice practice practice

  4. old man says

    Brian ! Great lesson as always, I have been working on some flatpicking for a while . The song ” Billy in the Low ground ” , I , am trying to get above 70 bpm . Also some great new players out there like Molly Tuttle and her brother Sully Tuttle who is with the band , A J Lee and Blue Summit , They are a great band ! And lets not forget Billy Strings.

    Dan

  7. David S says

    Brian, Never thought I would like bluegrass as much as I do.My speed has improved a lot since starting to bluegrass.Really like the way you teach it. Bluegrass anytime you can.Yah Hoo
    Thanks so much for reading my mind. Keep up the good work. Dave

  8. Ann N says

    How timely! We have a Bluegrass Sunday in our church in August in which I play guitar and these licks are really going to come in handy as I’ve needed some ideas. Thanks for these great lessons. I’ve been playing guitar for almost 60 years and these lessons have been a breath of fresh air for me to learn new things.

  10. Michael W says

    What a great lesson-and perfect timing! Been working on bluegrass for the past month or so and loving it. Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle etc have given bluegrass an updated feel much like Stevie Ray (God bless him) did for blues in the 80’s

  12. Malcolm M says

    Another great lesson Brian. Love this bluegrass music. I was never much interested in bluegrass throughout my life but since I watched your bluegrass lessons I’ve had a complete turnaround on bluegrass. Keep them coming. All the best Brian.

  19. phil l says

    Brian, great piece. Thank you very much.
    your bluegrass and country pieces are always very good.

    Just a question:

    is it necessary to play it in ternary?

    And not in binary?….

  20. Anthony (Tony ) W says

    BRIAN – YOU,VE ” DONE – IT – AGAIN. ” A REALLY GREAT LESSON, IMPROVEMENTWISE, AT THE SAME TIME, A REALLY ENJOYABLE TUNE. SO MUCH MATERIAL THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO OTHER TUNES . AT THE SAME TIME, A REALLY NICE TUNE TO PLAY FOR ONE,S OWN ENJOYMENT, OR FOR PLAYING IN A SITUATION FOR OTHERS TO HEAR.
    A BIG THANK YOU TONY.

  21. Paul N says

    It’s funny how the obvious, the open strings in these chords, have been there all of the time. I see them all of the time. Use them in lots of songs. But until you point out “THERE’S OPEN STRINGS” in these chords that you can use anytime, and here’s how to use them, it just doesn’t automatcially happen for me. Almost like a “can’t see the forest for the tress” kind of thing. Thanks Brian, I got a lot out of this lesson.

  25. Lance P says

    Brilliant lesson Brian. I’ve been playing about 5 years, mainly focusing on Blues, but lost my way a bit recently with the usual life distractions and found it difficult to really find something to work on. This is perfect, speed, accuracy, synchronisation, and there’s some great little licks and ideas, along with re-enforcing the major scale options. Not a huge Bluegrass fan but am rapidly converting, and I’ve just lost the whole weekend with this 😂! Cheers from Dubai

  26. David H says

    This is so much fun! I hesitated starting, as it just looked and sounded too hard. But, once again, you led me to another level. And that will lead me to explore some of your past Bluegrass lessons this week.

  27. Harry B says

    Another great lesson, Brian.

    One significant thing that it helps me do Is better understand why I am drawn to guitar players like Tony Rice, Roy Clark, Clarence White, Molly Tuttle, even Glen Campbell who perhaps was not exactly a bluegrass player. They are (were) all great flat pickers who knew how to take advantage of open strings to increase their speed.

    It probably also explains why I prefer the keys of G and C. I had never thought about it from that perspective—being able to play more open strings, but it makes a lot of sense.

    You made reference to lesson EP374 in regard to the mixolydian mode. Having joined Active Melody after that lesson was created I was not aware of it.

    I would suggest lesson EP375 also which is even more direct and helpful in learning about modes. It opened up a whole new world about guitar playing that I never even knew existed prior to that time.

  28. Wayne S says

    Awesome Brian ..Ive been with you for a year now and I’m so grateful for all the lessons material and great great compositions.Ill be signing off next month…Thank you so much for taking my finger style playing to the next level.I recommend your site to anyone in music I meet..your style of teaching is one of a kind and printouts so well done.Id never heard Shady Grove before and now I carry it like a badge of honor .Thank you from your northern neighbor in Canada Cheers ..and I will always follow your Instagram lol

  29. KIRK E says

    Another good lesson, thanks. —– Way back, LEG030, Steve Cropper like lesson…how bout some outa the box lead to play over that??? Just a thought, if you’re ever looking for a lesson idea. Thanks again buddy

  30. Steve P says

    Hello Mr Brian,
    For those of us who have been following you for a bit tell us about the guitar your playing..
    Year, model etc.
    Most of us I’m sure would appreciate that. You have a great collection.
    Steve P. South Carolina

  31. Steve M says

    Great lesson Brian. I’m having so much fun with this and learning much at the same time. I think it would be useful and fun to occasionally work in other similar lessons in the open position of some other keys.

  34. Mark H says

    Thanks Brian. I tend to fluff around with bluegrass and was never much good at it. Lightbulb moment was realizing I had something backwards. I was trying to play the lick before landing on the strum and the timing and feel was generally off.

    It’s so much better, and easier in fact, to strum first then land on the lick. Amazing I’d never figured that out before now, doh!

  35. hankunck@gmail.com says

    I discovered some time ago that one of the benefits of playing in open position is that an open string note can generally continue to ring or “sustain” longer than when the same note is picked in the closed fretted position, That’s because, in the closed position, when the finger has to move to to another string, or position on the same string, it cuts off the previous note. A few years ago, I recorded an instrumental version of the Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl”, with nearly all open strings and, with a slower tempo song like that, it really opens it up and makes it breathe and sound much fuller and prettier with the harmonized sound of two or more strings continuing to sound, at the same time another note is being played. This is a great lesson, Brian. It open up a lot of creative possibilities for both beginners and experienced players.

  36. Uwe H says

    Thank you for your lesson EP 523, which is a bit challenging for me. Therefore, a question about this: Do you consistently play alternating strike or are there exceptions?

  39. Devon W says

    Hi this is my fist comment ! This is wonderful , I love this arrangement! Bluegrass is awesome .
    I have a real hard time following your lessons because you speak way to much on the theory of everything you do and I feel if you are able to play this in the first place like myself you would already understand the concepts of theory. The irritating part is I get irritated at what you’re saying lol I can’t continue to watch the lesson. So I end up setting my guitar down . And watching the entire video. And end up improvising on what I saw . But it be nice to have a simple step by step at a decent speed so as I don’t loose interest. And can learn the piece to the T . Thank you for all your hard work though it doesn’t help me maybe others can follow along idk. And I feel bad this was how I made my first post . But it’s bugged me for years n I just can’t seem to get myself to login much .

    • Brian says

      That’s what the On-Screen tab viewer is for – no talking, just tab and video on screen at the same time – you can slow it down, loop sections, pause – you have complete control.

      • Devon W says

        Hey, thanks for the advice on how to use the site better. Your most recent lesson was meant for theory. This one could have just used a good step by step breakdown approach.
        That’s all I meant. You made this arrangement so people can learn your arrangement. But you blew through the playing so fast . And again talking over it more than playing slowly and step by step . I stand by my observations .weather or not there another avenue within your site to learn how to play this piece.

        • Devon W says

          Yeah I just watched the video of the play threw with tabs . I’m way too lazy and pay to much to have to slow that down ,pause and figure that out myself lol
          Sections man give us sections. Like you can say what you’re doing just be like place your finger here . And slide here . Then hit this open sting .
          Great let’s repeat that so you can hear this section played slowly then up to speed. Then move on to the next section and so forth. K

          • Brian says

            you can slow down the on-screen tab viewer to any tempo, and you can highlight any section, and loop it – so that it plays over and over again and the tempo you want. not changing the video format – everyone learns and different paces

          • Jim B says

            I don’t understand how you can be critical of Brian’s methods. He does such a great job with everything. He gives you all the tools needed to learn. If you get so frustrated, then maybe you should move on from Active Melody.

  41. Huub L says

    I will thank you again for all your lessons .
    i love to go back in lessons and play it again ,.
    than i see howe much you I make progress ,.
    Brian you are the Best .
    Huub
    The Netherlands

  45. Spencer M says

    Very cool song. Took a few days to get part 1 down. Within the first few seconds of the video I got enough value to play around with the scale and chords more than ever. By the time I finished I was rocking out to this! On to part two.

    Brian- Would you ever consider putting lyrics to these by yourself tracks? I’d love to hear an example of someone playing this awhile singing. I’m a singer. Please! 🙏 Thanks!

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