Chicken Pickin' and Modern Country (Guitar Lesson)

Chapter 1: (05:29) Introduction to Modern Country Chicken Pickin'

"Chicken pickin'" is a fast, percussive picking technique that is frequently employed by guitarists when playing modern country or bluegrass. The chicken pickin' technique is used to emulate the sound of other instruments such as the banjo. Open strings are used quite often in chicken pickin' licks. For this reason, the technique is usually employed in keys that feature several open strings such as C major, G major, D major, and A major.

To familiarize yourself with this style of playing, check out some of the guitarists listed below.

-Johnny Hiland
-Albert Lee
-Brad Paisley
-Brent Mason
-Ray Flack
-Danny Gatton

Tone

DJ plays chicken pickin' material with some light compression. Compression helps to balance out the volume between loud notes plucked by the pick and slightly quieter notes plucked by the right hand fingers.

Lick 1

Note: Tablature and notation to all licks discussed in the lesson can be found under the "Supplemental Content" tab.

DJ demonstrates this quick banjo style lick at 02:18. These types of licks often combine the major and minor forms of the pentatonic scale. The minor third (Bb) is frequently used to embellish the major third of the key (B).

Notice how open strings are used in the lick. Open strings are used in the lick whenever possible. The lick begins with a unison played with two G notes. The open G string is plucked while sliding into the G note at the 5th fret of the fourth string. Chapter 2: (02:12) Triplet Climb and Pull-off in G This lick is also played in the key of G major. Once again, the G minor and major pentatonic scales are blended within the lick. Chapter 3: (02:05) Descending in D The third lick is played in the key of D major. Many of the elements from the past two licks are used again in this lick. This descending lick combines the D minor and major pentatonic scales. Open strings are used whenever possible.

Practice the lick on your own with a metronome. When you think you have it mastered, return to the lesson video and play it along with DJ at 01:09. Chapter 4: (02:45) Ascending in D Once again, this lick begins with the major third of the key (F#) embellished by the minor third (F). Like the previous licks, it features several slurs and open strings. Make sure that you play all slurs exactly as written. Do not cut the first note in the slur figure short.

Practice the lick on your own with a metronome. Then, play it along with DJ at 01:27.

Preview of Next Lesson

The licks in this lesson were demonstrated with a flat pick. To play them at faster tempos and to give them the signature modern country sound, the right hand fingers can pick notes in conjunction with the pick. DJ will explore this right hand technique in the following lesson.

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Video Subtitles / Captions

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