Bluegrass Vocabulary and Useful Licks (Guitar Lesson)
What are you waiting for? Get your membership now!
Bluegrass Vocabulary and Useful Licks
Tyler Grant is back with another lesson for his Bluegrass Flatpicking series! In lesson 17, he discusses basic vocabulary that is used in the bluegrass scene and demonstrates how and when those items are used.
Taught by Tyler Grant in Bluegrass Flatpicking Method seriesLength: 23:19Difficulty: 2.5 of 5
Video Subtitles / Captions
Supplemental Learning Material
Bluegrass Flatpicking Method
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsA sub-genre of country music which blends improvising with folk-like melodies. Pioneered by Bill Monroe in the 1930s in the "bluegrass" state. Learning to flatpick properly is absolutely crucial to the Bluegrass style.
Lesson 1
Series Introduction
Welcome to Tyler Grant's series on bluegrass flatpicking! Tyler offers a vast history of awards and live experience that defines his knowledge of how to successfully accomplish the skill of utilizing a...
Length: 4:01 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Fundamentals of Flatpicking Technique
Tyler Grant opens his series by demonstrating proper left and right hand techniques.
Length: 28:36 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Understanding Songs and Tunes
Tyler Grant demonstrates and explains the difference between a song and a tune.
Length: 7:47 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
C Major Scale in Bluegrass
Tyler introduces the major scale and explains how it is a fundamental component in almost all of bluegrass music. Starting with the C major scale, Tyler provides tools on how to use ear training and numbering...
Length: 26:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Finding Melodies by Ear Using the C Major Scale
Here's an ear training lesson for bluegrass flatpickers. Tyler moves through first position scales and explains how to use numbers and their associated tones to help train your ear so that finding the...
Length: 20:35 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Pentatonic Scale and Blues Language
Tyler covers some key terminology and scales that are used in the bluegrass genre.
Length: 19:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Song in C Major: New River Train
Tyler applies the scales taught in previous lessons to the melody and solo sections of the tune "New River Train".
Length: 15:05 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tune in C Major: The Gal I Left Behind Me
In lesson eight of his bluegrass flatpicking series, Tyler Grant teaches the tune "The Gal I Left Behind Me". This is another flatpicking study in the key of C.
Length: 17:52 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
G Major Scale in Bluegrass
Now that you've spent some time learning the C major scale and some melodies based on it, it's time to move on to the the G major scale. In lesson nine, Tyler Grant demonstrates the G major scale and...
Length: 16:52 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Song in G Major: Banks of the Ohio
Tyler Grant is back with another tune for his Bluegrass Flatpicking series. In this lesson he teaches the traditional tune "Banks of the Ohio," which encompasses the techniques you've learned thus far.
Length: 21:32 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tune in G Major: Miss McLeod's Reel
Continuing on with his flatplicking studies, Tyler Grant offers up a tune lesson in the key of G. He teaches "Miss McLeod's Reel".
Length: 17:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D Major Scale in Bluegrass
By now, you should be comfortable with the G major scale. Now it's time to tackle another commonly used scale in bluegrass flatpicking. This time Tyler Grant takes you through the D major scale.
Length: 17:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tune in D Major: Forked Deer
Tyler Grant is back with another traditional bluegrass standard. "Forked Deer" likely comes originally from old world fiddle tunes, and like "Banks of the Ohio," is good practice for what you've learned...
Length: 21:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Transposing from One Key to Another
Tyler Grant is back with another lesson for his bluegrass flatpicking series. In this lesson, he discusses how to transpose tunes to different keys.
Length: 28:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Keys of A and E Major
Now that you know how to transpose out of the keys of C and G, it's time to start taking a look at performing in the keys of A and E Major.
Length: 13:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Variations on Tunes
Tyler Grant is back with a look at how to make variations on the tunes you are playing. This can be done either on the fly through improvisation techniques, or by writing specific variations and arrangements...
Length: 16:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Bluegrass Vocabulary and Useful Licks
Tyler Grant is back with another lesson for his Bluegrass Flatpicking series! In lesson 17, he discusses basic vocabulary that is used in the bluegrass scene and demonstrates how and when those items...
Length: 23:19 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Guitar Break in C: New River Train
In lesson 18 of his series on bluegrass flatpicking, Tyler Grant discusses the 'guitar break' or solo.
Length: 13:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Guitar Break in G: Sitting On Top Of The World
In lesson 19 of his bluegrass series, Tyler offers up some thoughts on guitar breaks. To discuss and demonstrate the concept, he uses the song "Sitting On Top Of The World".
Length: 13:24 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Guitar Break in D: I'll Fly Away
Much like the previous lesson in this series, lesson 20 is all about solos and guitar breaks. Using the tune "I'll Fly Away," Tyler Grant demonstrates more ideas for guitar breaks and solos.
Length: 6:20 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Bluegrass Rhythm and Bass Runs
Tyler Grant is back with lesson 21 in his Bluegrass Flatpicking series. In this lesson, he discusses rhythm tendencies for the genre as well as the addition of bass runs.
Length: 24:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Bluegrass G-runs
In lesson 22 of his Bluegrass Flatpicking series, Tyler Grant discusses the 'G run'. This is a melodic line typically played in the bass register in G major but can also be used in any key.
Length: 9:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tune in A minor: Cold Frosty Morning
Tyler Grant is back with another tune to add to your bluegrass repertoire. "Cold Frosty Morning" gives you some practice playing in a minor key in the bluegrass style.
Length: 20:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tune in D minor: Sally In The Garden
Continuing with his instruction in minor keys, Tyler Grant offers up the tune "Sally in the Garden". This tune is in the key of D minor.
Length: 19:51 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Tune in E minor: Rights of Man
To conclude Tyler Grant's look at the bluegrass flatpicking style, he offers up one more tune in a minor key. Lesson 25 focuses on the tune "Rights of Man".
Length: 20:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Tyler Grant
View Full Biography
Tyler Grant brings his Flatpicking expertise to JamPlay!
Tyler took first place honors at the Rockygrass guitar contest in 2003, the Wayne Henderson festival contest in 2005, the 2008 New England Flatpicking Championship, the 2009 Doc Watson Guitar Championship at Merlefest and became the National Flatpicking Champion for placing first at Winfield in 2008. He has been an instructor at CalArts, Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp, Rockygrass Academy, Augusta Heritage Center Bluegrass Week and Grand Targhee Music Camp. He has been featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. He lives in Lyons, Colorado, where he writes music, enjoys the outdoors, teaches lessons and records for Grant Central Records.
National Flatpicking Champion Tyler Grant is a versatile guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with a wide range of musical expertise. He is an internationally recognized guitar virtuoso with two solo albums and an impressive resume as a session musician, bandleader and sideman. He has shared the stage with such luminaries as Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, John Oates, Steve Kaufman, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band and The String Cheese Incident. Tyler showcases his powerful and original style of Flatpicking on his latest CD release, Up the Neck. His current band project, The Grant Farm, is taking root and growing fast.
Tyler graduated from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 2000 with a Bachelors degree in Guitar Performance. After moving to Nashville from Southern California in 2003 he joined Adrienne Young’s band and toured with her for nearly two years, acting as musical director and playing on her acclaimed CDs Plow the End of the Row and The Art of Virtue. In 2004 he joined Casey and Chris Henry and the Two-Stringers. In the fall of 2004 he toured China with Abigail Washburn and Friends and appeared on her Song of the Traveling Daughter CD. During the first half of 2005 he toured with phenomenal Canadian fiddler April Verch. Tyler revealed his talents as a singer and songwriter with his first solo album, In The Light, released in June 2006 on FGM Records.
From 2005 through 2010 Tyler made hundreds of appearances across the country as a member of the Drew Emmitt Band and the Emmitt-Nershi Band, featuring the frontmen from two of the world’s most popular jambands: Leftover Salmon and the String Cheese Incident. Tyler played on Long Road, the latest acclaimed Drew Emmitt release, which reached #1 on the Jam Band chart, and New Country Blues, the outstanding current release by the Emmitt/Nershi Band. In 2011 Tyler will focus his attention on solo dates, acoustic duet acts with Andy Thorn and Benny Galloway, and his latest band, The Grant Farm.
Tyler took first place honors at the Rockygrass guitar contest in 2003, the Wayne Henderson festival contest in 2005, the 2008 New England Flatpicking Championship, the 2009 Doc Watson Guitar Championship at Merlefest and became the National Flatpicking Champion for placing first at Winfield in 2008. He has been an instructor at CalArts, Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp, Rockygrass Academy, Augusta Heritage Center Bluegrass Week and Grand Targhee Music Camp. He has been featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Flatpicking Guitar Magazine and Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine. He lives in Lyons, Colorado, where he writes music, enjoys the outdoors, teaches lessons and records for Grant Central Records.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Dave Yauk
Learn a simple mini song that illustrates just how intertwined scales and chords really are. Dave uses a G chord paired...
Free LessonSeries Details
Orville Johnson
Orville Johnson introduces turnarounds and provides great ideas and techniques.
Free LessonSeries Details
Tyler Grant
Tyler Grant is back with an introduction to his new series "Classic Country Chops." In this series, Tyler goes in-depth...
Free LessonSeries Details
Evan Taucher
In the classical guitar world, there seems to be a lot outdated instructional advice. And while this type of information...
Free LessonSeries Details
Freebo
In this lesson, Freebo covers the basics of right hand technique. This lesson is essential for all up and coming bassists.
Free LessonSeries Details
Marcelo Berestovoy
Marcelo teaches the eight basic right hand moves for the Rumba Flamenca strum pattern. He then shows you how to apply it...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Lincoln
Lesson 40 takes a deeper look at slash chords. Mark discusses why they're called slash chords, and how they are formed.
Free LessonSeries Details
Danny Voris
Lesson 7 is all about arpeggios. Danny provides discussion and exercises designed to build your right hand skills.
Free LessonSeries Details
Alan Skowron
Alan shares his background in teaching and sets the direction for his beginning bass series with simple ideas and musical...
Free LessonSeries Details
Kaki King
In lesson 6, Kaki discusses how the left and right hands can work together or independently of each other to create different...
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Tosin Abasi
Tosin explains some of the intricacies of the 8 string guitar such as his personal setup and approach to playing.
Free LessonSeries Details
Tim Stewart
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve McKinley
Steve McKinley talks about evaluating your bass and keeping it in top shape. He covers neck relief, adjusting the truss rod,...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Brennan
Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock song by Jethro Tull. Released on the album of the same name in 1971, this song features...
Free LessonSeries Details
Jeffery Marshall
Welcome to Inside and Out with Jeff Marshall! In this lesson series, Jeff takes a bottom up approach to fret board proficiency....
Free LessonSeries Details
DJ Phillips
Learn a handful of new blues techniques while learning to play Stevie Ray Vaughn's "The House Is Rockin'".
Free LessonSeries Details
Steve Smyth
JamPlay sits down with veteran fret grinder Steve Smyth of Forbidden and The EssenEss Project. He talks about how he got...
Free LessonSeries Details
Monte Pittman
The hungarian minor scale can be viewed as a modification of the harmonic minor scale. It has a very exotic sound, and is...
Free LessonSeries Details
John Shannon
Meet John Shannon and his approach to rhythm guitar. John discusses why he put this lesson series together and what his...
Free LessonSeries DetailsJoin over 518305 guitarists who have learned how to play in weeks... not years!
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.Take a minute to compare JamPlay to other traditional and new methods of learning guitar. Our estimates for "In-Person" lessons below are based on a weekly face-to-face lesson for $40 per hour.
 |
||||
| Price Per Lesson | < $0.01 | $4 - $5 | $30 - $50 | Free |
| Money Back Guarantee | Sometimes | n/a | ||
| Number of Instructors | 123 | 1 – 3 | 1 | Zillions |
| Interaction with Instructors | Daily Webcam Sessions | Weekly | ||
| Professional Instructors | Luck of the Draw | Luck of the Draw | ||
| New Lessons | Daily | Weekly | Minutely | |
| Structured Lessons | ||||
| Learn Any Style | Sorta | |||
| Track Progress | ||||
| HD Video | - | Sometimes | ||
| Multiple Camera Angles | Sometimes | - | Sometimes | |
| Accurate Tabs | Maybe | Maybe | ||
| Scale/Chord Libraries | ||||
| Custom JamTracks | ||||
| Interactive Games | ||||
| Community | ||||
| Learn in Sweatpants | Socially Unacceptable | |||
| Gasoline Needed | $0.00 | $0.00 | ~$4 / gallon! | $0.00 |
Mike H.
"I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar!"
I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
Greg J.
"With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace"
I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
Bill
"I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students."
I am commenting here to tell you and everyone at JamPlay that I believe this is the absolute best site for guitar students. I truly enjoy learning to play the guitar on JamPlay.com. Yes, I said the words, ""enjoy learning."" It is by far the best deal for the money.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Great lesson Tyler. What a wealth of information.
these vidos keep starting and stopping very bad quality
Hello BaIlEy01! I was just watching through this lesson with no buffering at all. Have you tried selecting a lower video resolution? I'd recommend starting with the "Low" resolution by clicking the "HD" icon located in the lower right corner of the lesson video player. If you still have issues at the lowest resolution you may want to try a different browser. That way if it works in the other browser you'll know that the issue is in the settings or version of your original browser. I hope this helps! CHEERS :)
This might be the most informative lesson on this great website. It'll take me a month or two to ingest all this but I'll be much improved. I love how Tyler focuses on musicianship rather than just how to play a song.