New Lessons Released for April 2022

New tunes, techniques, and exercises just released in Peghead Nation courses.

By: Dan Gabel

April 9, 2022

Peghead Nation instructors have released hours of new instruction in their courses, and here are the tunes and lessons we’ve just published for April 2022. Join us in any course and get your first month free. Just use promo code Learn22 at checkout!

GUITAR COURSES

Roots of Jazz Guitar with Matt Munisteri

“My Blue Heaven,” Chord Melody Version, Part 1: Original Changes In this lesson, you’ll learn Matt’s chord-melody arrangement of “My Blue Heaven” in the key of Eb, the key in which it was written, and with the original chord changes.

Alternate Tunings Fingerstyle Guitar with Doug Young

Planxty Irwin In this lesson on playing in open-G tuning, Doug uses the Irish tune “Planxty Irwin” (written by the 17th-century Irish composer Turlough O’Carolan) to illustrate how to play melodies in sixths on the second and fourth strings.

MANDOLIN COURSES

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites with Joe K. Walsh

New Five Cents There are a lot of different versions of the fiddle tune “New Five Cents,” some of which have no apparent relation to each other. This version in the key of D comes from Mike Compton, who recorded it with guitarist David Grier.

Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist

“Temperance Reel” Adam Steffey Solo Adam Steffey’s inventive solo on the fiddle tune “Temperance Reel” (from Jim Mills’s recording Hide Head Blues) is chock full of interesting phrasing ideas and melodic and rhythmic variations.

Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton

House of Gold Bill Monroe’s first solo on his 1958 recording of Hank Williams’s gospel song “House of Gold” is one of Mike’s favorites, with huge tone and a straightforward approach.

Old-Time Mandolin with John Reischman

Shove that Pig’s Foot a Little Further in the Fire The fiddle tune “Shove that Pig’s Foot a Little Further in the Fire” comes from North Carolina fiddler Marcus Martin and has become a favorite at jam sessions everywhere.

The Advancing Mandolinist with Joe K. Walsh

Blake’s March Norman Blake’s sprightly tune “Blake’s March” was recorded on Original Underground Music from the Mysterious South by the Rising Fawn String Ensemble: Norman Blake, Nancy Blake, Peter Ostroushko, Carl Jones, and Larry Sledge.

Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish

The Cloone “The Cloone” is a reel in the key of C that has a lovely, open sound and mostly uses the C major pentatonic scale.

Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein

Honeysuckle Rose Fats Waller’s “Honeysuckle Rose” is one of the most popular tunes in the history of jazz, and is played by everyone, everywhere, all the time. It’s in the key of F, and has an AABA form.

Octave Mandolin with Joe K. Walsh

Pony Boy The tune “Pony Boy” comes from fiddler/songwriter Mark Simos. It’s a beautiful tune with some unusual phrasing. Joe teaches you the tune and also how to embellish it with some tasteful ornaments and chord tones.

BANJO COURSES

Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans

Right-Hand Technique: Timing and Tone In this extensive lesson on right-hand technique, Bill covers picking-hand positioning, playing with a relaxed hand, practicing with a metronome, and more.

Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

Crying Holy “Crying Holy” is a classic bluegrass gospel song. Wes shows you a break that is inspired by JD Crowe’s playing but is not a direct transcription. It includes some of JD’s classic licks and signature syncopation.

Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky

Tildy Moore “Tildy Moore” comes from Roscoe Parrish from Coal Creek, Virginia, who was recorded near the end of his life by Tom Carter and Andy Cahan. It’s a straightforward square dance tune in the key of D.

FIDDLE COURSES

Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky

Devil in the Strawstack “Devil in the Strawstack” was recorded by Tommy Jarrell, who learned it from Zack Payne, a Civil War veteran who died in 1930. It’s in the key of A minor and has the strong, syncopated feel of Round Peak fiddling.

Beginning Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddle with Chad Manning

Ora Lee “Ora Lee” is a great old-time fiddle tune in the key of G. Chad walks you through the melody and shows you the bowing he uses to play “Ora Lee,” including pulses, three-note slurs, and slurred string crossings.

Beginning Celtic Fiddle with Emerald Rae – NEW COURSE!

In Beginning Celtic Fiddle with Emerald Rae, you’ll learn to play the fiddle from scratch using traditional Scottish and Irish melodies. Emerald starts at the very beginning, showing you how to hold the fiddle and bow and breaking down essential techniques for both hands. She then moves into teaching easy versions of popular Celtic tunes and songs, building your skills as you go.

Danny Boy “Danny Boy” is a classic Irish song, and is often played as an instrumental. It includes some more involved melodic lines than you’ve learned so far—including string crossings, arpeggiation, and some simple ornamentation.

PLAY-ALONG RHYTHM TRACKS – Available to all subscribers. Guitar accompaniment video, downloadable audio, and chord charts for popular bluegrass, old-time, and roots tunes and songs.