New Lessons Released for July 2021

Hours of new tunes and techniques to learn in Peghead Nation courses!

By: Dan Gabel

July 1, 2021

Peghead Nation instructors have released hours of new instruction in their courses, and here are the tunes and lessons we’ve just published for July 2021. Join us in any course and get your first month free. Just use promo code Learn21 at checkout!

GUITAR COURSES

Roots of Jazz Guitar with Matt Munisteri

Al Casey’s “Buck Jumpin’” Guitarist Al Casey recorded hundreds of songs with Fats Waller, including the guitar showcase “Buck Jumpin’” in 1941. You’ll learn the first four choruses of “Buck Jumpin,’” a 12-bar jump blues in G.

Irish Backup Guitar with Flynn Cohen

Tatter Jack Walsh Learn some advanced ways to accompany D modal jigs in dropped-D tuning using the traditional jig “Tatter Jack Walsh.” You’ll use chords in open position as well as three-note voicings up the neck combined with a D drone.

MANDOLIN COURSES

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites with Joe K. Walsh

Flop-Eared Mule “Flop-Eared Mule” is a common tune at bluegrass and old-time jams. It’s one of the few tunes that are in two keys. In Joe’s version, the first part is in G and the second part is in D.

Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle with Chad Manning

Two-Note Chord Comping | Chad shows you how to use double stops on the bottom two strings to accompany (“comp”) songs, using the chord progression for “All of Me.”

Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist

“Cold on the Shoulder”: Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas Split Solo “Cold on the Shoulder” is a Gordon Lightfoot song that was recorded by Tony Rice. You’ll learn the solo that was split by Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas on Tony’s recording.

Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton

I’m Sitting on Top of the World Bill Monroe recorded “I’m Sitting on Top of the World” in 1957 in the unusual key of C#, using chop-chord positions at the ninth fret for his solo.

The Advancing Mandolinist with Joe K. Walsh

Sliding Down “Sliding Down” was written by bassist/pianist Edgar Meyer and recorded on Uncommon Ritual, which features Sam Bush and Béla Fleck. It’s a simple 3/4 melody, but the challenge is how to flesh out the melody with chord tones.

Melodic Mandolin Tunes with John Reischman

Stoney Creek “Stoney Creek” is a bluegrass instrumental classic written by Jesse McReynolds. It has an unusual chord progression, so it’s fun to jam on. It’s in the key of A with an AABB form, but the B part modulates to the key of F.

Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish

The Longford Collector “The Longford Collector” is the second tune in the Tarbolton Set, which consists of “Tarbolton,” “The Longford Collector,” and “The Sailor’s Bonnet.” It’s a great straight-ahead, 32-measure, G major reel.

Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein

Exactly Like You “Exactly Like You” is one of the most played jazz standards, with memorable recorded versions by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and many others. Aaron’s arrangement uses a lot of ii7–V7 progressions.

Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method with Sharon Gilchrist

Freight Train In this lesson you’ll learn to play a double-stop solo to the folk classic “Freight Train” in the key of Bb. “Freight Train” includes an unusual chord—a major chord on the third step of the scale, which, in the key of Bb, is a D.

Octave Mandolin with Joe K. Walsh – NEW COURSE

Red Prairie Dawn The old-time fiddle tune “Red Prairie Dawn” comes from Indiana fiddler Gary Harrison, and has become popular in bluegrass jam circles lately. It’s in the key of A and works well on the octave mandolin.

BANJO COURSES

Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans

Bill Emerson: “Cowboys and Indians” Bill Emerson’s instrumental tune “Cowboys and Indians” is in the key of C minor, and to play it you tune your banjo to drop-C tuning, with the low D string tuned down to C.

Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

Methodist Preacher The fiddle tune “Methodist Preacher” comes from Bill Monroe. It has four parts but a lot of the melodic material in each part is repeated. Wes plays it melodic style, finding ways to make the banjo sustain as much as possible.

Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky

Glen Smith’s “John Henry” There are many versions of the traditional song “John Henry.” The one you’ll learn comes from Virginia banjo player and fiddler Glen Smith, who played it in the unusual tuning of eBEBE.

FIDDLE COURSES

Bluegrass Fiddle with Chad Manning

Bluegrass Backup Lick Series, Part 6: Lick Series #1 in Other Keys Chad shows you how to play the licks in Lick Series #1 in capo position so that you can move them to other keys.

Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky

Possum on a Rail “Possum on a Rail” is a fun, syncopated dance tune in the key of G that was recorded in 1930 by the Mississippi Possum Hunters, with fiddler Lonnie Ellis, guitarist Pete Herring, and cellist John Holloway.

BASS COURSES

Bass with Zoe Guigueno

Thumb Position Thumb position is a way to play up the neck, above where the neck and body join. Zoe provides tips on fingering in thumb position and gives you a series of scalar exercises. You’ll also learn the melody to “Blue Skies” in thumb position.

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.