New Lessons Released for June 2021

Great new tunes and techniques to learn in Peghead Nation courses.

By: Dan Gabel

June 11, 2021

GUITAR COURSES

Roots of Jazz Guitar with Matt Munisteri

If I Could Be with You The early jazz classic “If I Could Be with You” was written by James P. Johnson and Harry Creamer. You’ll learn the melody and accompanying chords in the key of Db, as well as a chord-melody arrangement inspired by a recording of guitarist Allan Reuss with the Benny Goodman orchestra.

Irish Backup Guitar with Flynn Cohen

The Morning Dew Learn different ways to back up the E minor (Dorian) reel “The Morning Dew” in dropped-D tuning. Flynn shows you a version mostly in open position and a version up the neck with substitutions and variations.

MANDOLIN COURSES

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites with Joe K. Walsh

I Am a Pilgrim “I Am a Pilgrim” is an old gospel song that has become a popular instrumental jam tune. In this lesson, Joe shows you three different ways to play the melody in the key of G in different parts of the neck.

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

Monroe-Style Backup Licks and Fills Sharon shows you some Bill Monroe licks that he used for backing up singers. The licks are based on major chord arpeggios and come out of the Monroe chop-chord shape.

Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton

Cry, Cry Darlin’ Bill Monroe recorded the Jimmy C. Newman song “Cry, Cry Darlin’” in May 1957. It’s in the key of A and Bill’s half solo is played out of the A chop-chord position, with a lot of triplet phrases used to set up tremoloed long notes.

The Advancing Mandolinist with Joe K. Walsh

Musette in A Minor With “Musette in A Minor,” Joe pays tribute to one of his mentors, mandolinist Peter Ostroushko. In addition to being a great tune, it displays different approaches to tremolo and includes triplets and crosspicking.

Melodic Mandolin Tunes with John Reischman

Dandy Long Legs “Dandy Long Legs” is a new original tune of John’s that will be featured on his upcoming solo album. It’s a bluegrass fiddle tune in the key of E minor, but the chords include an A major chord, giving the tune an E Dorian tonality.

Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish

Tarbolton The E minor reel “Tarbolton” is the first tune in a classic set that comes from a recording by the great Sligo fiddler Michael Coleman. The set consists of “Tarbolton,” “The Longford Collector,” and “The Sailor’s Bonnet.”

Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein

I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me The jazz standard “I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love with Me” was written in 1926 and made popular through recordings by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, among others.

Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method with Sharon Gilchrist

“Keep on the Sunny Side” Chorus Learn a solo to the chorus of “Keep on the Sunny Side.” Sharon shows you the basic melody and then walks you through a double stop solo on the chorus that includes the double stop series she talked about in the previous lesson.

Octave Mandolin with Joe K. Walsh – NEW COURSE

The High Road “The High Road” comes from Tim O’Brien who is probably most responsible for introducing the octave mandolin or bouzouki to the contemporary American string band. “The High Road” is in the key of E minor and features an unusual chord progression with an F# chord in the B part.

BANJO COURSES

Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans

Wayfaring Stranger Bill shows you how to create an arrangement of a slow song like the beautiful old hymn “Wayfaring Stranger.” After showing you the melody and chords he gives you ideas on adding roll patterns and melodic embellishments.

Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

Big Sciota The old-time fiddle tune “Big Sciota,” recorded by Russ Barenberg, Jerry Douglas, and Edgar Meyer on Skip, Hop, and Wobble, has become a popular jam tune. Wes plays it melodic style with some tricky rolls on the inside strings.

Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky

Backstep Cindy “Backstep Cindy” is a staple of the Round Peak old-time repertoire. It’s in the key of D, played in aDADE tuning (gCGCD, with a capo at the second fret), and has three parts, the second and third of which are crooked.

FIDDLE COURSES

Bluegrass Fiddle with Chad Manning

Northern White Clouds “Northern White Clouds” is a three-part Bill Monroe tune in the key of E major. Monroe recorded it with Tater Tate playing fiddle on the album Live from Mountain Stage.

Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky

Bull at the Wagon “Bull at the Wagon” comes from the Lewis Brothers of San Antonio, Texas, who were recorded in 1929. It’s a three-part tune in the key of A, played in standard tuning.

BASS COURSES

Bass with Zoe Guigueno

How to Play in Any Key Zoe uses the circle of fifths and the song “Freight Train” to show you how to play in any key. You’ll learn a closed-position major scale and major chord arpeggio that you can move around the fingerboard to other keys.

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.