New Lessons Released for March 2022

Hours of new tunes, techniques, and exercises just released in Peghead Nation courses.

By: Dan Gabel

March 11, 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 March 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,” Nick Lucas Version Guitarist/singer Nick Lucas recorded “My Blue Heaven” in 1927. His version was different than the pop hit recorded just a few months earlier by crooner Gene Austin. In this lesson you’ll learn how Lucas played it, both his accompaniment and his solo.

Alternate Tunings Fingerstyle Guitar with Doug Young

Intro to Open-G Tuning, “Spanish Fandango” Open G-tuning is sometimes called “Spanish tuning,” not because it comes from Spain, but because it was the tuning for a mid-1800s guitar tune “Spanish Fandango,” which you’ll learn in this first lesson on open-G tuning.

MANDOLIN COURSES

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites with Joe K. Walsh

Methodist Preacher The four-part fiddle “Methodist Preacher” comes from Bill Monroe, who likely learned it from his fiddling uncle Pendleton Vandiver. It’s in the key of G and each part is only four bars long.

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

I Am a Pilgrim Bill Monroe recorded “I Am a Pilgrim” at his 1958 gospel sessions. He didn’t play a full chorus solo, just turnarounds between the verses and a half solo. The song is in B, and the solo is played out of the B chop-chord position.

Old-Time Mandolin with John Reischman – NEW COURSE!

Long Journey Home John shows you how to embellish a simple sung melody, using the traditional favorite “Long Journey Home.” He shows you the basic melody and then how to slide into melody notes, use drone strings, and add intro and ending licks.

The Advancing Mandolinist with Joe K. Walsh

Mansinneedof Sarah Jarosz recorded her Grammy-nominated instrumental “Mansineedof” on her debut album Song Up in Her Head. Mike Marshall played mandolin on the record, and they played it together at the 2017 Marshall Mandolin Summit.

Irish Mandolin with Marla Fibish

The Kerryman’s Daughter In the next series of lessons, you’ll learn a number of tunes in the key of C and its modal counterparts. The first tune in the key of C you’ll learn is the lovely reel “The Kerryman’s Daughter.”

Chord Melody Mandolin with Aaron Weinstein

Just Me, Just You “Just Me, Just You” was written for the 1929 musical film Marianne and Cliff (“Ukulele Ike”) Edwards had a popular hit with it in that same year. It’s since become a jazz standard with numerous recordings.

Octave Mandolin with Joe K. Walsh

Hard Times Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More” is one of the great melodies from the American songbook. Joe shows you how to harmonize it in a few different ways with double stops and contrapuntal lines.

BANJO COURSES

Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans

JD Crowe’s “Big Spike Hammer” Solo JD Crowe’s solo on the Bluegrass Album Band recording of the Osborne Brothers’ song “Big Spike Hammer” features some of his multiple hammer-on and pull-off licks.

Contemporary Bluegrass Banjo with Wes Corbett

Billy in the Lowground The fiddle tune “Billy in the Lowground” is a popular jam session favorite. It’s a great melodic-style workout in the key of C major, and you’ll use your thumb on the fifth string a lot.

Old-Time Banjo with Bruce Molsky

Pateroller Song “Pateroller Song” comes from Hobart Smith of Saltville, Virginia. It’s a fast, aggressive tune played in A modal tuning: aEADE.

FIDDLE COURSES

Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky

Grey Owl “Grey Owl” is an old-time fiddle tune from the Canadian prairies written by Métis fiddler John Arcand. It’s in the key of D and has some interesting bowing as well as an extra half measure in the A part.

Beginning Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddle with Chad Manning

Right- and Left-Hand Relaxation Exercises Chad gives you some simple exercises to help you keep both bow hands loose and relaxed while you play.

Cripple Creek “Cripple Creek” is a classic old-time and bluegrass favorite in the key of A. You’ll learn the basic melody and how to add a shuffle bowing pattern that accents the backbeat.

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.

The Skye Boat Song “The Skye Boat Song” is a classic Scottish song and fiddle tune. It’s most often played in the key of G, so that’s where you’ll learn it. You’ll learn the melody and how to drone on open strings to accompany the melody.

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.