Beaumont Rag, Part 3: Variations and Improvising Exercises

from: Advanced Flatpicking Guitar with Scott Nygaard

This lesson is part of the course Advanced Flatpicking Guitar with Scott Nygaard.

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Learn the essential techniques of bluegrass flatpicking guitar through classic and lesser-known songs and tunes, from bluegrass blues to old-time fiddle tunes to country swing sounds.

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Home Sweet Home

In Part 2 of the lesson on crosspicking, you'll learn the first part of Scott's arrangement of "Home Sweet Home," which mostly uses the traditional 3-3-2 roll. Since crosspicking is usually used to play song melodies, it's a good idea to learn the melody of a song before tackling a crosspicking arrangement, so Scott starts by making sure you know the melody to "Home Sweet Home" and then takes the arrangement apart phrase by phrase (or roll by roll).

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Beaumont Rag

Beaumont Rag, Part 1: Doc Watson’s A Part

Beaumont Rag, Part 2: Doc Watson’s B Part

Beaumont Rag, Part 3: Variations and Improvising Exercises

“Beaumont Rag” Play-Along Track

Beaumont Rag, Part 3: Variations and Improvising Exercises

Every flatpicker is kind of expected to have their own way to play “Beaumont Rag,” or at least a couple of variations on the standard melody. Because the structure of the tune is so repetitive, it’s a great tune to work on melodic improvising. In this video, Scott gives you a few variations that you can alternate with the basic melody, and gives advice on using variations to practice melodic improvising: getting away from the melody and then coming back to it.

"Beaumont Rag" Variations (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Beaumont Rag, Part 2: Doc Watson’s B Part

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“Beaumont Rag” Play-Along Track →

Previous Lesson

← Beaumont Rag, Part 2: Doc Watson’s B Part

Next Lesson

“Beaumont Rag” Play-Along Track →

Previous Lesson

← Beaumont Rag, Part 2: Doc Watson’s B Part

Next Lesson

“Beaumont Rag” Play-Along Track →

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