Using a Dobro Strap and Standing Up

This lesson is part of the course Beginning Dobro with Mike Witcher.

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About This Course

Learn the basics of the lap-style resophonic slide guitar, with essential tips on right- and left-hand technique as well as arrangements of classic tunes and songs.

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Amazing Grace

In this lesson, you'll learn the popular gospel classic "Amazing Grace." The melody can be played almost entirely on the first string of the dobro, and besides being a great melody, makes a great exercise for practicing your intonation on the first string. It's also a great way to start developing the natural "singing" quality of the dobro in your playing. The best way to do that is to work on playing on one string at a time, which this arrangement does, of course. Once you've learned the melody see if you can play the melody on the first string cleanly without lifting the bar. Mike also talks about using a shallow vibrato on certain notes, adding texture to the note without really changing the pitch very much.

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Using a Dobro Strap and Standing Up

While the dobro is most comfortable to play while sitting, at some point you will probably, if you haven’t already, be faced withhaving to play the dobro while standing up: at a jam, open mic, etc. In this lesson, Mike talks about using a dobro strap and playing standing up. He starts by telling you where to find a dobro-specific strap (at Resophonic Outfitters or from custom strap makers like Bobby Poff or Martin Gross, for example) and then shows you how to attach the dobro strap and gives you advice on positioning it and the dobro while standing.

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← “Your Love Is Like a Flower” Play-Along Track

Previous Lesson

← “Your Love Is Like a Flower” Play-Along Track

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← “Your Love Is Like a Flower” Play-Along Track

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Using a Dobro Strap and Standing Up

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