“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 1

from: Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist

This lesson is part of the course Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist.

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Learn to play solos on classic bluegrass songs and instrumentals using bluegrass mandolin techniques like tremolo, double stops, two-string melodies, and more.

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I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky

In this lesson you’ll learn the bluegrass standard “I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” using a common technique in bluegrass mandolin: playing melodies on two pairs of strings. Sharon starts this lesson by talking about the basic right-hand technique for playing two pairs of strings at a time. She shows you how to keep the pick out on the edge of the strings and not let the pick dig in past the strings as well as how to slightly rotate your wrist so you can play all four strings (both pairs) at once. Sharon also gives you advice on practicing this technique with a metronome, with some ideas for exercises you can do.

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The Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin Subscription Includes:

More than 75 intermediate bluegrass mandolin video lessons
More than 55 great bluegrass tunes and songs to play
Extensive right- and left-hand technique lessons
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High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see close-ups of both hands in action
Play-Along videos so you can practice what you’ve learned
Downloadable audio MP3s of each tune

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“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 1

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variation 1: Practice Track

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 2

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variation 2: Practice Track

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 3

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variation 3: Practice Track

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 1

In this lesson, you’ll learn three variations to “I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky,” the melody of which Sharon taught in a previous lesson. Sharon starts by reminding you of the two-string technique she used to play the melody of “I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” and the wrist rotation she used for that technique. These variations will use some of the arpeggios you’ve learned in previous lessons as well as folding scales, sequences, and some typical bluegrass mandolin licks. In this video, Sharon walks you through her first variation phrase by phrase, showing you how she uses arpeggios when a melody note is held for a long time.

"I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky" Variation 1 (Available to subscribers)

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Previous Lesson

← “Uncle Pen” Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variation 1: Practice Track →

Previous Lesson

← “Uncle Pen” Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variation 1: Practice Track →

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“I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” Variations: Part 1

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