Practicing, Part 2: Arpeggios and Double Stops

from: Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist

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

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About This Course

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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Practicing

Practicing, Part 1: Increasing Speed on Fiddle Tunes

Practicing, Part 2: Arpeggios and Double Stops

Sharon gives you advice on practicing the arpeggios and double stops you’ve learned using the common chord progression from songs like “Bury Beneath the Willow” and “Your Love Is Like a Flower.” She shows you a practice routine in the key of A using this chord progression and a backing track from Strum Machine. You can also use the Peghead Nation Play-Along Track for “Your Love Is Like a Flower” in the key of A as well as in the keys of Bb, B, C, D, E, F, and G (see the Play-Along Track page).

“Your Love Is Like a Flower” Chord Chart (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Practicing, Part 1: Increasing Speed on Fiddle Tunes

Previous Lesson

← Practicing, Part 1: Increasing Speed on Fiddle Tunes

Previous Lesson

← Practicing, Part 1: Increasing Speed on Fiddle Tunes

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Practicing, Part 2: Arpeggios and Double Stops

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