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Pick Technique: Upstrokes and Swing

This lesson is part of the course Roots and Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar with Scott Nygaard.
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About This Course
 
Learn the essential techniques of roots and bluegrass rhythm guitar by playing classic and contemporary songs, with flatpicking technique tips and strums, bass runs, and fills.
 
 
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Some Old Day
 
This great Flatt and Scruggs song was recorded by JD Crowe and the New South on their classic self-titled album, with Tony Rice singing lead. It's a great example of a medium tempo bluegrass song played with a country swing feel. You'll learn a strum pattern that helps accent the swing feel, as well as some bass runs to use at the ends of phrases. Scott plays the song in D and looks at some different ways to finger the A and A7 chords. Finally, he sings the whole song through so you can play along with him.
 
 
 
The Roots and Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Subscription Includes:
  • More than 28 in-depth rhythm guitar video lessons
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  • More than 25 complete songs with chords and lyrics
  • Lessons in bluegrass, old-time, country, country rock, and western swing styles
  • High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action
 
 
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Pick Technique: Downstrokes and Upstrokes  
 
Pick Technique: Downstrokes and Upstrokes  
 
Pick Technique: Upstrokes and Swing
Pick Technique: Upstrokes and Swing
 
Upstrokes are important not only for flatpickers playing fiddle tunes and bluegrass solos, but for rhythm guitarists trying to lock in with the rhythmic feel of the people they’re playing with as well as for communicating how much “swing” a song has. Most bluegrass has some sense of swing, though at fast tempos it can be difficult to hear. Scott defines swing and shows you that the timing of the upstroke is what defines whether a song has swing or not.  

 
 
 
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    ● Instructors
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    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
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    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
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