This class will introduce the role of the guitar in a bluegrass band.  You’ll need prior knowledge of basic chords and chord changes in bluegrass and older country music.  You should be able to play rhythm at a moderate tempo and be able to keep a reasonable meter.  We’ll study techniques to help you become a better player.  This class will not be about learning an entirely new group of tunes as much as improving as a player.

We will focus on the guitar as an anchor of the rhythm section and its potential to support a vocalist or lead instrument.  We will learn that by accenting chords with bass runs at the beginning or end of phrases, or introducing rhythmic swells between phrases, the guitar as a rhythm instrument can tell its own story within a song without becoming intrusive.

We’ll study different types of rhythm patterns and how they help create groove by driving or swinging.  We will demonstrate how playing slightly ahead, behind, or on the beat can determine a song’s groove.

We’ll also study different approaches to lead playing and how to try to craft an interesting break around a song’s melody.  And, we’ll look at how to get better tone and speed with our right hands through pick position and economy of motion.

And we’ll learn from each other!  I learn something new and useful every time I play with someone else.  You’ll need a guitar, pick, tuner, notebook or recorder if you like, and a little patience.  I look forward to seeing you at Augusta.