One way to talk about improvising is that which happens when you know the melody SO well that you naturally play with it.
🪕Slightly adjust it rhythmically to taste 🪕Surround it by enclosures 🪕Play something totally different (licks) 🪕Call and respond to it (fills) 🪕OR play it exactly as it is (such a great choice) less is more is so true a lot of times. You COULD do something else, but you choose not to… (wisdom/maturity)
As good students we learn to ask better questions.
Don’t ask, “how can I improvise on this”.
Instead ask, “how can I know this melody deeper?”
There is a great answer to that question and it’s not sexy or special…
💪 Work on it 💪 Slow it down 💪 Sing every note with your voice 💪 Play it over and over while singing it 💪 Learn it in a different key 💪 Break it into pieces and study each piece more closely
Good improvisation comes from deep knowledge of what isn’t improvised.
Starting this week I'll be posting 1x/week on Saturdays at 11am EST.
I want to give you guys higher quality content as well as give myself time to practice & continue learning!
Therefore I'll be going from posting 2 videos per week down to 1. I'll be dropping even more in depth content on my Patreon and going much deeper into my own playing on both guitar and mandolin this year!
Can't wait to keep diving deeper with you all. I'm very surprised and excited by the community that is developing around my Grassroots channel.
Oh ya... did I mention I'm changing the name of the channel?!
Introducing 'Grassroots Bluegrass School'!!!
I started just as a guitar channel - 'Grassroots Guitar School' - but I also teach mandolin here on youtube & upright bass in person... and I focus mostly on bluegrass music.
I wanted the name of my channel to reflect more clearly the nature of what I do!
Thus... welcome to Grassroots Bluegrass School kids!
Get your picks ready... we're about to start cookin'!
🚨 NEW on Patreon: Full Transcription of Shawn Lane’s Break on “In The Gravel Yard” 🎸🔥
If you’ve ever listened to Shawn Lane tear it up with Blue Highway and thought “What the heck did he just play?” — I’ve got you.
Just dropped a FULL advanced flatpicking breakdown of his legendary break on In The Gravel Yard — every note, every detail, transcribed and explained.
👉 Perfect for serious pickers looking to: • Dig into advanced phrasing • Nail a signature Shawn Lane break • Break out of habitual licks and into next-level playing
🎼 Full tab + slow walkthrough now up exclusively on my Patreon.
Grassroots Bluegrass School
A Better Question Than ‘How Do I Improvise?
One way to talk about improvising is that which happens when you know the melody SO well that you naturally play with it.
🪕Slightly adjust it rhythmically to taste
🪕Surround it by enclosures
🪕Play something totally different (licks)
🪕Call and respond to it (fills)
🪕OR play it exactly as it is (such a great choice) less is more is so true a lot of times. You COULD do something else, but you choose not to… (wisdom/maturity)
As good students we learn to ask better questions.
Don’t ask, “how can I improvise on this”.
Instead ask, “how can I know this melody deeper?”
There is a great answer to that question and it’s not sexy or special…
💪 Work on it
💪 Slow it down
💪 Sing every note with your voice
💪 Play it over and over while singing it
💪 Learn it in a different key
💪 Break it into pieces and study each piece more closely
Good improvisation comes from deep knowledge of what isn’t improvised.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 16
View 0 replies
Grassroots Bluegrass School
New Posting Schedule & Name Change!! 💪
Starting this week I'll be posting 1x/week on Saturdays at 11am EST.
I want to give you guys higher quality content as well as give myself time to practice & continue learning!
Therefore I'll be going from posting 2 videos per week down to 1. I'll be dropping even more in depth content on my Patreon and going much deeper into my own playing on both guitar and mandolin this year!
Can't wait to keep diving deeper with you all. I'm very surprised and excited by the community that is developing around my Grassroots channel.
Oh ya... did I mention I'm changing the name of the channel?!
Introducing 'Grassroots Bluegrass School'!!!
I started just as a guitar channel - 'Grassroots Guitar School' - but I also teach mandolin here on youtube & upright bass in person... and I focus mostly on bluegrass music.
I wanted the name of my channel to reflect more clearly the nature of what I do!
Thus... welcome to Grassroots Bluegrass School kids!
Get your picks ready... we're about to start cookin'!
Thanks for being here Grassroots fam!
11 months ago | [YT] | 13
View 4 replies
Grassroots Bluegrass School
🚨 NEW on Patreon: Full Transcription of Shawn Lane’s Break on “In The Gravel Yard” 🎸🔥
If you’ve ever listened to Shawn Lane tear it up with Blue Highway and thought “What the heck did he just play?” — I’ve got you.
Just dropped a FULL advanced flatpicking breakdown of his legendary break on In The Gravel Yard — every note, every detail, transcribed and explained.
👉 Perfect for serious pickers looking to:
• Dig into advanced phrasing
• Nail a signature Shawn Lane break
• Break out of habitual licks and into next-level playing
🎼 Full tab + slow walkthrough now up exclusively on my Patreon.
LINK:
www.patreon.com/c/GrassRootsGuitarSchool
#bluegrassguitar #flatpicking #shawnlane #bluehighway #inthegravelyard #guitarlesson #patreonexclusive
1 year ago | [YT] | 4
View 0 replies