Harmonic minor, it’s fun
As I get into practicing scales I have found that my ear prefers some over others. The pentatonic was great when all I wanted to do was play like Dickie Betts, but eventually one can get bored with it....
View ArticlePerformance of flamenco with a flatpick
Here I play my Ibanez hollow body electric guitar. This video starts with a performance than introduces the harmonic minor scale which I plan on expanding on in the future. Enjoy. Questions and...
View ArticleJethro Burns’ pinky workout!
This little warm-up routine is great for building strength in one’s little finger. Repeat it, make variations but make sure the notes fretted by your pinky ring clear. I got this from, “Jethro Burns...
View ArticleThe use of triplets, a useful trick
Below is a video where I demonstrate a trick I have learned for implementing triplets. Below is some sheet music and tabs for some Major scales as played on the mandolin. The G major scale and A major...
View ArticleMy own, “All Blues,” by Miles Davis
This is a recorded version I created as a back track, today I improvised over it adding the mandolin part. Recording the back tracks to songs you like to play, and/or finding from other resources is a...
View ArticleJethro’s Tune, the A part
Jethro Burns is one of my favorite all time musicians. He really changed what was considered mandolin music for the better. From bluegrass to Swing, to Gypsy Jazz and back. Beyond description. Below is...
View ArticleBlue Bossa
Here is a recording of me playing two guitar tracks and one mandolin track on the tune, “Blue Bossa.” Having a fake book or better yet, “IrealBook,” for a computer or smart phone makes learning jazz...
View ArticleTurnarounds, uses in Jazz and beyond.
Below is a video where I examine the 1-6-2-5 turnaround, using all dominant chords. Ie. G7, E7, A7, D7. Watch for yourself, they are fun to play and come in handy at jam sessions.
View ArticleGeorgia on My Mind, style of Tony Rice.
Below is a video I recently recorded of me playing my guitar as a change. Guitar will always have a special appeal to the solo artist. This arrangement is borrowed from Tony Rice, almost note for note....
View ArticleDuke Ellington phrasing, make it swing.
The chords for this little exercise are as follows: G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, D7, G G, D7, Em, D, C, Bm, Am, G Jethro Burns published this a while ago as a way to get your playing swinging. Think: STRONG,...
View ArticleMusix and all things Dix Bruce
Dix Bruce is a guitar and Mandolin instructor who has published for, “Mandolin World News,” as well as, “Flatpick Guitar Magazine,” and his own publishing company. I highly regard all of his material...
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