Twangology 101
Hi all! I’m Marcus, a Swedish musician/teacher/tele-freak who likes to play twangy music on telecasters. I’m working as a music/guitar-teacher for 16-20 year olds and I´m very happy to see an increasing country-music scene in Europe. On a monthly basis at the TDPRI I’ll post lessons in the country/bluegrass style right here, and you are welcome to join the school of Twang! There will be video clips to each lesson and feel free to ask me questions right here on each article. In this first lesson we´ll take a look at open string runs in the key of G.
The key of G is a great key to start in when learning open string runs. All of the six open strings in standard tuning are found in the G major pentatonic, the G mixolydian scale (major scale with flatted 7th) and in the Ionian scale (regular major scale). When playing fast country/bluegrass-licks the open strings are very helpful either when using alternate picking (up and down) or hybrid picking (commonly referred to as chicken picking). A great warm-up exercise is to play the G major scale with as many strings as possible. The first octave can be played like this: G (third fret), A (open), B (7th fret), C (third fret), D (open) E (7th fret), F# ( fourth fret) and G (open).
Click here for Full speed MP3 File
Click here for Slow Tempo MP3 File
Click to see a PDF of the Tab for this lesson: The Tab for this lesson
Hybrid picking is a great way to develop a fluid and percussive sound. When I started using this technique some years ago I found it hard to find a consistent way to play in this way. Finally I found a way that worked fine for me and it’s really not that complicated at all! This is how it works: The pick mostly plays on the down strokes, while the middle and ring finger play the upstrokes. Try it on these licks, check out the fingerings and you´ll get what I mean! Be sure that you are able to play these licks very slow before you speed them up. Be patient, have fun and keep it country!
Next month we´ll take a closer look on the right hand technique and learn more hot licks and tricks.
On my youtube-channel there are some clips where I explain these and other licks closer: http://www.youtube.com/MarQTwang
Hey, is there a guy in Nashville playing Swedish Folk Songs?
Thanks for putting this online.
Shows you that a Tele is “all that” and more!
IPLAYLOUD
Nice work! I will keep tuned in.
Hey Marcus,
nicely done, keep them coming!
Thanks! It’s hard to believe I’ll ever be able to do this but I’m sure going to try!
This is great! I’ve been wanting to get into hybrid picking but put it off in favor of getting my blues playing “just exactly perfect”.
This is a great and intuitive way to learn such a fantastic style or play so well suited to the Telecaster.
Thanks again!
This is such a great idea! Thank you Marcus!
its taken 3 days but i got it… thanks for the lesson keepem comeing
This is what I hope to play like when I grow up! (I’m only 47)… Nice job!
Fun, fun, fun and really helpful for my playing! Thanks for thinking of us poor mortals! And the Tab is super.
Great stuff! Going to start working on this as soon as possible! Thanks!
Took me about a week, but now i can play it perfectly with the slow track. It will a while i believe before i can get the full speed of this. Great work and great instruction. Love it.
Great stuff! Thanks for the lessons!
Thank you MarQ for the lesson!!! Let me share with you a video lesson through the MarQ. The Telecaster is a MIM standard, the amp and effects pedal is made in Argentina: Black Soul Salviani 50w boutique. The pedal is a Masterdrive Microtone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy8aVwBRHJo