Bryan Sutton Bluegrass Guitar Lesson: Picking Pattern Exercises

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ArtistWorks flatpick guitar master Bryan Sutton demonstrates some introductory picking pattern exercises. Get free flatpick guitar lessons here: artistworks.com/freelessons

[@ASM881]

As a Punk Rocker moving into bluegrass, the similarities are uncanny. The groove and the eighth notes are very similar to a Ramones style downstrum. Thanks so much for this.

[@iamPROTOTYPE]

bluegrass is punk of country. been to a billy strings show?

[@stevesobel4521]

'Success is not about fast or slow. It's about quality managed as long as we need it.' words to live by

[@sineprever6588]

I am a forty years old very beginner, I m french, and I understood it all ! Thank you !!! It is very clear and pedagogic, bravo monsieur 😊

[@ED___62]

Il est vraiment le top. Bon chances avec r'es "etudes".

[@AbudMusicServices]

Man alive that was elegantly explained. Sutton is one engaging dude. May all guitar students in the future have the patience and will to just jam 8th notes to a metronome on one-string to focus on the pick flowing through the string rather than getting caught on it and creating that unintentional staccato that plagues newer players. Amen. It’s almost a shame that this is labeled as a ‘Bluegrass’ lesson because this is just ridiculously important basic pick control material for any guitar player using a pick.

[@JasonLeonPike]

This is a great lesson! I usually skip over the ‘talking’ part of instructional videos and am no poorer for it. But these words are gold! Nice work.

[@telespanker]

This is so spot on, what a masterful lesson from the Maestro. Thank you.

[@steveb9325]

Thank you so much for this lesson. It would help me and others I'm sure how to hold the pick (angie, wrist movement etc...) thank you again!

[@ED___62]

I could listen to this guy talk music all day, let alone make it & demonstrate these great principles to slowly relax & improve at getting my best out of an acoustic instrument.

[@gertlarsson9285]

Incredible how you can explain this important matter so interestingly 👍 I’m new to bluegrass, always love to listen to it, but never tried to learn in (strangely enough🤔). I think this lesson is important for this coming journey, as well a wake up call/reminder

[@joshparr9760]

Man, this is an amazing guitar lesson. Thank you Bryan

[@harrylazard805]

Excellent demonstration and explanation of the dynamics and flow of playing guitar...

[@sd9008]

Flow! Yes….live with lights in the eyes…lookin for flow..thank you

[@markbenn1907]

That intro is one of the best things I have heard my guitar journey

[@dahlbaker]

Uncle Larry sent me here. Thank you for the valuable lesson in dynamics.

[@picknngrinn]

Brilliant! Intricate insights so sensitively delivered!

[@tonyorourke1459]

What a most lucid and eloquent explanation of picking technique.

[@JimmyDeLocke]

Bryan is a great teacher.

[@robhead22]

Great lesson. Thank you!

[@HondoSauce]

Excellent tutorial.

[@bubba-rh3hz]

Thank you Bryan.

[@vasocreta]

Bryan is as good a communicator as he is guitarist. Great video.

[@RuSerious117]

Well said throughout dood, thank you!

[@joshuacall4356]

Great lesson and beautiful Martin guitar!

[@modernmusicstudio303]

Super interesting perspectives! Great tutorial!

[@andrewjenkins5662]

Getting picking lessons from Bryan Sutton is like getting drawing lessons from Leonardo Da Vinci.

[@ryandebock6277]

That guitar looks like leonardo davinci's. Lol

[@jasonpitts8395]

Amen

[@Dbdilly]

I don't even know who he is but looked at the thumb nail and thought "this guy looks legit"

[@jim34morrison]

Right?!

[@contractorwolf]

excellent video. A small thing I can practice. subscribed, thx!

[@cburns3256]

I've been reversing picking patterns by starting exercises and songs with an upstroke. It seems to strengthen my sound.

[@user-kq7gc1eb8f]

thank you！

[@cliftonjarvis8010]

Good teacher

[@infoscholar5221]

I feel you, brother

[@Hezzworld]

"down in the engine room of our playing" amazing.

[@jeffreywinsor350]

I'm a player incorporating some of these techniques into my playing. I've been concentrating on my RH for the past while really trying to improve.

[@GaZonk100]

the whole thing hit me @ 4:00...brilliant!

[@paulandlesson]

You beautifully articulate what one should strive for. A question if you have time; I have an early 80's D28 the models without a truss rod. It has a ton of miles on it, it has a fairly new set of frets. However, not having a truss makes it tricky for me to set up properly. My professional days are behind me, but would like to get it to sounding akin to yours. They look like twins! LOL Suggestions will not go unappreciated.

[@JeffMonkman]

Your guitar does have a truss rod, it's just not adjustable. I'd suggest either trading in for a vintage Martin or a newer Martin which is made with the older specs. The early 80's was not the best period for Martin guitars from a build standpoint. Good folk guitars but not tone machines.

[@Elaleyelunivese]

Such a BEAUTIFUL MARTIN man!!..

[@douglasholdenjr.45]

Just discovered your channel....subscribed!!! Cheers from Florida!!!!🙂🙃🙂

[@johnboyle3884]

this guitar has one sweet sound to it

[@usernamemykel]

He's the BEST flatpicker - period. THANKS for this tutorial!

[@krogge10]

Jake Workman would prolly disagree

[@flmcotriplet]

@@krogge10 As would Tony Rice ~

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

@@krogge10 Justin Moses and Carl miner both better

[@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer]

@@krogge10 and Michael daves

[@garyharding7325]

Thank you, could I have your permission to use this video for a power director video lesson, with credit for you? Thanks, Gary

[@paulandlesson]

Forgive my ignorance Sir. I just realized who you are. I have been a huge fan for many years. Sutton stood out to me but I did not pay attention to the first name. You will go down in history as the special guitarist you are. I would be honored by a response. It would be a super thrill is you watched my Mozart or Bach (each just a few minutes) and left a comment!

[@peelsmyth.7909]

i dream about owning a road worn beautiful sounding Martin guitar that looks like that one !!

[@charlespeterson3798]

With that sound hole, I would have to say that is Clarence's...

[@greenbrightly]

How can I play the bit at the start, I’ve got the one string down, where’s the rest?

[@iStobs]

That is just the intro song before the lessons. There's probably a lesson in the course on it somewhere, but that's just the general intro theme. This lesson wasn't intended to teach it.

[@chandlerd.7512]

It's got a little bit of wildwood flower in it. I'd learn that, essential for this kind of picking

[@AMaj7Sharp5]

That is a real lesson in guitar.

[@TheGeniuschrist]

Man, that machine has been played. Look at that thing

[@29Ildar29]

У чувака 8-е ноты играются в темпе 16-х(на второй минуте). Или я что-то не понимаю?

[@scratchtogigs]

I noticed that too - the metronome click is on the half note (1 & 3)

[@markshfr1]

Can't believe you can just log on and learn this stuff for free

[@Michael2x]

Hey, I can play one string now!

[@clapton79]

took me 2 minutes to get past the laughing at this lol

[@pandasworld4168]

@@clapton79 Enough to play "Chicken in the corn"

[@bradleyhohner8775]

Yeah, it's important not to bite off more than you can chew. Maybe next year you can try a second string?

[@Michael2x]

@@bradleyhohner8775 I will just stick to one string for now.

[@vidushafernando6778]

Sir, I have two acoustic guitars. One is guvnor and other one is adonis. Could you please tell me what is better? Background of these guitars and manufacture countries? Great help!

[@gazicj]

god i love everything bryan sutton. he is a hero of mine. that said, and i could easily just be having a day--i'm no master musician--but is it just me, or does it sound more like he's playing 16th notes? like 4 notes per beat? I don't know, man, sorry

[@nathanmccabe3505]

He is playing in 4/4 at 80 BPM. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Put a metronome on 80 BPM and try 16 notes per measure, it’ll be way different

[@kaspersderlund5573]

You are right :-) He is playing 16th notes

[@zattiya]

nice flaw, yo!

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I’m totally distracted by that old Martin. It’s been around the block a time or two 👍🏻

[@breakfastplan4518]

To watch this video and to think.... Al Di Meola was almost a bluegrass guitarist is mind-blowing. He would have been the best picker on the planet...

[@blainephebus7856]

Look at that Martin sheww

[@chawkinz]

Gee!

[@joshgoldbergmusic]

homie looks like he dropped his guitar in the Mississippi river. lol. but in all reality this is a great video

[@banjobones8075]

I always just picked what I heard, never knew what an 8th or 16th notes was, neither did Doc Watson

[@normbarrows]

As a metal player for over 40 years with a love of bluegrass, I was hoping for something more than just alternate picking on an open string with uniform attack.

[@shreddykrueger3776]

What more were you hoping for?

[@swandiedrich]

Pretty sure this sets the stage for progression. As an advanced player, you will probably be jumping forward

[@MultiCugel]

Yes it was just clickbait

[@AlexG-ok1zc]

I disagree, he is really emphasizing the need for good technique as it relates to having good fundamental tone and dynamics. It's critical on acoustics, archtops, or even clean electric playing, compared to overdrive/distortion which add sustain and compression and are a bit more forgiving to the player. I learned to play on electric guitar and use a large pedalboard, but my journey into flatpicking forced me to correct my fundamental tone. My electric guitar tone benefitted from this as well

[@normbarrows]

@@AlexG-ok1zc Agreed - basics are fundamental to good technique. While I lean towards metal and hard rock, I don't like overdrive, and compression is totally against my religion! I'm more of a clean channel EQ and metal pedal type player - it gives you finer control, good dynamics, good harmonics and overtones, etc. As for sustain, a touch of control-able feedback enhancing sustain is part of my preferred tone. In this case I was hoping for a little riff or picking style that would let me do some blue-grassy kind of thing easily. Guess I clicked on the bluegrass 101 video, when I should have clicked on the bluegrass 201 video! (G)

[@markhathaway4697]

Back in 2006 Bryan was teaching some of these doctrines but also put a lot of emphasis on volume. I wonder if he still feels that volume is as important

[@monsterzero1965]

Of course

[@shreddykrueger3776]

Volume and playing relaxed are big emphasis

[@kmacdc4]

Nice D28, what year?

[@EGPhil]

Old

[@kmacdc4]

@@EGPhil Didn't ask about you, I asked about the Martin:)

[@EGPhil]

Lol

[@wiltonmungo4179]

According to the book I'm reading at this moment, that is a 1940 Herringbone

[@gamete4375]

See the saddle, how that slot is routed to pass clean through the bridge? That'll be a good indicator of a pre war martin or thereabouts. They still use that saddle in modern guitars, certain models, but this one is old.

[@BinarySk8]

Nothing like an aged martin

[@dustinadair7893]

That guitar looks like it came out of some WW2 rubble. Cool.

[@young1939]

I am 82. If I could reverse the numbers and begin taking lessons, I could have a chance to become that good. 🤔

[@paulbacklin]

Kwahliddy kawntent

[@jblflatpicker]

Billy Strings obviously has a lot of tension in his picking hand. I’m not a fan of that staccato sound. Takes me back to Joe Maphis.

[@andrewcharleton3951]

I have some guitar polish you can have!

[@douglasmcintyre3297]

Brian: Please forgive the brutal honesty, but other than those extremely basic flat picking exercises (which admittedly would sound better if your viewers alternates hammer ons, slides or chromatic runs), you really showed us little that's useful. So I'm left no closer to playing any real blue grass riffs, That's 7:08 that I'll never get back.

[@BobK5]

It’s such a shame he can’t afford a new guitar, one day perhaps…..

[@TSCBroken]

that guitar looks like it was drug through a cow pasture!

[@jennyomalley7634]

Can't focus on what he's saying , just want to give that guitar a wash , where? has he been playing , in the bog or up the mountains with that poor old Martin.

[@markolukin4331]

Waste of time. I don't get your method. Alternate picking a natural motion to begin with for every new player I have taught

[@mortsolomon4603]

I get you know your shit but eight minutes of nothing? Come on man

[@elviskipgenkho]

Too much Talking

[@WasOne2]

Exercises? Plural? One exercise and a bunch of Blah Blah Blah.

[@bradleyhohner8775]

You're not ready for anything this advanced. Just be patient...you'll get there...maybe.

[@fredpelle8008]

Relax, it’s going to be ok.