Essential Bluegrass Fiddle Scales: The Major Pentatonic Scale

Lesson and Playalong for how to Improvise and play back up in a bluegrass song.
Bluegrass is a bit different from other fiddle styles in that the genre's emphasis is on SONGS. That means 90% of fiddle playing in this genre is improvised "back up" to a singer or other instrumentalists taking improvised (Or planned) solos. Learning the language of bluegrass involves transcription, listening, some common licks, and common scales (Pentatonic, Major and Minor Blues) and double stops for use in improvisation/backup
Get the PDF sheet music or Mandolin Tab:
www.austinscelzo.com/sheetmusic
Join my The Bluegrass, Country, and Roots School for the pdf sheet music and more!
www.austinscelzo.com/bluegrass
Included in the School:
-Essential Bluegrass Backup Techniques
-Double Stops
-How to practice scales in a way that gets to your playing!
-Country and Roots/Old Time Fiddling
Get my personal feedback on your projects and learning - or work through at your own pace!
By joining the school, You also gain access to weekly Zoom Classes
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[@Patrick-zg7hg]

Sway while you play like in a boat near the bay .Clear and confident...keep on rowing 🚣

[@thomasogrady4999]

We miss you! I’m only realizing now how great of a teacher you were for us; your philosophy was amazing. Good luck on your musical future.

[@AustinScelzo]

Thanks Thomas, 🙏 that means a lot. I often wonder what sort of impact I made in Darien. Loved it there but felt strongly that I would regret never giving my full attention to these creative ideas!

[@marlenecruz]

Great tutorial Austin!

[@elleryklein-fiddler9330]

Love it! Great exercise.

[@Vocela]

This is the best way to practise scales. Thanks Austin!

[@petromic1947]

Hi Austin, thanks for answering my prayers, I was dreaming how to learn this technique. Bless you

[@AustinScelzo]

That's so kind of you to say :) Glad I could be an answer to prayer! 🙏 These are all the skills that I wish I knew when I was getting started so it feels great to give back

[@elburns64]

This was really helpful. Thank you! 🎻

[@AustinScelzo]

You're very welcome :) stay tuned for a similar exercise in different keys- also minor blues as well

[@marlenecruz]

So glad to see you doing this :)

[@AustinScelzo]

Doing what I love!!

[@marlenecruz]

@@AustinScelzo Just the way it should be ;) No regrets and moving forward! I don’t know why but one of your comments on Chris’s sessions you made really stayed with me. I distinctly remember you questioning some of your next steps. It seemed then you were still far away from jumping into this path. You are so great at this, and it makes me really happy to see you are doing it :) congratulations!

[@johndeere1174]

Always wanted to learn how to do this, great video

[@AustinScelzo]

Thanks!

[@pamalou2084]

Amazing tutorial! Thank you 😊I’ve learned more from this than any manual I’ve read 👋🏻🇬🇧x

[@AustinScelzo]

Thank you! That's the goal :) when I was thinking of making pdfs/ a book OR making videos, a mentor of mine encouraged me to make videos instead- he mentioned it's a more popular modality for learning today. Seems like people are resonating with this!

[@richardtaglieri6410]

Hi Austin, who’s recorded version of Banks of the Ohio are you using. Thanks

[@laurelholmes8277]

Thanks Austin, so helpful. Question: what's the best way to memorize those patterns for a jam? Lets say the song is Your Love is like a Flower in A. Right now, I go kinda blank after I play the melody.....because I can't recall fast enough the shapes for each chord. Suggestions? thank :-)

[@AustinScelzo]

Sure! There are only 4 ways to play this pattern, starting on each finger. I have them written out here in order of difficulty- www.austinscelzo.com/sheetmusic (non-traditional notation is to come...) It will take some practice though. I suggest practicing in keys that allow you to work on these symmetrically - (using the same finger pattern for the 1, 4 and 5 chord) Those would be the keys of D, E, F, and G. If this doesn't make sense- consider dropping in on my weekly fiddle zooms- this is what we work on together! Austinscelzo.com/bluegrass

[@laurelholmes8277]

@@AustinScelzo Thank dearly! Yes, I think i'll try joining your zoom one day :-)

[@willb2217]

Come back to Darien, we miss you!!!

[@AustinScelzo]

Miss you all too! Remember when I told you all to dream Big? It takes sacrifice! Let your sister, mom, and dad know Mr. Scelzo says hello and happy holidays!

[@rosedantonio5536]

Do you have sheet music.

[@AustinScelzo]

I do! Check it out on my website: www.austinscelzo.com/sheetmusic