Top 10 Bluegrass Guitar Skills to Focus On When You're Learning

[@grassrootsguitarschool]

My opinion is you're the best bluegrass teacher on KZbin!!

[@tommcguire6392]

Can't agree. He's the best flatpick teacher period on YT.So inspiring😊

[@mandohat]

Thanks, guys!

[@amusicallifepdx]

So glad to hear you play Tear My Stillhouse Down. So appreciated going through the process of ranking the skills.

[@stevebernard221]

Nice Vid, great tune and playing. Your one of the best!

[@iantaylor827]

Love that intro and Gillian. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@stevebenedict6260]

Great essentials Andy. keep em coming and Merry Christmas

[@mandohat]

@@stevebenedict6260 Merry Christmas, Steve!!

[@johnmurret2290]

Great breakdown. Very insightful. Your playing of this tune is fantastic.

[@carlmally6292]

David Grier always asks "What do you suck at? That is what you should practice." It is a really good approach because it gets to the point that what is most important for you to work on constantly changes. As you fix one thing another bubbles to the top. And even once you have addressed something you eventually go back and redo it to take it to another level.,

[@monsterzero1965]

That's funny because David Grier sucks at making the song SOUND like the song its supposed to be

[@ericecklund676]

Watching Andy with a 2002 Martin D-18 GE in my lap is a fun way to start my morning. Thanks for another fun video!

[@2dollarsaday]

Great video! Anticipating having some extra time to practice over the holidays - this really helps to prioritize.

[@etienne844]

quite useful and good common sense as usual 👍

[@gwlee7]

Almost all of the list we covered in my lesson. I told you I wanted to sound more “authentic” and here we go. We will be having the next lesson after the dust settles from the holidays and I feel like I have a good grasp of what you wanted me to work on. It’s tough when you are already a decent player in other styles and are having to develop better and more proper habits to “speak bluegrass”. Onward!

[@mandohat]

@@gwlee7 it's tough going from bluegrass to other styles too

[@adsundin]

Great video as always! Could you possibly do a video on what makes for a good (or the best) rhythm guitarist?

[@mandohat]

@@adsundin isn't that such a huge subject? I need to do that video tho

[@millerjeff]

Thanks Andy. Always good practical things to take your playing to the next level in a way that will not only improve but will provide sustainability in becoming a better musician.

[@SudburyBaller]

Awesome performance at the end Andy. I think I might be jumping on board soon.

[@DavidFlorez]

Another great delivery of musical knowledge THEY don't tell you about...

[@alan4sure]

Is that the "THEY" who predicted a sunny weekend?😅

[@dolo6926]

Great stuff. To 2 I would add a 2a: for every tune you learn, get a basic version of the tune down cold *before* you start learning fancy arrangements.

[@keithchilvers7434]

To which I would respectfully add - get that basic version down in at least the first three positions in whatever key you're in.

[@roccofiori]

great arrangement of tmsd. worked on it this morning an will be back for more.

[@J-Lo7218]

Good morning! I decided to watch a little KZbin before work today and surprise - a brand new Andy video. Nice way to start the day. 🙂 Edit: getting a better guitar made me a much better player because it was so much easier to play and sounded so much better.

[@NoraBrown-y9f]

I can’t say how much I love your arrangements. Very tasty. Reminds me of Chet Atkins. I heard this song a couple of years ago by AJ Lee and Blue Summit at Paste studios. Wonderful!

[@mandohat]

Thanks! I try to keep some of the melody in there

[@alan4sure]

AJ is a great performer! Wonderful girl, too.😊

[@NoraBrown-y9f]

@@mandohat it’s always so musical. If I ever win the lottery I’m going to throw a lot your way so maybe I can learn to do that someday. But, I’ll probably get struck by lightning ⛈️ first. 😂

[@Fishandguitarpuns]

“Got pen, got a book, planned ahead…” 😂😂

[@pineywoods420]

Good stuff

[@chrischarles1468]

Wish I was there! Don’t tease us Uncle Larry I’m off this week, but I’m working on my garage, cleaning it out etc. Could use a long Homeskoolin to listen too. Oh well … maybe que up some In Stereo? Maybe some Plexi Soul or Trip The Witch and dream of Unelectric Larryland with special guest Bryan Sutton … Much love from NC.

[@BanjoLemonade]

My #1 for everyone would be timing.

[@Ben-S-Man]

Your statement about licks being language is reminiscent of Dennis Chang's approach to jazz guitar

[@flatpickindan]

I knew you were going to put rhythm guitar at the top. I love this idea, btw. I feel like with covering all the things at the top of the list, all the other things downstream falls into place.

[@jimmccarley9609]

So, my learning is quite circular, coming back to rhythm, timing, and tone. Tone has been the most work for me, and technique. Playing in a room full of others demands better technique to get good tone, at volume. Rhythm challenges me to find better ways to play the 1 and 3 beats, (boom), without clumsy repeats. I really have to stay engaged with the music, to not get cornered into several roots in a row.

[@markrobinson891]

I want to learn that tune so badly!! Looks like you’re using capo on 2nd fret and leaving 6th string open?

[@mandohat]

@@markrobinson891 yeah, it only works in e

[@markrobinson891]

@ right. Also takes the right type of capo. I have trouble getting the shrubb to work.

[@michaeladams2644]

Id say timing is paramount, try playing with someone who hasn't got it and it just ruins the whole thing 😢 👍👍

[@alan4sure]

I agree. I don't care much about gear either. Not since buying my D28 Authentic 1937. 😅

[@TrippingTheTube]

How are you going from standard tuning to drop D in the middle of the song? 😅 I'm thinking you have one of those open fret capos on? Oh I see, you have the capo off the low E. Cool

[@mandohat]

@@TrippingTheTube good eye and ear!

[@lordofthemound3890]

Gotta have good rhythm to play good guitar-rhythm OR lead OR anywhere in between.

[@wlewallen]

ear training

[@keithchilvers7434]

Can you really rank some of these elements though, I mean for example tone is inseparable from pickstrokes/technique and left/right hand co-ordination, learning tunes and improvising/creativity are dependent on a thorough knowledge of scales and arpeggios and the fretboard in general. I certainly agree that rhythm playing and timing come top of the list, everything else follows from that, but then the different elements start to become more interdependent.