Hi David, there isn't a lesson specifically on strumming quickly but that's a great idea. The basic idea is that you minimize the number and intensity of strums you play and lean more heavily on the bass notes. I'll put that lesson idea into the list of things to cover. Thanks!

Chris

Great suggestion! I will add that to the list...

Hi, I strongly believe that the more you know, the better off you will be, especially in terms of being an improviser. There are certain modes that really come in handy in a bluegrass context with ionian (just a regular major scales starting on the root), and mixolydian (essenially a major scale starting on a 5th), being the most universally useful. But I'd encourage you to learn and practice them all.

Even more useful, IMO, than learning scales is learning how to harmonize chords across the neck. That way you are putting your knowledge of scales to work on multiple strings at the same time and learning about triads and harmony as you do it.

Cheers,

Chris

Fantastic, Roy! Looking forward to meeting you!

Chris

Rémy, thank you so much for the kind words and also for the suggestions! There hasn't been a ton of material on the nuts and bolts of improvising, mostly because I find it to be difficult to talk about without concrete musical examples, but I will do a bit more of that in the future. Also great suggestion on the songs. I would love to cover both of those in the future. Church Street Blues as a record has so much good material! 

Cheers,

Chris

Hi Dan,

I really like what you are doing with the ukuele lesssons, I especially like the fingerpicking lessons as I fingerpicking seems a lot more natural for me.

I have a few suggestions for songs and lessons that you could consider:

Down by the Riverside

Jesus on the Mainline

They're Red Hot

I'm a Bad, Bad Man - Ukulele Ike

Dying Crapshooter Blues 

Any sort of country blues or ragtime

clawhammer ukulele

Lesson on how to take something from record and convert it to uke

Keep up the good work.

Ryan

Hi Chris, Some words and one question at the end.

1/First of all, I love you ! Not that I’m gay or what :-D but love the way you’re playing, singing and transmit emotions and passion trought various medias and perfomances. Love, when you start playing and singing, your face that tranform into a little child one full of emotions.

2/ I also love you because it’s you that gave me the envy to play for the first time with a flatpick and bluegrass. I discovered bluegrass throught the awesome movie « the broken circle breakdown » (« Alabama Monroe » in french) 6 month ago (we don't know bluegrass in France). Since it’s a belgium movie, I don’t know how much this film is known in USA, so, if you don’t know it, I hardly recommand you to see it and to listen the soundtrack  ! It’s that movie that gave me the envy to start again playing guitar and to really work it. I never really worked guitar, was just playing very simple stuff when I was 14yo to 20yo (I’m 37yo), simple pop strumming and some simple pentatonic scale solos on blues chords, all with fingers (never loved playing with a flatpick). After this period I forgot guitar, and I just start playing again. Kind of mid-life crisis I guess ;-)

I liked this music but I couln’d imagine it could be interesting playing it solo without a band, so I started again by learning fingerpicking for the first time. I went to Sonic Junction for Corey Harris, who is a great artist too, I discovered you and I stayed for you. Was kind of revelation when I first saw you playing solo guitar bluegrass on SJ ! I knew a little bit about Tony Rice playing in a band but when I heard you, I understood that bluegrass could be very very interesting just with one guitar and a voice (didn’t know the TR solo tunes). So Tony Rice is awesome but I feel that you’re my modern guitar hero.

I also really love your work with Julian Lage. Your music is such elegant, subtle...  the best example is for me your live on the lake (butter and eggs) that is particularly beautifull. 

So I’m here working my first two flatpikcing tunes ever with a flatpick, Church street blues (TR version) and 9PH (your awesome version). Ok it isn’t reasonable at all to begin with, but Im’ not a reasonable guy and I play what I love, and, surely it was your case too, this Church Street blues intro became an obsession. I have to play it ! So I’ve been working hard on it for few days.

3/ Here some suggestions for upcoming lessons if you lack ideas ;-)

·         Would love to learn from you playing « the boy who wouldn't hoe corn » or « will the circle be unbroken » both from the soundtrack I suggested to you.

·         I didn’t watch all your lessons, so maybe there’s what I’m searching for in one of them. I would love to see a lesson on improvising in bluegrass music, beyond melody based solos. There is a lot of material that exist and I’m a little confused. Where to start ? I guess all jazz material (modal scales and so one) isn’t necessary to play bluegrass unless you’re Julian Lage, but maybe I'm wrong ? According to you, what should be the main directions to follow to develop improvisation material and skills without getting lost ( Which major/minor scale use on each chord, arpeggios... ) ? For example, I don’t know why does TR play Cmin chord scale on the « G » chords on 9PH ( not a question, seen on a homespun instructional tape). All of this is complex and a step-by-step lesson would be great or at least a lesson with directions to follow.

·         Now that I know TR « Church street blues » awesome album, I would love to learn  « streets of london » or « House carpenter » taught by you on SJ J

4/ My question. On the video on the Church Street Blues' Tony Rice version, at 7’04, the pull-off part (A G C notes) , you say that it’s down stroke -down stroke but it seem that in the beginning (4'30) you play down stroke and up stroke, and in the homespun instructional video it seem that tony Rice did too. Is it an error from you or was it done on purpose ? It seem easier when it’s down-up.

Many thanks for all Chris.
Best regards (and sorry for my english level, Im’ french, hope you’ll understand me J )

Hey Chris,

I tried to accompany your "Open up the Window, Noah" recording from Avalon (which is fantastic), and I can't get anywhere close to the strumming speed you guys are playing at.  Do you have a lesson up that disscusses this topic?  If not, could you make one?  Every time I attempt it my pick gets all tangled up, and I fumble the rhythm almost instantly.  Thanks!  

Does anyone know what make/model Corey is using on his excellent rendition of "You've got to move"?

Hi Serei -- we don't tab the harmonica lessons by design.  The instructors want you to learn it by ear by looping and slowing down the breakdowns and practice loops in the video lessons.  This will teach you how to hear and speak blues harmonica -- which is key to playing it and eventually soloing / improvising.

Hello, first try and cannot print the tablature, or even see it, although i use the  button print the tablature...what ever  loop  ia am into; all i get is the

description of the lesson by loo;  pi am into D,Gruenling , Thrill seeker

Yes, he does!

From down on "the border where I'm better known" I heartily second the request for "La cucaracha" --  but Walter plays it in first position, doesn't he?

Big Walter Horton's version

thanks 

I will keep that in mind....thanks!! I assume you are referring to Big Walter Horton's version (although there are several of them out there by him).

Oh Gee I Wish I had a lesson on Gee I Wish, I just had a one on one guitar lesson with Junior Watson today, he is a mutual fan of your work, my head is still spinning from all the new chord inversions I learned today, I'm taking off on a 3 week tour up north, any chance Gee I Wish might pop up one of these weeks?????  :)

Chris, just got advance tickets for your show with Julian Lage at the Cactus Cafe in Austin on October 11, I look forward to meeting you there, thanks for all the great lessons on Sonic Junction, Roy Cotton

Hi JJ -- yes -- you are logged in and have used both of your free trial lessons (that's why it says 0 trial lessons left).  

You can join with a full access account by clicking on the "Sign Up" button in the upper right portion of your screen.

Please let me know if I can help.

logged in? Says I have 0 trial lessons left

Hi JH -- the logins are secure (notice the https).  

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If you have a page that is giving you an issue, please let us know and we will take a look.

Also -- we ask that members use their first name on ths site -- so people can relate to each other on a first name basis.

Thanks.

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hey there lowell,

i think it may end up that all songs have the lyric option....i think it's a great idea.

i'll be in touch with mike about it.

one thing i know: he wants you all to have every possible tool that you need to really get inside these tunes.

i'm digging the gear talk here. it makes me want to take my blackface vibro-champ to the shop so i can be as happy as bruce!!

yr pal,

dan

Great news ! Many thanks Mike.