We're re-issuing one of Chris's most popular lessons with re-mastered video and updated loop points. From Chris:
This week we're going to look at a crosspicked version of Wildwood Flower. The trick here for crosspicking while also playing the melody convincingly is playing the crosspicking in groups of 3-3-2 so that you can still hit the melody notes on strong beats.
Enjoy!
Chris
Topics and/or subjects covered in this lesson:
Bluegrass
Print Chords & Tab
Loop 0:00 Run-Through of Crosspicked Wildwood Flower Melody
Loop 0:32 What You Will Learn This Week
Loop 1:23 Breakdown of Crosspicked Wildwood Flower Melody
Loop 14:50 Closing Thoughts
Comments
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Chris, I now understand exactly what you're saying in your "clarification," about learning something new and important by working on that last 10% of a song. I wouldn't have understood it even a week ago. It's hard for me to think about how many years of playing I put in without that understanding. Definitely the most valuable lesson I've ever had.
Here you go Denny, a spoken response!
Chris, I’m stunned. I asked you a question that was kind of like a Zen koan – it had no real objective answer. Yet, like a true Zen master, you spoke and revealed to me MY TRUTH.
1) My being a ninety-percenter is indicative of a certain kind of laziness and lack of discipline.
2) Working on that last ten percent might not teach me anything new – but it will make me a better player.
3) No matter how many new songs I learn, it will never erase that nagging feeling of inadequacy I have because of being a ninety-percenter.
Realizing all this is going to make a big difference for me. You are really kind to answer our questions and videos the way you do, and it’s much appreciated.
Hey Denny,
Thank you for the kind words! One point that I'd like to clarify: working on that last 10% might actually teach you A LOT. It will almost certainly teach you more than learning another tune would teach you. Being able to bring everything you've learned together in the moment is its own big-picture skill that is made up smaller specific skills. You can absolutely acquire them. This is your moment to do that!
Cheers,
Chris
Hi Chris,
I have a general question that probably has no real answer, but if anyone could add something helpful, it would be you.
I'm probably what would be considered an advanced intermediate player. I have a repertoire of maybe 25 songs, many of which I learned from you right here. I'm what I call a "90-percenter." That is, I learn a new song and practice it until it's fairly good, but never reliable enough that I can play it all the way through without some screw-ups (and not necessarily in the same places). I suppose, though I don't know for sure, that if I continued to practice each song hundreds (or thousands) more times, they would get more reliable. But I don't play for anyone, so I lack the motivation to put in that tedious work. Then when I'm tempted to learn a new song, I think "No, you should be spending your time getting better at the songs that you already know." But I do occasionally overcome that thinking, and then add a new song to my 90% repertoire. And so on. I have a feeling that this sort of dilemma is not uncommon among us "serious" amateurs.
Any words of wisdom?
Denny
This was a good question and something i certainly can relate to!