Bluegrass with Nick Amodeo

Genre and Style Guitar Course from Nick Amodeo

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  2. Guitar Lessons
  3. Genres

  4. Bluegrass

A sub-genre of country music which blends improvising with folk-like melodies. Pioneered by Bill Monroe in the 1930s in the "bluegrass" state. Nick will present flatpick techniques.

14 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

86% Appoval

80 of 86 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Starting with History, Nick will cover many aspects of Bluegrass techniques, the role of Bluegrass instruments, then move into some great Bluegrass songs.

Begin the Course
1

Series Introduction

Nick Amodeo introduces the Bluegrass Series and explains what to expect in the following lessons.

2:27 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

2

History and Influence of Bluegrass

Nick discusses the history of bluegrass and the influence it has had on other styles of music.

27:44 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

3

Bluegrass Instruments and Influence

Nick explains the musical role that each instrument plays in a bluegrass band.

17:01 Runtime

1.0 Difficulty

4

Bluegrass Chords

Nick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.

19:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
5

Right Hand Techniques

Welcome to a right hand "boot camp" with Nick Amodeo! In this lesson, Nick demonstrates several picking and strumming exercises that will whip your right hand into shape.

24:48 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Right Hand Boot Camp

Nick Amodeo continues his discussion of picking technique in this installment of right hand "boot camp."

24:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

7

Crosspicking Techniques

Nick presents several exercises that develop string skipping and crosspicking technique.

23:35 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

8

Common Bluegrass Scale Exercise

Nick covers some exercises and scales that develop left hand technique.

33:15 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

9

Bluegrass Ornaments

Nick explains how to play various slurs such as slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. Also included are some common bluegrass licks that utilize these techniques.

30:54 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

10

Bluegrass Right Hand Rhythm

Nick covers some basic bluegrass strumming patterns.

12:23 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

11

Left Hand Boot Camp

Nick covers some of the most commonly used scale patterns in bluegrass.

31:45 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

12

Nine Pound Hammer

Nick applies fundamental guitar techniques from previous lessons to the song "Nine Pound Hammer."

31:39 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

13

Texas Gales

Nick demonstrates his interpretation of "Texas Gales." You might say this one will blow you away!

38:30 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty

14

Cross Picking: Home Sweet Home

Nick teaches the song "Home Sweet Home" and uses it to demonstrate cross picking techniques. Nick also covers the chords, and a chord with melody version to correspond with a picked version he has created.

57:24 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

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Nick Amodeo

80
  • Denver, CO
  • Playing since 1980
  • 43 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Nick Amodeo is a multi-instrumentalist based out of Denver, Colorado. A self taught musician, he took up guitar at age 12 before moving on to mandolin and electric bass. He is the 2005 Colorado state mandolin champion, and was featured on the 2007 Downbeat magazine Blues Album of the Year, Otis Taylor’s “Definition of a Circle.”

Nick has shared the stage with such artists as Buddy Guy, Chuck Campbell, Mollie O’Brien, Nick Forster and Pete Wernick of Hot Rize, and many others. Nick currently is the mandolin department at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado and has over 10 years teaching experience.

Reviews & Feedback 86/100 with 86 ratings
chendricksmusic

I enjoy the teaching. Clear and concise. I have trouble at times improvising bluegrass solos, but I was able to learn this quickly and can now apply the licks and scale play to other melodies to make new melodic solos. Thanks!

arealcosmos

Diggin' it, buuddy!!!

MikeRGR

As always great thanks mike MikeRGR

zunigafan

Looking forward to learn more as a newbie to Bluegrass!! Thanks for excellent intro & history...lays a good foundation for me anyways. :-) Bear

Rcangjams

Great explanation of up and down strokes and what finger to use on slides.

DennisAring

Interisting

jstassis

Sweet!