Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 1

from: Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist

This lesson is part of the course Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin with Sharon Gilchrist.

Get immediate access to this lesson and all of the lessons in this course when you subscribe.

Start Course
Browse Courses

About This Course

Learn to play solos on classic bluegrass songs and instrumentals using bluegrass mandolin techniques like tremolo, double stops, two-string melodies, and more.

Try a Sample Lesson

I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky

In this lesson you’ll learn the bluegrass standard “I’m Going Back to Old Kentucky” using a common technique in bluegrass mandolin: playing melodies on two pairs of strings. Sharon starts this lesson by talking about the basic right-hand technique for playing two pairs of strings at a time. She shows you how to keep the pick out on the edge of the strings and not let the pick dig in past the strings as well as how to slightly rotate your wrist so you can play all four strings (both pairs) at once. Sharon also gives you advice on practicing this technique with a metronome, with some ideas for exercises you can do.

Try a sample lesson

The Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin Subscription Includes:

More than 75 intermediate bluegrass mandolin video lessons
More than 55 great bluegrass tunes and songs to play
Extensive right- and left-hand technique lessons
Notation and tab provided for most lessons (all but the first five tunes)
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see close-ups of both hands in action
Play-Along videos so you can practice what you’ve learned
Downloadable audio MP3s of each tune

$20/Month For One Course

Additional courses only $10/month each! • Save 20% with an annual subscription

Start Course

Get started now!
Use promo code SharonLand at checkout

and get your first month free or $20 off an annual subscription.

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 1

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 2

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 3: Chords

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 4: Play-Along Track

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 1

One of Bill Monroe’s prettiest waltzes, “Lonesome Moonlight Waltz” has an unusual form and chord progression. The form is AABA and it moves between the keys of Dm and F. You’ll play it out of an F major scale position with your index finger on the third fret. Sharon shows you the fingering first and explains the relationship of Dm and F and then starts walking you through the A part of “Lonesome Moonlight Waltz,” starting with the short intro Bill Monroe plays. She also gives you advice on playing tremolo on the long notes, showing you how you can use a slower or quicker tremolo, and stresses the importance of ending the tremolo on a downbeat.

"Lonesome Moonlight Waltz" (Available to subscribers)

Previous Lesson

← Temperance Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Temperance Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson

Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Temperance Reel, Part 3: Play-Along Track

Next Lesson