Nine Pound Hammer

from: Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton

This lesson is part of the course Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton.

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Learn traditional bluegrass-style mandolin as exemplified by the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with original transcribed solos and tips on reproducing Monroe’s sound, rhythm, and feel.

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TENNESSEE BLUES

Learn the “fancy high part” (all the way up the 15th fret) of “Tennessee Blues” in this video. Mike takes it apart phrase by phrase, showing you the best way to finger the high notes. You’ll also learn the shorter A section, which features sliding double stops up the neck, and some variations on the regular A section. (For full transcription, see Part 1.)

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Nine Pound Hammer

“Nine Pound Hammer” Play-Along Track

Nine Pound Hammer

Bill Monroe’s 1961 version of “Nine Pound Hammer” is in the key of C, and is the most raucous of his recordings of “Nine Pound Hammer.” Downstrokes predominantly carry the load in Monroe’s solo, which leans heavily on chord forms for the body of the melody, with single-string lines on the turnarounds.

"Nine Pound Hammer" Notation/Tab (Available to subscribers)

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