If No News Is Good News, Part 1

from: Roots and Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar with Scott Nygaard

This lesson is part of the course Roots and Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar with Scott Nygaard.

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About This Course

Learn the essential techniques of roots and bluegrass rhythm guitar by playing classic and contemporary songs, with flatpicking technique tips and strums, bass runs, and fills.

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Some Old Day

This great Flatt and Scruggs song was recorded by JD Crowe and the New South on their classic self-titled album, with Tony Rice singing lead. It's a great example of a medium tempo bluegrass song played with a country swing feel. You'll learn a strum pattern that helps accent the swing feel, as well as some bass runs to use at the ends of phrases. Scott plays the song in D and looks at some different ways to finger the A and A7 chords. Finally, he sings the whole song through so you can play along with him.

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The Roots and Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar Subscription Includes:

More than 28 in-depth rhythm guitar video lessons
Tab/notation with rhythm patterns and bass runs for every lesson
More than 25 complete songs with chords and lyrics
Lessons in bluegrass, old-time, country, country rock, and western swing styles
High-quality video with multiple camera angles so you can see closeups of both hands in action

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If No News Is Good News

If No News Is Good News, Part 1

If No News Is Good News, Part 2

If No News Is Good News, Part 1

Learn some simple Western swing–style closed chords using this Bob Wills classic. The verses of “If No News Is Good News” are basically just D, G, and A chords, but Scott shows you some closed chords you can use to get a swing rhythm sound, starting with a D7 for the initial D chord and then a G chord using your thumb on the low G bass note instead of a barre chord. He also shows you a swing-style voicing for A7 and a D6 chord you can use instead of D. You’ll also get advice on how to lift your fingers off the chord right after you play it to get a percussive swing rhythm sound.

"If No News Is Good News" (Available to subscribers)

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