Bluegrass Flatpicking Guitar (JamPlay)

Bluegrass guitar playing is a thrilling blend of speed, melody, and rhythm—rooted in tradition and brimming with room for personal expression. In Bluegrass Flatpicking, acclaimed guitarist and roots music authority Orville Johnson takes you on a deep and immersive journey through the flatpicking techniques, tunes, and stylistic nuances that define the bluegrass genre.

With over 100 video lessons, this course is a full-spectrum guide to becoming a fluent flatpicker. Orville starts with essential picking mechanics, including alternate picking, playing in thirds, and mastering major scale patterns in G and C. From there, you'll work through iconic fiddle tunes and bluegrass standards like “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “Blackberry Blossom,” “Salt Creek,” “June Apple,” and “The Devil’s Dream,” each one taught with clarity and care for both melody and feel.

You’ll also dive into advanced techniques such as embellishing melodies with variations, shifting chord voicings, developing rhythmic drive, and navigating tricky phrasing—all while studying the playing styles of legends like Mother Maybelle Carter, Lester Flatt, and Doc Watson. Orville brings these tunes to life by focusing not just on the notes, but on the groove, timing, and stylistic choices that give bluegrass guitar its unmistakable voice.

In addition to traditional repertoire, the course features exercises like “The Mirror Technique” and “Double & Triple Picking” to refine your speed and precision, as well as explorations into blues, swing, and ragtime influences that expand your musical vocabulary. With a mix of melody, rhythm, lead, and solo design, this course goes far beyond the basics—equipping you to jam, perform, and interpret bluegrass music with authenticity and creativity.

Whether you're new to flatpicking or looking to deepen your mastery, Bluegrass Flatpicking offers the structure, depth, and inspiration you need to become the kind of guitarist who doesn’t just play bluegrass—you live it.