Check out a few cuts from Tyler's new CD on his MySpace site.
To Hear "Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man" Visit Tyler's myspace.com site.
CROSSPICKING LESSON #1
Good Morning Mister Railroad Man
Preface: I listen to a lot of Norman Blake, David Grier and Tony Rice. Each of these players is a master of crosspicking and arranging simple melodies into solo guitar style arrangements. In my opinion, Tony's version of Church Street Blues is one of his finest recorded moments. The way he filled out the melody with crosspicking and chord strums is beautiful and complete. I wanted to find a tune that I could adapt with a similar treatment. So I learned Tony's break on Church Street Blues and broke it down to see what he was doing. I learned Good Morning Mister Railroad Man from my good friend Tom Cunningham in San Diego and thought it would be a contender. It worked out so well that I used it as the first track on my new record.
Here's how I did it:
- I learned a basic version of the song: chords and melody (See Lead Sheet). A lead sheet is type of musical score that gives the melody, chords, and lyrics in its most basic form, like in a songbook or fakebook, leaving the interpretation up to the perfomer. Keep in mind that the lead sheet is written in the key of C. I capo up to the fourth fret because I like to sing it in the key of E. You may capo anywhere you like.
- I started to sing the song and play with the rhythm of the melody until it sounded hip. In other words, I put a little bit of bounce and syncopation into it.
- I created a simple melody/strum arrangement based on the Mother Maybelle Carter style. Just melody and chord strums with a couple hammer-ons and pull-offs. (See melody and strums version).
- I like to practice crosspicking techniques. (See the page of crosspicking rolls exercises). I prefer to alternate down and up strokes (I almost always play down-up-down-up) even though I am crossing from one string to the next. I get the most even tone and strong rhythm this way. Some players like to use sweeps (down-down-down or up-up-up depending on which direction they are going across the strings). Play the way you feel most comfortable. In traditional bluegrass a three note forward roll is played down-down-up, a standard set by George Shuffler in his work with the Stanley Brothers. Tony Rice also uses this technique. The down-down up has a certain sound that many players like. For me, it's just easier just to alternate down-up-down-up. Use these examples of cross-picked rolls to create your own crosspicking exercises. Be sure to apply them to different chords. Sometimes I just play the rolls on open strings to warm up my right hand and not tire out my left. Also, use a metronome and keep it slow at first. Don't play faster than you can. Speed takes time. Slowly inch the metronome up to a faster tempo.
- I made a crosspicking arrangement of the melody, filling out the melody notes with notes from the chord. The melody note might end up an eighth or sixteenth note ahead or behind in order to accommodate a roll, lick, or crosspicking idea, but that's part of the fun of it. Use my example to create your own arrangement of a song. Experiment. Enjoy!
Don't miss Tyler Grant's latest release:
In The Light
(click image below)
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