Improvisation Exercise for Bluegrass Mandolin - Walking Arpeggios arpeggios bluegrass mandolin lesson Feb 23, 2021

In this video, Hayes Griffin teaches a cool exercise called “walking arpeggios”. This is very good for strengthening your improvisation muscle and the ability to outline chord changes. We’re specifically applying this technique to the bluegrass tune Whiskey Before Breakfast.

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Mandolin Crosspicking Lesson - Liza Jane - Bluegrass/Old-Time bluegrass cross-picking mandolin lesson Feb 17, 2021

In this video, Hayes Griffin teaches a crosspicking arrangement of the old-time/bluegrass fiddle tune, Liza Jane.

 In Mandolin Secrets Academy you'll find:

  • Sheet music/tabs
  • Play-a-long track
  • How-to-play-instructions

 Click Here To Watch Video

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Whiskey Before Breakfast with added Hero Licks - Mandolin Bluegrass Lesson bluegrass mandolin lesson Feb 10, 2021

In this video, I show you how to play the traditional tune Whiskey Before Breakfast with some added hero licks.

This is a must-know tune in the Bluegrass genre and the included variations are inspired by players like Chris Thile and Sierra Hull.

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Playing Harmonies on Mandolin - Bluegrass Lesson - Big Sciota bluegrass Jan 26, 2021

In this video, Hayes Griffin plays a harmony to the traditional tune from his home region, Big Sciota. Playing harmonies is a common technique in American fiddle tunes, and this part adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to this expressive melody.

 In Mandolin Secrets Academy...

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Bluegrass Crosspicking - Jesse McReynolds Pattern - Mandolin Lick Lesson bluegrass cross-picking mandolin lesson Jan 21, 2021

In this video, Hayes Griffin teaches a great lick based on the Jesse McReynolds crosspicking pattern.

 In Mandolin Secrets Academy you'll find:

  • Sheet music/tabs
  • Play-a-long track
  • How-to-play-instructions

 Click Here To Watch Video

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Wildwood Flower - Crosspicking Arrangement - Mandolin Lesson bluegrass cross-picking mandolin lesson Jan 05, 2021

In this video, Hayes Griffin teaches a basic crosspicking version of the tune Wildwood Flower. This is a classic song that was made popular by the Carter Family among others.

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 This is a sample lesson from the new Crosspicking Course of Mandolin Secrets Academy...

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Merry Crosspicking and a Happy New Mandolin Year - Silent Night and Auld Lang Syne mandolin performance mandolin solo Dec 29, 2020

In this video, I play Silent Night and Auld Lang Syne. This is my way of saying thanks for a (weird) but amazing year. Thank you for watching and being a part of the Mandolin Secrets Community!

 For these tunes, in Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:

  • Sheet music/tabs
  • Play-a-long...
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Electric Mandolin Lesson - Tiny More - Arpeggio Lick - Western Swing electric mandolin mandolin lesson Dec 22, 2020

In this video, Hayes Griffin will teach you the #1 most common Tiny Moore lick: The 3579 Digital Pattern. You will also learn two exercises that show you how to apply this lick to a 12 Bar Blues in the key of C. 

In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:

  • Sheet music/tabs
  • Backing...
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Auld Lang Syne - Cross picking Arrangement - Mandolin Lesson cross-picking mandolin lesson Dec 15, 2020

In this video, I show you how to play a solo crosspicking arrangement of Auld Lang Syne.

In the times of covid-19. Learn this crosspicking arrangement, record a smartphone video and send a virtual greeting card to your family and friend for the Holidays. I can guarantee the success! :-)

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Nuages Chord Melody Solo- Jazz Mandolin Lesson jazz mandolin lesson Dec 01, 2020

In this video I show you how to play a chord melody arrangement of Nuages by Django Reinhardt. This is a very beautiful and classic tune in the Gypsy Jazz repertoire that I love to play. For the chord melody there is lot of options for voicing, fingerings and picking directions and there is no...

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Bluegrass Chop Chords - Big Sciota - Mandolin Lesson bluegrass mandolin lesson Nov 24, 2020

In this video, Hayes Griffin teaches you the chords to the traditional tune from his home region, Big Sciota.

Hayes likes to play the chords with a bluegrass chop, but many players also use open-string chords for a more “old-time” sound.

 In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll...

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Bluegrass Technique Etude - Big Sciota - G-major Run bluegrass mandolin lesson Nov 17, 2020

In this video, I show you a good melody etude for improving your mandolin technique. It’s a 4 note melodic sequence that is coming from the tune Big Sciota. Playing an exercise like this will improve both your fretting hand and picking hand technique.

In Mandolin Secrets Academy...

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