Bluegrass Guitar Course

This bluegrass guitar course, taught by Simon Kafka, helps you master the essential techniques of the style through a progressive and musical learning approach. Designed for guitarists who want to enrich their accompaniments and gain greater independence, this program allows you to adapt your playing to different musical situations, from singer accompaniment to solo performance.

You will learn how to master flatpicking, a signature bluegrass technique, by working on melodic accompaniment and integrating the melody directly into your playing. Through alternating bass lines, bass movements, and characteristic ornamentations, you will develop accompaniments that are varied, dynamic, and expressive.
The course also explores crosspicking, a technique borrowed from banjo playing, which you will learn to naturally incorporate into your guitar playing to add fluidity and rhythmic richness to your accompaniments.

With the help of sheet music and backing tracks, you progress in a realistic musical setting while developing the precision, consistency, and musicality that define bluegrass guitar.

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The main concepts taught

Bluegrass

Flatpicking

Crosspicking

Country

Melodic accompaniment

Alternating basses

The lesson plan proposed by Simon Kafka

A structured program designed to guide you step by step through bluegrass guitar playing, from technical foundations to musical interpretation. You will begin by building a solid foundation in flatpicking, focusing on rhythmic accuracy, alternating bass lines, and melodic accompaniment. The program then progresses toward integrating the melody into your playing, developing accompaniment variations, and mastering the ornamentations that are characteristic of the bluegrass style.

The second part of the program is dedicated to crosspicking, with a progressive approach to pick movement, consistency, and applying this technique in different musical contexts. The overall goal of the course is to help you become fully autonomous, so you can adapt your playing to any situation: accompanying a singer, playing in a group, or performing solo.

Chapters	Topics
Bluegrass guitar	Introduction
Strumming	Strumming technique Training zone Combining chords Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Alternating bass	On a single chord Training zone Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Bass runs	Anticipating the chord Combining three chords Choosing bass runs Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Embellishing the left hand	Adding movement Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah
Wildwood Flower: flatpicking	Introduction The melody Flatpicking Bluegrass licks Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah
My Girl, Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Hank Williams	Complete song study
Create your own accompaniment: flatpicking	Introduction Wayfaring Stranger Shady Grove Shenandoah Catch the Wind Amazing Grace Aura Lee Will the Circle Be Unbroken Danny Boy Down in the Valley Red River Valley When the Saints Go Marching In
Crosspicking	Crosspicking technique With accents Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger Shenandoah
Wildwood Flower	Wildwood Flower Adding lead phrases
You’re My Sunshine	Flatpicking version Crosspicking version Building licks Conclusion
Create your own accompaniment	Wayfaring Stranger Shady Grove Shenandoah Catch the Wind Amazing Grace Aura Lee Will the Circle Be Unbroken Danny Boy Down in the Valley Red River Valley When the Saints Go Marching In

Lesson plan

Chapters	Topics
Bluegrass guitar	Introduction
Strumming	Strumming technique Training zone Combining chords Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Alternating bass	On a single chord Training zone Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Bass runs	Anticipating the chord Combining three chords Choosing bass runs Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger
Embellishing the left hand	Adding movement Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah
Wildwood Flower: flatpicking	Introduction The melody Flatpicking Bluegrass licks Catch the Wind – Donovan Shenandoah
My Girl, Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Hank Williams	Complete song study
Create your own accompaniment: flatpicking	Introduction Wayfaring Stranger Shady Grove Shenandoah Catch the Wind Amazing Grace Aura Lee Will the Circle Be Unbroken Danny Boy Down in the Valley Red River Valley When the Saints Go Marching In
Crosspicking	Crosspicking technique With accents Shady Grove Wayfaring Stranger Shenandoah
Wildwood Flower	Wildwood Flower Adding lead phrases
You’re My Sunshine	Flatpicking version Crosspicking version Building licks Conclusion
Create your own accompaniment	Wayfaring Stranger Shady Grove Shenandoah Catch the Wind Amazing Grace Aura Lee Will the Circle Be Unbroken Danny Boy Down in the Valley Red River Valley When the Saints Go Marching In

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A word from your teacher

This course is ideal for guitarists who want to build a strong and reliable foundation in bluegrass guitar. By combining flatpicking and crosspicking, students develop true musical independence and learn how to enrich their accompaniments while maintaining clarity, groove, and stylistic authenticity.

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