This week’s mandolin breakdown by Matt C Bruno focuses on “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” Originally recorded by Jimmy Martin, this bluegrass jam classic is a great one to study! I’ve included basic melody and harmony charts as well as different chord voicing ideas.
In this week’s breakdown, the focus is on the instrumental “Panhandle Rag” by Leon McAuliff, highlighting its AABA structure and common chord patterns. While not frequently played in jams, the piece is deemed enjoyable and worth learning. The post includes charts in D and E, along with listening recommendations
Forked Deer is one of those tunes that shows up in jams all over the place. it’s a ton of fun to play and a great workout for your fretting hand. It has a mix of melodic lines, rhythmic bounce, and that unmistakable old-time flavor that crosses over nicely into bluegrass circles. There are a […]
Gold Rush by Bill Monroe and Bryon Berline is a classic jam tune worth exploring. The post provides insight into its basic melody, harmony options, and chord voicing. Notably, it’s structured in an AA BB form, making it engaging for both beginners and advanced players. Listening to original references is emphasized as crucial for learning.
Time for another “song I should know but never learned”. Today’s mandolin song breakdown focuses on East Tennessee Blues (sometimes called East Tennessee Rag). I first heard this tune done by Adam Steffey a while back. It’s a great tune that I liked, but just wasn’t called a lot in jams so I never really […]
Today’s mandolin song breakdown focuses on another classic, Soldier’s Joy. While this is a bluegrass staple, it’s roots are mostly Scottish from around 1760 or so. Like a lot of older fiddle tunes, there are lyrics that have been added – but we’ll be ignoring those for this review. As with many old standards, it’s […]
The breakdown of “Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom,” a tune rooted in Civil War history, explores its origin linked to General James A. Garfield. The song’s melody, distinguished by a raised 4th (C#), poses challenges for players. Practice methods, scales, and soloing strategies are discussed, aiding in mastering this unique composition.
Today’s Mandolin Sheet Music Breakdown focuses on one of my favorite jam songs, Old Home Place. The progression is pretty simple but includes the dominant 3rd (III7) which makes it a little more interesting without being too complex. I like playing this song in A so this breakdown will be using that key. It’s a […]
This weeks mandolin sheet music breakdown is going back to the classics with Rocky Top. A great tune easy enough for beginner mandolin players to get quickly and a jam favorite at many festivals. Here’s the sheet music for this week’s mandolin sheet music breakdown – Rocky Top sheet music. Listen As always, playing starts […]
