Bluegrass music uses a lot of open strings for bass lines as well as chords and lead work.

You’re going to need a few major scales under your belt to be comfortable playing in this style!

The most comfortable keys in Bluegrass are:

C, G & D.

I think if you need an accelerated start to begin playing Bluegrass quickly – you need to know these scales.

These scales are very useful for executing bass lines and lead lines.

I take you through every note on every string in the key so you have a good understanding of all the notes you can play in these open zones.

C major:

E |---------------------0-1-3-1-0--------------------------------------------|
B |--------------0-1-3-------------3-1-0-------------------------------------|
G |---------0-2---------------------------2-0--------------------------------|
D |--0-2-3------------------------------------3-2-0--------------------------|
A |3--------------------------------------------------3-2-0-------------0-2-3|
E |-----------------------------------------------------------3-1-0-1-3------|

G major:

E |----------------------------0-2-3-2-0--------------------------------------|
B |---------------------0-1-3-------------3-1-0-------------------------------|
G |----------------0-2---------------------------2-0--------------------------|
D |---------0-2-4-------------------------------------4-2-0-------------------|
A |--0-2-3---------------------------------------------------3-2-0------------|
E |3-----------------------------------------------------------------3-2-0-2-3|

D major:

E |-------------------0-2-3-2-0-----------------------------------------------|
B |------------0-2-3-------------3-2-0----------------------------------------|
G |-------0-2---------------------------2-0-----------------------------------|
D |0-2-4------------------------------------4-2-0--------------------------0--|
A |-------------------------------------------------4-2-0------------0-2-4----|
E |--------------------------------------------------------3-2-0-2-3----------|

Want To Learn More …

bluegrass-boxBluegrass can be as simple or as complex as you make it. Not many other genres of guitar have this much flexibility.

It can be a lot of fun for friends getting together just playing basic chords or a five piece band of jamming talent.

Bluegrass is a type of music that has basically no electric instruments or drums. It excites the listener by emphasizing notes and just plain good old fashioned picking.

If you are already a bluegrass fan, then you know how great it is. It is a lifestyle in itself. It’s fun and has attracted a diverse and loyal following worldwide.