About a year and a half ago I started learning to play the Dobro. It has been slow (I have very little natural musically anything), brain cells are still connecting. I have been using TAB and lessons from lessonswithtroy.com to learn and I am having fun. But I have gotten to the point were I would like to try adding some licks to some of the songs I am learning. In particular to The Cuckoo (parking lot pickers book version).

So there is the question. How do start figuring out which licks to add?? I know most folks will say do what sounds good. Which is good advice if you know what sounds good, but I am not there yet. So if the songs is in G do you use G licks, or does the note your playing tell you which lick to use. Thanks, Steph

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  17:42:38    

Steph,

Thanks for checking out my lessons! I really appreciate it. Here's a some good things to keep in mind when using licks.

1) Keep in mind what the lick sounds like....
Bluesy, Fast, Modern, Old Timey...etc

Use licks that fit within the context of the song.
Bluesy Licks for Bluesy Songs....Slow licks for slow songs, etc...

Then you need to know when to use which licks.

If you're over a G chord, you lick should fit over a G chord.
Meaning that the notes in the lick need to work over the chord.

The G chord consists of the notes G-B-D and F# for a Major sound and F natural for a Bluesy sound
The G Major Scale is GABCDEF#G

You can add F's, Bb's, and Db's or C#'s to get a Bluesy sound.
You can add F#'s, A's, E's to get a more modern sound.
Depends on what emotion you want to convey.

If all this is not making any sense because you have no idea where any note is on you Dobro,
Take the time and memorize every note on your instrument.

Start the process of really understanding some of the basic concepts on music, and how to apply them to
your Dobro.

ie.... What notes make up what chord, what chords make up what Key, and what scales fits over what style of song.

All this is time consuming, but there's really no easy way of doing all this.

Basically too, just understand what chord you are playing over.

G licks for G chords, D licks for D chords, etc.

Start the lick on the correct beat. Some licks start on the off beat, as a lead into the measure.

Rhythm is essential to making licks fit. Sometimes you can play anything you want as long as it's in Rhythm it won't sound
"AS BAD" as playing something that works over the chord, but playing it out of rhythm.

Also, you should buy BAND IN A BOX with the Real Tracks, and that will really give you some nice backing tracks to play over.
Or just use the backing tracks that come with my lessons.

Hope this all helps!
~Troy Brenningmeyer~
www.LessonsWithTroy.com

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  17:45:21      

I guess you have the CD that comes with the Parking Lot Pickers' book. The versions on the CD are very good (they are not performances of the tab.) I think they are actually more useful than the book.

Listen to and learn the licks on the CD. Download one of the computer programmes that lets you loop and slow down MP3 recordings and use that to study the licks. I also highly recommend study of Josh Grave's backup to Mac Wiseman in 'Grassroots to Bluegrass'. 'Streamlined Cannon Ball' is a good example.

My only other advice is not to focus too much on hammer-on/pull-off licks over open strings, because in real-life jamming you have to fit in with the singers and won't get much chance to show off in open tunings. The licks in closed positions are the ones to work on first.

S

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  18:38:31      

Great job fielding this question Troy! Some of my favorite licks are those that transition from one chord to another or turnaround licks.

Dave

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  19:11:49    

Yeah, in reality, most of the licks that I play (hammer On/Pull Offs) are pretty ambiguous. They fit over several different chords, and like I said before as long as you're playing them with a great feel, and keeping in mind what note you are resolving the lick to, they can fit over most chords. Unless you're in a key that has nothing to do with the lick you played.

Example. Licks in G won't sound good over the key of Ab...etc. But alot of keys have alot of the same notes in common.

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  19:52:57    

Damn Troy, you are the BEST !!!! I'm still working on the very first beginner lesson. I call it "Dobro for Dummies" which suits me to a "T". I have a couple years guitar under my belt and it helped, even though it's been 6 years since I played. Well I'm finding I'm not the only senior starting out and that makes me feel good. You are a blessing to all reso players and if people don't see you have a big heart, shame on them.
Thank you, Mike

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  20:40:55    

Hey Mike, you're very welcome! It's really fun to share what I know. I'm glad I'm able to shed some light on some things for people!

Keep pickin'
~Troy~

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  20:49:02        

Hey, Troy! For what it's worth, I have been playing since rocks were soft. (That would be about 28 years.) Listening to some of the material you is refreshing even to a seasoned player like myself. I have learned a lot of things just by watching some of your youtube videos. I wish these had been around when I first started playing. I hope all players new and otherwise take the time to give your material a look. It's proof that we can all learn something from each other!

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  20:55:34    

If you know your notes here's a good chart for the Key Signatures:

Remember your chords are built off of each note of the scale: (ex. in the Key of G)

I = Major G major (GBD) (Root, 3rd, 5th)
ii = minor A minor (ACE) (Root, b3, 5th)
iii = minor B minor (BDF#) (Root, b3, 5th)
IV = Major C major (CEG) (Root, 3rd, 5th)
V = Major D major (DF#A) (Root, 3rd, 5th)
or (and you can make it a 7th chord too) D7 (DF#AC) (Root, 3rd, 5th, b7)
vi = E minor (EGB) (Root, b3, 5th)
vii = that weird diminished chord F#dim (F#AC) (Root, b3, b5)

Here are your Key Signatures:

The Sharp Keys

C MAJOR – C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
G MAJOR – G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G
D MAJOR – D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D
A MAJOR – A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A
E MAJOR – E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E
B MAJOR – B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B
F# MAJOR – F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F#
C# MAJOR – C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#

The Flat Keys

C MAJOR – C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
F MAJOR – F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F
Bb MAJOR - Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb
Eb MAJOR – Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb
Ab MAJOR – Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab
Db MAJOR – Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db
Gb MAJOR – Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb
Cb MAJOR – Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb

www.LessonsWithTroy.com

Edited by - LessonsWithTroy on 02/07/2010 21:05:28

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  06:51:02  

I agree with Dave & Stephen, transitions in closed chord positions are a great way to build licks. Practice slants a lot! Double stops are always good. Then fill in with your tastefull, single string noting on or around the melody.
MIke D.

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  11:00:56  

Your lessons have been great Troy. It is amazing how much easier it is to learn a song watching you play them. Thanks for the info. Looks like I have some memorizing to do. It is hard to know were to start when you don't know anything. A group of us get together every Wed at work to play which is lots of fun, but most of them have musical DNA so it is hard to get them to understand I don't understand what they are talking about. Buy the way we play bluegrass and old time stuff.

Yep, I have the Parking lot Pickers CD, love the versions they play. Unfortunately I am not to the point were slowing down the MP3 would help cause I can not tell what notes they are playing. I am still working on hearing a note and knowing were it is on Dobro. Once I get there I will definitely get the MP3 program which allow you to slow the track.

I have not even tried slants yet.

Thanks for all the help folks. Steph

Posted - 02/08/2010 :  18:21:27      

quote:

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Originally posted by twinsf2@gmail.com
Unfortunately I am not to the point were slowing down the MP3 would help cause I can not tell what notes they are playing. I am still working on hearing a note and knowing were it is on Dobro.

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Posted - 02/09/2010 :  23:30:56      

Also, one good rule of thumb is "Don't step on the singer". So it's best to play your chosen licks between the singing phrases. Hopefully those licks enhance the singing and don't distract from it. Easier said than done, I well know, but it's usually best for us to stay out of the way of the vocals. It sure is easy to overplay when the singing is happening.

Mark

Posted - 02/11/2010 :  11:41:51    

Yeah Troy you've been hitting it out of the park with your lessons on line.I have a bunch of your stuff .I have alot of Mike Auldridge's stuff aswell and that to me is priceless.I find myself going back to the stuff i had worked on in the past and picking up on more imformation then the first time.I put alot of work into learning the dobro and have made huge strides thanks to you and Mike.I don't mess with tabs i like to listen to the tune and learn it by ear.But thanks to you guys you all have made a dumm drummer into a dobro player . thanks. P.s Troy i still put 4 to 8 hours a day on the reso.It's a drug i can't stop .

Posted - 02/12/2010 :  21:20:45      

Amen to Troy's comments. Don't mean to sound like a broken record, but his lessons are easy-as-hell to understand. Real user-friendly. I've played guitar for nearly 40 years and I guess I'm decent. I know some music theory. Maybe quite-a-bit, but until recently I've rarely really thought about it as I played. I just play without thinking much of why I go somewhere...I just go there because it works and sounds good. However, now that I am actually learning where the notes on the dobro are I find myself looking at the neck of my guitars differently. I don't just fret a chord now. I also tend to look at my fingers and think about what note it's on and where that next useable note is, or I'll notice a slide I can use that I never paid attention to before.. This dobro playing is like a new world to me, and Troy's approach to learning it has opened many new doors and re-opened some old ones that I'd originally just peaked into. Now I feel like my picking and grinning is moving up to a new level. Not just on the dobro, but my guitars as well. ...Anyway, this is a lot of fun. I find myself with my dobro across my lap....watching tv, lying in bed, sitting out in our sunroom........What I do is like some of you other picker. I make my own band in a box CDs and then accompany them with the dobro.

Posted - 02/17/2010 :  16:27:39  

Take a look at the material by Dan Huckabee. I found it invaluable for learning licks especially the Josh Graves style. I have the 4 tape set but there is a DVD set also. He breaks it down nicely. Happy Picking!