Check dobrojoe.com, lots of great instructional material.

Also, play/stream some recordings, and focus on the non-solo portions of the songs. That will get your brain started in the right direction.

PS- dobros are great at booming and chucking. (Great for reggae rhythm guitar also, if you end up at a non-bluegrass jam.)

Also: elderly.com/products/download-...Fz_WxiwkK

Also this album (put all the sound on the left channel). Copious dobro backup: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd0...hEpnpBkX6

Skydog, you missed it by less than a week - Rob's Reso Room as in Rob  Ickes had an April special where one could sign up for a  full year membership for $150, or 50% off the regular price of  $300.

There's a ton of stuff on there, I recently signed up for my 5th year.

Beyond all the playing lessons, Bobby Wright did an almost hour long setup video with Rob a couple years ago. I learned some good tips from that one. 

You  could plead your case by sending an email to the administrator to still get the $150  and say I recommended  you join.  They might not go for it, but it's worth a shot.

https://www.bigmusictent.com/reso/

Sky....
There are countless instructional videos as well as performance videos to show you the various backup techniques. To your question, there is definitely a "Boom-chuck" rhythm lick on the dobro, however, it can be over-used. In a bluegrass band/jam situation my best advice to you is to listen to what others are doing. If the mandolin is doing a chop lick...then don't do that (boomchuck) as it can be too much and compete with the bass and mandolin. If the mandolin is taking a break and the banjo is not doing the "chuck" then the dobro can do it. If someone is singing....do nothing. In my opinion too often, particularly in "amateur" jams everyone plays over the vocal as they all want to hear what they have to say. Listen to professional bands as to how all the instruments fit together. If nobody is playing fills then do so. These can be single notes with long sustain or soft chords. Don't play the melody while the singer is singing the same. As Chick Corea used to put it...don't play anything unless you have something to say. When in doubt, play nothing and wait your turn to solo. Be an addition to the group and not a distraction.

I’ve looked over most if not all of the suggestions here and appreciate all of them. I’m just not at that level yet. Not yet. I’m not afraid of “getting in over my head” but sometimes it can be counterproductive to jump in too deep. Like when I first started guitar years ago and bought a tab book for Electric Ladyland to start out on!

Basic boom-chuck + chops technique and such at 13:00 in video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH_QjW6pmjo

Also, for some reason I thought you were part of Ivan Rosenberg's Patreon site?  If so, go to "Dobro From Zero #3 (closed position licks as fills), and Steel This Lick #3 (more closed position licks) for some "quick start" fills ideas.

Specific to jams:  As was mentioned, don't feel compelled to add stuff in every space.  Etiquette-wise, we all know players who overplay at jams, so don't be that guy...LOL.  

That said, basic rolls and single string slides into chord tones can be be effective.  As can chord "pads" (3 string grabs) with some vibrato.

Finally, accompaniment technique and refinement is a lifetime journey.  Work at it, but be patient and enjoy the ride.  Progress will come.

quote:

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Originally posted by skydog

I’ve looked over most if not all of the suggestions here and appreciate all of them. I’m just not at that level yet. Not yet. I’m not afraid of “getting in over my head” but sometimes it can be counterproductive to jump in too deep. Like when I first started guitar years ago and bought a tab book for Electric Ladyland to start out on!

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I was somewhat confused when I read this..

Let me attempt a reply with my usual recommendations:

IMHO "beginners" should avoid tab or really anything that is "book focused" for a while.

In a perfect world you'd seek out personal instruction to understand not only how the neck "works" but, how to actually physically approach the guitar. Correct hand positions, muting and a multitude of techniques. Instructors can watch as well as listen and correct issues early, the best of times.

Understanding that local instruction is a challenge for many the very best alternative would be online, "live" lessons. There are excellent choices out there. Also video swap sessions where you play and get feedback.

Since you already play another instrument and presumably can play 3-4 chords and want to understand where/how to jam and backup appropriately I'd recommend the Wernick Method Jam classes where you can get together, socialize and learn how the reso "fits" in a bluegrass context (assuming that's where your interests are). (disclosure, I'm a Wernick "coach") The sessions are geared towards beg/int level players. Wernick website HERE!

At any rate. I would also seek out the local music scene, players/jams/instructors/festivals and just leap in. Most are happy to show newbs the ropes. Get thee to a jam and just stand at the outer edge. Strum. Listen to the better players and learn.

Have fun and don't stress out.

Yeah, I played guitar for many years but recently took up the dobro due to hand pain and a slow recovery from bilateral trigger finger surgery. So, I’m not new to guitar/music, but am to the dobro. The one local jam that is strictly bluegrass is “performers only, no audience”. I went to it as a guitar player a few times prior to my surgeries. There was never a dobro player there, but there was a good banjo player there. The other one is a all-inclusive one that depends on who shows up. If the right players aren’t there, and you call out a fiddle tune, you’ll have to provide a chord chart! I’ve also gone out to see a few of the string bands in the area but none have a dobro player. I’ll check out the Wernick site. Thanks!

All good advice above. As has been said, the boom chuck is a nice tool to have but people want to hear that soulful dobro sound! Like you, Skydog, I started out with limited musical experience. Of all the books and videos I have purchased over the years, I would say that Jimmy Heffernan‘s “Scales and how to use them” probably did the most to “turn the light on.” Jimmy lays out the G scale pattern from the nut (openG notes) to the 12th fret and shows you how to navigate around the neck using your ear to take you to those target notes. As you may already know, Skydog, the closed scale is movable from one key to another. When I got comfortable with the scale pattern, I went to YouTube and would do a search for something like, slow country backing track in G and play along. For example, if I was going from a G chord to a C chord, instead of going straight to the fifth fret, I might play notes from the third and fourth fret, then slide into the C chord. Really gives your playing some color and it’s not too difficult. Have fun!

Also, practice at home with bad lighting. There's more looking down at what you're playing than a guitar, and at jams, etc., there's no guarantee of sufficient foot-candles, especially when outdoors once the sun goes down.

quote:

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Originally posted by JC Dobro

Basic boom-chuck + chops technique and such at 13:00 in video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH_QjW6pmjo

Also, for some reason I thought you were part of Ivan Rosenberg's Patreon site?  If so, go to "Dobro From Zero #3 (closed position licks as fills), and Steel This Lick #3 (more closed position licks) for some "quick start" fills ideas.

Specific to jams:  As was mentioned, don't feel compelled to add stuff in every space.  Etiquette-wise, we all know players who overplay at jams, so don't be that guy...LOL.  

That said, basic rolls and single string slides into chord tones can be be effective.  As can chord "pads" (3 string grabs) with some vibrato.

Finally, accompaniment technique and refinement is a lifetime journey.  Work at it, but be patient and enjoy the ride.  Progress will come.

 

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I am, and Ivan's instruction has been instrumental in getting me as far as he has. I'm pretty familiar with those two lessons. I've dined in the root cellar on double cheese sliders for a month or so! (IYKYK!) I'm doing well on Your Cheatin' Heart as well as 9# Hammer. I'm still trying to get Summer Wages and Long Road to Aspen up to speed. YCH plays off the vocals, so there's little danger of interfering there. I'll try to expand those techniques into some other songs that I have on my Strum Machine app from guitar. Ivan has provided a wealth of material so far. I've been able to practice about 1-1.5 hrs a day, and for that reason, I don't want to get too serious with another program just yet.