“I’ve participated in many online learning programs, but so far, your format is the best I’ve ever seen. I am so pleased I happened upon your courses.”—Gina M.
“Your classes are moving me forward so very much. Thank you.” —Jean C.
“It was nice there were various assignments which pushed my ability. Never felt I had “mastered” ALL the homework so never got bored. Always something to work on or do next.”—Joe S.
Sale extended! Register by 12/15 and save $50!
Register for Advanced Bluegrass Mandolin Soloing with Matt Flinner
See the Bluegrass Mandolin 101 with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/6-3/15)
See the Bluegrass Mandolin Backup and Fills with Matt Flinner curriculum (1/8-3/15)
Join Grammy-nominated mandolinist Matt Flinner for a look into the mandolin styles of many of the bluegrass masters: Bill Monroe, Jesse McReynolds, Tim O’Brien, Adam Steffey and many others. Each week, students will look at two transcribed solos by one of the greats, along with some related exercises to help both improve technique and find ways of using melodic ideas in other solos.
Class sessions take place on Tuesdays at 2 pm and 9 pm eastern time (they’re the same—we’ve added the 2 pm time for the convenience of students in the UK and Europe, but anyone who finds the time convenient is welcome to join! And students can attend both sessions if they want to). Practice/review sessions will take place on Saturdays at 12:30 pm eastern time. The weeks of February 25 and March 4 will be off. There will be a total of eight weeks of classes in 10 weeks’ time.
The course is recommended for intermediate to advanced players.
Register by 12/15 and save $50!
Week 1 (1/7)
Bill Monroe
Melodic Exercise I
Chord Tone Exercise in a Few Keys
Rhythms using down-strokes
Playing melody in chop chord position
Picking Exercise I
Brand New Shoes
Sittin’ on Top of the World
Week 2 (1/14)
David McLaughlin
Picking Exercise II
Expanding on Monroe Style
Some syncopated licks
Say You’ll Take Me Back
My Long Journey Home
Week 3 (1/21)
Dempsey Young
Triplet Patterns
Open style double stop licks
Some chromatic patterns
Sun’s Gonna Shine in My Backdoor Someday
Southbound
Week 4 (1/28)
John Duffey
Playing rock and roll licks on the mandolin
Various positions on the neck
Moving between positions
Structuring solos using double stops and licks
Sunrise
Girl from the North Country
Week 5 (2/4)
Tim O’Brien
Picking Exercise IV
A few jazz-influenced licks
Some more position shifts
Open strings in B
If I Should Wander Back Tonight
Blue Night
Week 6 (2/11)
Jesse McReynolds
Crosspicking Exercises I and II
Double stops up the neck in various keys
How to create crosspicking solos
Are You Missing Me
She Left Me Standing on the Mountain
Week 7 (2/18)
Adam Steffey
Picking Exercise V
A few bluesy chromatic runs
More position shifts
Raleigh and Spencer
It Won’t Work this Time
Week 8 (3/11)
Sam Bush
Picking Exercise III
Melodic Exercise II
A few up the neck licks
Doin’ My Time
Stream Powered Aeroplane
The course fee is $225. Register by 12/15 for just $175!
Register for Advanced Bluegrass Mandolin Soloing with Matt Flinner