Homework Answers
In each of the eight volumes of the Flatpicking Essentials
Course readers are asked to work through the examples that are given in
the books and then they are given suggested homework problems to work
out. Each "homework" problem is designed reinforce the lessons taught
through the examples given in the books so that each concept can be
further explored and more experiential understanding can be gained. If
you have any questions about the answers to the homework problems that
I have listed here, please feel free to contact us ([email protected]). Please include "Flatpicking Essentials" in the subject line.
Flatpicking Essentials, Volume 1: Rhythm, Bass Runs, and Fill Licks
Homework Assignment #1 (for Example 1):
The assignment: After you have practiced Example 1 with
the G-chord, now work on other chords that you know using this same
pattern. Hold the chord shape that you know, figure out where the root
note of the lowest pitch is located, and then play the same pattern
while holding that chord. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the keys of C, D, A, E, and F
Homework Assignment #2 (for Example 2):
The assignment: After you have practiced Example 2 with
the progression show (I-IV-V in the key of G), now work on playing the
same I-IV-V progression in at least one other key. The key of C, or
the key of D, perhaps. These are common keys in all styles of music.
Remember that a I-IV-V progression in the key of C will use the chords
C, F, and G. The I-IV-V progression in the key of D will use the D, G
and A chords. Try to play in the style of Example 2 in either or both
of these keys. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the keys of C and D.
Homework Assignment #3 (for Examples 3, 4, and 5):
The assignment: After you have practiced Examples 3, 4,
and 5, try and experiment with the alternating bass line rhythm while
holding other chords that you may know. At a minimum, try this style
of rhythm with the F-chord and the A-chord. It may also help you a
little later on if you try to also play an alternating bass rhythm with
the E-chord. Click <here> to find the transcription for the alternating bass line with the E, A, and F chords.
Homework Assignment #4 (for Example 6):
The assignment: After you have practiced Examples 6,
try and experiment with the alternating bass line rhythm technique
while playing a I-IV-V progression in a different key. At a minimum,
try this method in the keys of C and D. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the keys of C and D.
Homework Assignment #5 (for Example 8):
The assignment: After you have practiced Example 8,
and become familiar with how the leading tones sound, try to figure out
the same style of progression, using leading tones, for a I, IV, V
progression in the key of C and in the key of D. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of C and <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of D.
Homework Assignment #6 (for Example 9):
The assignment: After you have practiced Example 9,
and become familiar with how the leading tones sound, try to figure out
the same style of progression, using similar scale walk up tones, for a
I, IV, V progression in the key of C and in the key of D. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of C and <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of D.
Homework Assignment #7 (for Example 10):
The assignment: After you have practiced Example
10, and become familiar with how the scale walk down tones sound, try
to figure out the same style of progression, using similar scale walk
up tones, for a I, IV, V progression in the key of C and in the key of
D. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of C and here for a transcribed answer to this problem in the key of D .
Homework Assignment #8 (for Examples 11 and 12):
The assignment: After you have practiced Examples
11 and 12, and become familiar with their mechanics and their sound,
try to play the exact same runs in other keys. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to Example 11 in the key of C and <here> for a transcribed answer to this Example 11 in the key of D. Click <here> for a transcribed answer to Example 12 in the key of C and <here> for
a transcribed answer to this Example 12 in the key of D. I have
included a variation in the key of D that uses lower strings. When
using rhythm runs it sometimes sounds weak to play the unwound strings
(B or high E strings). The variation in the key of D moves the example
down to the bass strings. Slight adjustments were made to make it
flow better.
Homework Assignment #10 (for Example 14):
The assignment: For the time being, I’m not
going to ask you to find this progression in other keys. Later, you
will see an example of similar runs in the key of C, and I’ll point
that out when it comes up. What I would like you to do here for
homework is try to analyze what is going on here. Take a look at each
run and figure out what notes are being used, what scales they are
from, if they are walk-ups, or walk-downs, etc. When you analyze what
is going on with runs, it helps you see what is happening, and it can
also help inspire your own ideas.
This is a really great bass run series that
combines chromatic runs, walk-ups, and walk-downs. In measure 2 we
walk up chromatically from the G chord to the C chord. In measure 3 we
begin a chromatic walk up on the D string, but then reverse it mid
stream to a chromatic walk down on the A string. We end on the A note,
which is the 5th note of the D chord, since we move to the root note
of the D chord on the next beat, this works very well. In measure 5 we
begin a chromatic walk up on the D string, when we reach the F# note,
we go back down to the D note and then walk back up along the D scale.
Then in measure 7 we move from the G note on the open G string to the G
note on the low E string using a G6 arpeggio.
Homework Assignment #11 (for Example 15):
The assignment: The first thing to do for
homework this time is to see if you can work out some half-note bass
runs in the keys of C and D. Click <here>; for an arrangement in C and <here> for an arrangement in D.
Homework Assignment #12 (for Example 16):
The assignment: Like the homework assignment on the previous page, try
to apply what you have learned here to other keys. See if you can work
out some eighth-note bass runs in the keys of C and D. After you do
that, look back at some of the quarter note walk-ups and walk-downs
that you have played previously and see if you can condense the runs
and play them in the eighth-note style.
I have provided some other fill lick runs that you can use in the
keys of C and D. I did not transcribe Example 16 exactly, because I
wanted to throw some other ideas at you here. Click <here> for an arrangement in the key of C. Click <here> for an arrangement in the key of D.
|
