Getting Started on Country Guitar
Steven Kendzorski for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer
Country guitar playing is the single most technique-diverse style of music, mixing traditional blues with folk, bluegrass, soul, gospel, Americana, and rockabilly. Country music has also stood the test of time by welcoming newer American Music influences, like Southern-rock, alternative, neo-soul and pop. What gives country guitar playing it’s “staying power” is the personal aspect of the craft, allowing new players to develop their own ideas and incorporate fresh flavors.
The culture of country guitar playing is also uniquely supportive of players from all backgrounds. Anyone learning how to play guitar is welcome to to draw upon the styles and techniques of the guitarists they admire, and tips and tricks are traded generously. Whether you know three chords - or three hundred - there is something for guitarists at every stage of the game.
When you think of classic country guitarists, your mind might initially think of Willie Nelson’s fingerpicking, the shred-tastic lead playing of Albert Lee, or the virtuosic hybrid picking of Chet Atkins. Or maybe you’re more excited by contemporary country guitar torch holders, like Brad Paisley, Keith Urban or Hunter Hayes. These players are astonishing, but can also be intimidating.
Be not afraid! If you are new to country guitar playing, or taking beginner guitar lessons, there are some simple skills and techniques that can help you develop the basics of playing countless country tunes. Let’s take a look at common country chords, grooves, guitar scales and licks, and then we’ll explore gear and tone.
COWBOY CHORDS
Country music is rich with open major, minor and seventh chords. First, you’ll want to learn the Big 5: C, A, G, E and D (notice: they spell the word “caged”). Country guitarists often refer to these common open major chords as cowboy chords. These 5 open chords can be utilized to play thousands of country classics (every Johnny Cash song in the catalog utilizes at least one). Next, tackle the minor and seventh open chord shapes. You can use a guitar chord chart to help you with fingerings and variations on these chords. Minor chords are used to capture sadder, more introspective emotions, while seventh chords add complexity and tension.
COMMON GROOVES & RHYTHMS
The most common rhythm found in country music is the alternate bass-note strum. This groove is accomplished by striking the bass note of a chord (meaning, the root of a chord, or, lowest note) and then strumming the remaining strings. This back-and-forth rhythm achieves the bouncy 2 feel perfect for many country tunes. Practicing this groove one chord at a time will help develop your muscle memory, as well as enhance your awareness of root note locations in each chord.
Travis picking, named after guitarist Merle Travis who pioneered the technique, is quite similar. The only difference is that lowest two strings of a chord are played alternately between each strum.
The blues shuffle, borrowed directly from (you guessed it!) blues music, can be used to accomplish rhythms with more personality and swing. A shuffle occurs whenever eighth notes are treated as “long and short”, rather that equidistant. Because the blues shuffle is all about feel, the easiest way to develop this rhythm is to play along with your teacher or a recording.
No pick? No Problem! Fingerpicking is everywhere in country rhythm as well. Use your thumb to strike notes on the E, A and D strings, and your index, middle and ring fingers strike the notes on the G, B and High E strings, respectively. Fingerpicking is used to create a multitude of unique chord arpeggios, giving us access to a wide variety of flavors.
SCALES
Country music often relies on pentatonic and blues guitar scales to achieve some of the genre’s most iconic and gritty riffs. What distinguishes the genre from blues is a greater emphasis on speed, cleanliness and precision. For this reason, country guitarists often practice scale shapes daily, and in a variety of ways. Chromatic scales can be blended with pentatonic shapes to add tension and excitement.
Major scales, and the related modes, are also utilized in country music. However, these scales tend to appear more in ballads and slow songs, as they have a more sincere emotional outcome.
Start with pentatonic and blues scales, and then explore incorporating major scales and chromatic scales for a wider range of harmonic possibilities.
LICKS
Country guitarists love emulating the sounds of other popular folk instruments. For example, pedal steel bends are commonly used to emulate the distinctive timbre of a pedal steel. Pedal steel bends are achieved by using your pinky finger to play a static note (typically on the B and/or High E string), while your other three fingers are used in tandem to bend a note on an adjacent string (typically the G string). Controlling the bend while keeping the pinky unmoved takes some work, but this type of practice is great for getting your ears used to pitch accuracy during bends.
Hybrid picking is a technique employed by country guitarists to mirror the sound of banjo licks and rolls. Hybrid picking is where a pick is used to play notes on the E, A and D strings, while the middle, ring, and pinky fingers are used to play notes on the G, B and High E strings, respectively. While hybrid picking can certainly be used for rhythm playing as well, it’s success in country lead playing is what makes it so iconic.
GUITARS, GEAR & TONE
Up until the 1950s, when Telecasters were introduced, country guitarists played acoustic instruments exclusively. Leaning still on this tradition, the acoustic guitar is the single most prevalent sound in country music. Gibson, Martin, Taylor and Fender acoustic guitars are the most common. America was the birthplace of country music, and many players prefer an axe made in the Heartland. That being said, Yamaha and Epiphone have several acoustics that meet the standards of country guitar pros. Some country players believe the “bigger the body, the bigger the sound”, and prefer dreadnought acoustic guitars. Their robust body size can be tough to handle, but easily project without amplification. They also boast the most balanced tone, with a stocky low end and glittery high presence.
The Fender Telecaster is the most common electric guitar in the genre of country music. The reason is simple, and can be summed up in a single word: TWANG! The spanky goodness of Tele-twang is unmatched, and today there are literally hundreds of updated and modified versions of this iconic instrument. Other common country electric guitars are the Fender Stratocaster, the Gretch Hollowbody and the Gibson ES-335.
When it comes to amps, loud and clean vintage-style amps are preferred. The Fender Deluxe Reverb or Twin Reverb are “country standards”, but some players prefer the warmer tone of a Fender Bassman or a boutique make.
Delay and reverb pedals are common colors added to the country palate. Overdrive is sometimes used for lead playing, particularly in the last few decades, but almost never fully saturated. Country guitarists tend to have simple pedal boards with a tuner, delay, reverb and overdrive.
SADDLE UP!
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, please remember that becoming a great country guitar player takes time and effort - don’t forget to enjoy the journey! Whatever your level of experience, the genre of country music is eager and ready to welcome new players into the fold. Turn off the distortion, and turn up the twang!