The latest DVD release from Flatpicking Guitar is Volume 4 in Brad Davis’ Flatpick Jam series. Like the three that preceded it, this DVD is a play-along video where Brad demonstrates flatpicking solos for 11 tunes, and then plays each one with bass and mandolin accompaniment at four different speeds.
For each tune, at each speed, Brad plays through the solo and then provides a rhythm guitar accompaniment for you to pick the lead. The idea is to allow you to play the solos slowly as you first learn them, with a solid rhythm guitar behind you to keep time.
Once you graduate from the slow version, Brad alternates between soloing and back up twice through so that you can get a good rhythm workout yourself. For more experienced pickers, the fastest version is at a typical performance speed, which could be useful for both warm-up and rhythm work.
The tunes are all familiar fiddle tunes and jam favorites like John Henry, Leather Britches and Home Sweet Home. You can see the full list of tunes on the Flatpick Jam Volume 4 site.
You can also get a taste of the format on this DVD by checking out the free lesson offered in October by Flatpicking Guitar, which offers the tab and MP3 audio for Brad’s version of Crazy Creek from this new DVD.
