Members Jersey Jack Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 Here's Jason Isbell performing "Decoration Day" solo on acoustic guitar. Jason does a solo break beginning around 2:20 and continuing for about a minute, and this is exactly the kind of thing I want to learn how to do. I suspect he's playing in an alternative tuning, but I'm not sure. I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions you might have about how Jason does this lead break and how I might develop (eventually) this kind of skill. [video=youtube;doFfc-BCLXw] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Seorie Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 sounds like 'straight standard' tuning to me Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 Definitely standard tuning. That's a nice bit of playing, because it illustrates a few different ways to cover a solo break when playing by yourself. Starting at 2:20, he's really just doing the chord progression, with some interesting voicings with open strings ringing. So to do that first bit, learn your inversions up and down the neck. At 2:56, he's playing the descending bass line from the chord progression, then doing your basic "blues box" soloing , again hitting the open strings as they apply. Finally, around 3:10, he's pretty much doing a Carter style 1st position hammer-on runs. Start with the "Lester Flatt G Run" and work from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chordchunker Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 Standard tuning..Key of Am. Nothing too difficult going on, but it is tasty. Nice voice too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robert Altman Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 DBT lost a great singerwriter when he split. Patterson is a good writer but Jason is by far the better singer. Have his first ( I think ) solo and should find and buy his other(s). Would most of that lead just be called arpeggiated chords? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chicken Monkey Posted December 21, 2011 Members Share Posted December 21, 2011 The first third is, but not of straight major or minor chords. I'm pretty sure there's a Am2 chord implied in there w/ open strings and what-not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jersey Jack Posted December 22, 2011 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2011 Thanks to you all for taking the time to look at the video and respond. I've been working hard at developing the ability to take a break while playing solo, and I've made progress when it comes to steady alternating bass patterns--Steve Earle-style Travis picking and acoustic blues; but strumming and using open string drone notes while playing leads...that sh*t's hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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