How to Play Salt Creek

FreeA Section

Getting Started

Jumping right in. The slide from the 6 to 7th fret is a classic bluegrass move. There's a whole gob of 16th notes so take your time with the tempo. As Always check the video for a demonstration of ...

FreeCreating Variations in the A Section

Mixing it Up

For the first variation let's check out the Pentatonic lick for measure 5. Nothing too wild going on here, just a bunch of sixteenth notes and a pull off. Take it slow. If you want to forgo the pul...

The B Section

Up, Up, and Away

We gettin' high on the neck now folks. For the first three measures it's a four fret stretch, using ring, index and middle fingers. Make your position shifts when you play the open E notes at the ...

Creating Variations in the B Section

Changing it Up

We've got some great licks to play wth here. Let's get wild and try out two different lick combinations. Measure 2 -- Bluesy and Measure 3 -- Bluegrass #2. The Bluesy lick in measure two has a coup...

Rhythmic Overview

Lead is Important, But Rhythm and Backup is Importanter

Click on the chord bubbles for chord diagrams. Watch the video for a demonstration of backup. One time using bluegrass chop chords, another using bar chords.

Where to Now

Taking it a Step Further

Now that you've got a handle on Salt Creek, and nailed those Bill Monroe and Sam Bush licks, it might be time to delve a little deeper into the musical stylings of these legendary figures of Bluegr...