Walk on Boy - Bluegrass

Add a bit of the blues into "Walk on Boy" for the mandolin. This one adds several tricks and cliches that are used in bluegrass when playing a solo. It starts with the 3 "lead-in" notes in measure 1. This is how many songs are started, not by "counting-off", but by playing those 3 notes with impeccable timing and clarity. The lead in notes also use chromatic pitch movement. That means the pitch is moving 1 fret, or half-step, at a time in the same direction. This can often lead to the bluesy sound you hear in the lead in notes and in measure 7.

Follow the fingerings in the mandolin tablature, and check out those licks to add in variation after you get a hang of the basic arrangement. Practice licks with the focus feature before trying them in the context of the whole song. Remember, listening will help you understand it before you play it. Listen and practice slowly at first.

If you struggle with the fret hand movement and picking in measure 7...practice. If you after many tries you are still struggling...practice slower. As a final resort, check out the alternate fingering lick for measure 7. Which you should still look at even if you master measure 7 because it's a cool and different way to play the same thing!

Explore more Walk on Boy Mandolin Tabs:

Melody, Melody - Up the Neck, Playing the Syllables, Pentatonic, Up the Neck - Bluegrass, Up the Neck - Pentatonic, Doc Watson Style, Up the Neck - Doc Watson Style