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Progress Update – Billy in the Low Ground
Hi all, when I joined TAC in early May, my intentions included learning how to flat pick. In addition to the Daily Challenges, 30 Days to Play and 5 Day Guitar Routine Challenge I also did the Flatpicking jumpstart course. It included learning the song “Bill in the Low Ground”.
The first part of this video contains an earlier post from May 21st. I was thrilled to be able to even play it. When I listened to bluegrass bands play it I quickly learned I would need to improve the quality and tone of my notes plus pick up the speed.
The second part of this post is where I am right now. Turns out the fastest speed I can play with quality and consistency seems to be the slowest speed in the bluegrass world! 😂. In any case I am very pleased with how The TAC method has helped me progress. I play “Billy” every day for at least a little bit and bump the speed up a bit – if that is I am maintain the quality and tone.
Last note, once you get to around the 1:23 marker in the video, the song repeats a couple times.
Thanks in advance for watching and providing your feedback and ideas!
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14 Replies
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Nice job you are flat picking good soon you will be doing it without a thought putting your own Improv in it well done
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Thank you for your encouragement @kevinz .
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That was great Kitman! You made good progress in the video. Keep the journey going! 👏🎸😎
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Thank you @stevieblues ! I will keep my routine going! 😀
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Very well done! Quite a lot of improvement in a short period of time. Great job!
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Thank yo @Philb for taking a moment to watch and for your kind words and encouragement. Very much appreciated!
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That is a great leap @Kitman 😱 Your improvement is quite evident🤩 – way to go👍
If you enjoy “Billy”, you should take a look at “Whisky Before Breakfast”😎
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Thanks so much @Bill_Brown . I truly appreciate the feedback and input. 😀 I will check out Whiskey Before Breakfast. Right now I am working on Ol’ Joe Clark played with a capo in the 2nd fret using the G scale. My 90 day goals included learning to play a bluegrass song in the key of C (Billy) and in the key of G (Ol’ Joe – well it is really in the key of A however with a capo at the 2nd fret the G scale and chord shapes can be used). Having fun 😎!
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Having fun doing what you’re doing is a key element to progress (IMHO)👍 @Kitman . And that’s why I made the suggestion of WBB (those also happen to be my initials)😱
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I’ll check WBB out for sure @Bill_Brown !
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Sounded great both times, Kitman, and excellent improvemnt on speed with no sacrifice on timing and note quality. You have a great sense of rhythm.
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Thanks for listening / watching and for your feedback and encouragement @Jonathandavid ! I really appreciate it. 😃
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This was an early flat picking song for me too and I still go to it when I just want to relax. I do like Old Joe Clark like you said, But Forked Deer with it lower E and A string portions are loads of fun too. Give it a listen @Kitman
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Thanks, @albert_d , I will check them out for sure!
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