Country Lead Guitar Patterns and Licks
The following lessons deal with the other main classification of Country guitar, Lead guitar. Lead guitar is the picking of individual notes, often played within a lead guitar pattern.
Country Lead Guitar Patterns
Most Country guitarists play lead guitar with the help of a lead guitar pattern. A lead guitar pattern is a pattern of notes which can be played in different positions on the fretboard. The most popular Country lead guitar pattern is shown in the following diagram. This pattern will be refered to as Country lead guitar pattern number one. The example given begins on the third fret of the 5th string (a C note).
Example 17 ascends pattern one. Special attention should be given to the left hand fingering.
Now try ascending and descending the pattern. Once again take note of the left hand fingering.
Fretboard Position
As mentioned earlier, lead guitar patterns can be played in different positions on the fretboard. The following diagram illustrates Country lead guitar pattern one, but this time beginning on the fifth fret of the 5th string (a D note).
Keys
The fretboard position that is used for pattern one will determine the key you are playing in. The first note in the pattern (on the 5th string) will indicate exactly which key the pattern is in. For example, beginning pattern one on the third fret of the 5th string (a C note) means you are playing in the key of C, as in examples 17 and 18. Beginning pattern one on the fifth fret of the 5th string (a D note) means you are playing in the key of D, as in example 19.
Notes on the Fifth String
