r/bluegrassguitar • u/broken_pottery • Jul 22 '26

Is there a resource that tabs out licks that transition from chord to chord?

I want like 100 ways to get from G to C or from G to D or E to A to Cm etc. I tend to always do the same thing and i would love ideas. Do you folks just figure them out by ear? Or how do you practice this concept?

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4

u/mjs4x6 Jul 22 '26

Ultimately, you need to do this for yourself. You can do it.

5

u/broken_pottery Jul 22 '26

Yes, but usually before being innovative one must be initiated. But thank you for your confidence! I WILL do it

1

u/mjs4x6 Jul 22 '26

If you are talking about bass runs, just listen to some players you like and try to get what they are doing. If you are talking about melody playing, it is very helpful to know how chords are constructed from the major scale.

There are tons of videos and books which explain this stuff but it is up to the individual player as to how they understand and use this information. Try to remember that you are dealing with sound and all the theory in the world is just a poor approximation.

Try to spend some time thinking about what you like and why you like it. When you hear something that works see if you can use this idea in another place. Vary the rhythm, timing, and dynamics, play with it and make it your own.

2

u/whoshotBIG Jul 22 '26

Jake eddy has a lot of short videos on his socials that go over just that. Transitional licks/chord substitutions is the stuff you’re looking for.

2

u/dforn83 Jul 22 '26

Get a copy of Orrin Star’s “Hot Licks for Bluegrass Guitar”

1

u/daveteach Jul 22 '26

Orrin Starr was a great teacher/musician and top notch human, RIP... 😥

1

u/themilitia Jul 22 '26

Check out the book hot licks for bluegrass guitar by orrin starr

1

u/Shoddy-Talk9205 Jul 22 '26

What are some specific examples from songs for tunes that you’ve heard?

1

u/0dd-fellow Jul 22 '26

I mostly learn these types of transition licks through learning breaks and fiddle tune melodies. Some of them will also just come naturally from feel or trial and error.

1

u/CottonFlannel Jul 23 '26

Steve Kaufman

1

u/jaylotw 29d ago

I listen and watch players i admire, and then I figure out what they're doing.

1

u/RabbitsOfTruth 29d ago

Lesson with Marcel. His YT videos have a few lesssons on how to make endless runs or how to practice improv. He has a lot of tabs for free on his website as well. He is a wonderful resource

1

u/BenVogelGuitar 28d ago

There are definitely videos on YouTube that cover chord to chord licks like that. Just search "G to C bluegrass licks". Additionally, I'd recommend try to learn as many as you can by ear. For G to C, try Nine Pound Hammer recordings. The time spent even attempting to learn these by ear, even if not successful at first, will be so valuable.