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Lesson # 21, December 2003 

By Warren Yates 

In the last couple lessons, I showed how to play Blackberry Blossom on the banjo, mandolin, and the guitar; this lesson completes the series.  These lessons provide enough information to pick up the fiddle and the bass.  Blackberry Blossom is a very fast song and cannot be learned overnight.  Practice it occasionally and it will come to you in time.  Happy Holidays!

Warren Yates

How to Play "Blackberry Blossom" on the Mandolin

(Part Two) part one

There is really no need for a sound sample here; it is very simple.  Good luck and practice hard.

This section is played two times in the song with a slight improvisation at the end.  In the first part, 3 and 4 can be held with the pointer finger. You will find it easier to hold them anywhere they are close together in the E minor chord.  In the lower section, when you play the two 30s, that is part of a chord.  Pick back and forth on both strings until the measure is ready for the next chord.  38, at the end, is simply the G chord that you will end up in.

How to Play "Blackberry Blossom" on the Banjo

Part Two

Tune with me!

This part is played two times in the song.  Improvise on the second time around much like I did in the sound example.  Part one

In the section above, the 3 and 4 with the two middle strings open, makes the E minor chord.  You will notice that the 3 is shown in every diagram; That means once you hold it down, keep holding it to allow that note to ring.  This will help to give the E minor sound.  

From 1, hammer on 2.  Remember that a "hammer-on" is slapping the fretted position to make it sound, without picking the string.  

In the section to he right, there is a slide from 16 to 17.  A slide is when you hit the first note and slide your fretting finger to the next note without picking it again.  

Listen to the example of the top and right diagram.

In the section to the right, slide from 37 to 38. 

Hammer-on 40 (both positions) to 41 (also two positions).  

Slide from 49 to 50.  

Listen to the example of the diagram to the right.

 

 

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