{"id":135605,"date":"2023-06-16T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/?p=135605"},"modified":"2023-06-16T16:05:50","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T23:05:50","slug":"how-to-play-billy-strings-guitar-solos-on-way-downtown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/how-to-play-billy-strings-guitar-solos-on-way-downtown\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Play Billy Strings\u2019 Fleet-Fingered Solos on \u201cWay Downtown\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9GIQTMtbjwg?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Billy Strings\u2019 November 2022 release, <em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3T2q8u8\" target=\"_blank\">Me\/And\/Dad<\/a><\/em>, has had remarkable chart-topping success, hitting No. 1 on the <em>Billboard<\/em> Bluegrass Albums Chart, No. 7 on the Top Country Albums Chart, and even No. 37 on the <em>Billboard<\/em> Top 200. It\u2019s even more notable considering this is his most traditional bluegrass record to date, a collection of 14 classic songs performed with his stepfather and musical mentor, Terry Barber. The popularity of this record in particular and Strings\u2019 career in general is a boon both for bluegrass and flatpicking guitar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the album, Strings and Barber are accompanied by bluegrass veterans Michael Cleveland (fiddle), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Rob McCoury (banjo), Mike Bub (bass), Jerry Douglas (dobro), and Jason Carter (fiddle). The instrumental performances are exceptional, but the focal point of the record is on Strings and Barber, who take turns leading vocal songs and backing each other up with harmonies. As with any Strings record, the guitarist\u2019s flatpicking prowess also lies front and center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yRJdrquC3MU?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWay Downtown\u201d is a traditional song with a straightforward chord progression and melody, popularized by Doc Watson, who played it at a blistering tempo. Strings captures Watson\u2019s joyful and lighthearted spirit by kicking off the track at a feisty 135 half notes per minute, adding some fun off-the-cuff commentary (like \u201cYeah, dude\u201d at 1:31 in reaction to Cleveland\u2019s fiddle lick), and blasting out two fantastic 16-bar solos that quote some signature Watson licks. Strings plays the song out of the C position, with a capo at the fourth fret causing it to sound a major third higher, in the key of E major.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example 1 <\/strong>shows the solo that leads off the song. The first half (bars 1\u20138) uses mostly longer note values following the song\u2019s melody with some hammer-ons and a pull-off for syncopation. The second half incorporates two Watson-inspired eighth-note licks (bars 10\u201311 and 13\u201314), both of which are well worth learning for those looking to build their flatpicking vocabulary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second solo, beginning at 1:51 on the recording, is notated in <strong>Example 2<\/strong>. It follows a similar pattern, but with more syncopation in the first half and some new lick ideas in the second part. Strings finishes with a move similar to the one he used to end the first solo\u2014a nice touch that adds familiarity and grounds a speedy break that otherwise seems to fly by in a flurry of notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When working through these solos, focus on using alternating picking throughout (downstrokes on the beats and upstrokes on the \u201cands\u201d). For your convenience, I\u2019ve included pick directions between the standard and tablature lines. Both Watson and Strings consistently play this way, and the approach gives a natural pulse to their leads. If you are new to this method, it might take a while to master, but eventually it will become a default for playing flatpicking leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s worth mentioning that Strings can play at tempos unattainable to most guitarists, professional or otherwise. But work on memorizing the solos, playing them cleanly and in time, and in the long run your speed will improve as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?ssl=1\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"757\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?resize=757%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Billy Strings guitar solos on &quot;Way Downtown&quot; guitar lesson music notation sheet 1\" class=\"wp-image-135609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?resize=757%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 757w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?resize=222%2C300&amp;ssl=1 222w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?resize=768%2C1039&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?resize=443%2C600&amp;ssl=1 443w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-1.png?w=1079&amp;ssl=1 1079w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?ssl=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"765\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?resize=765%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Billy Strings guitar solos on &quot;Way Downtown&quot; guitar lesson music notation sheet 2\" class=\"wp-image-135610\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?resize=765%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 765w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?resize=224%2C300&amp;ssl=1 224w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?resize=768%2C1028&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?resize=448%2C600&amp;ssl=1 448w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AG340-WAY-DOWNTOWN-EX-2.png?w=1079&amp;ssl=1 1079w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 765px) 100vw, 765px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-340-may-june-2023\" name=\"magazine\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 198px; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/001_340_Cover_150px.jpg?w=1290&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Acoustic Guitar magazine cover for issue 340\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/a>\n<p style=\"font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 15px 0px;\">This article originally appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-340-may-june-2023\">May\/June 2023<\/a> issue of <em>Acoustic Guitar<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Strings&#8217; version of this traditional song includes two solos that quote some signature Doc Watson licks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":135607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"Billy Strings' version of this traditional song includes two solos that quote some signature Doc Watson licks.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1655,1151],"tags":[1650],"ppma_author":[1589],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/billy_strings-photo-credit-Joshua-Black-Wilkins.jpg?fit=750%2C563&ssl=1","authors":[{"term_id":1589,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"alan-barnosky","display_name":"Alan Barnosky","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Alan-Barnosky.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Alan-Barnosky.jpg"},"user_url":"https:\/\/www.alanbarnosky.com\/","last_name":"Barnosky","first_name":"Alan","description":"Alan Barnosky is a guitarist based in Durham, NC. He performs solo as a songwriter as well as in bluegrass and folk bands."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135605"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135605"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140870,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135605\/revisions\/140870"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135605"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=135605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}