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Advanced dobro lesson
Sliding Rock: Learn Mark Lavengood's Original Dobro Tune
In this lesson Mark teaches the A part of Sliding Rock, an original tune he wrote, in G over the chords G, D, C and B flat. He walks through the slides into chord tones on the second and third strings, a sliding arpeggio into the F chord, and a fourth-string slide with a forward roll in the G chord.
Sliding Rock at Full Speed | Original Dobro Tune
Sliding Rock Live at Dogtown Studio with the Mark Lavengood Band
The A Part
In this lesson Mark teaches the A part of Sliding Rock, an original tune he wrote, in G over the chords G, D, C and B flat. He walks through the slides into chord tones on the second and third strings, a sliding arpeggio into the F chord, and a fourth-string slide with a forward roll in the G chord.
- The chords of the A part: G, D, C and B flat
- Sliding from the 11th to the 12th fret on the second string with the open D string drone
- Sliding into the D and C chords and hitting the chord tones on the third string
- A sliding arpeggio on the fifth, fourth and third strings, then into the F chord on the fourth, third and second strings
- A slide from the fourth string, third fret to the fifth fret with a forward roll in the G chord
- G chord: slide in from the 11th to the 12th fret on the second string (B), with the open D string drone, then pick the third string, 12th fret (G) with your thumb.
- D chord: slide from the sixth to the seventh fret on the second string twice, then hit the root, D, on the third string, seventh fret.
- C chord: slide from the fourth to the fifth fret, then hit the chord tone C on the third string, fifth fret.
- Sliding arpeggio: slide into the fifth string from the second to the third fret, play the fourth string, third fret with your index, and the third string, third fret with your middle finger.
- Slide up, arpeggiating into the F chord on the fourth, third and second strings, and end with your index on the third string, tenth fret.
- Later in the A part: slide on the fourth string from the third fret (F) up to the fifth fret, pick the open third string (the same note you slid into), and hit the D to drone through with a forward roll in the G chord.
The B Part
In this lesson Mark teaches the B part of Sliding Rock, which starts with an ascending series of hammer-ons from the open strings over the chords C, E flat and F. He then shows a second pass that changes at the third string, with half-step dissonances he especially likes.
- The chords of the B part: C, E flat and F
- An ascending series of hammer-ons from the open sixth string up to the second string
- A second pass that changes once it reaches the third string
- Where the half-step dissonances are, and why Mark likes them
- Playing the B part slowly and in time
- First series of hammer-ons: sixth string open to the third fret; fifth string open to the second fret; fourth string open to the fourth fret; third string open to the third fret; second string open to the second fret.
- Second series: open sixth string, hammer to the third fret; open fifth, hammer to the second; open fourth, hammer to the fourth fret; open third, hammer to the third.
- Then play the open second string, the third string at the third fret, the open third string, and the fourth string at the fourth fret.
The Outro Lick
In this lesson Mark teaches the outro lick for Sliding Rock, a series of sliding arpeggios over the B part that climb the neck, ending with a scrape slide on the first string.
- That the outro is a series of arpeggios on the B part
- Sliding into each arpeggio on the fifth string and arpeggiating across the strings
- How the pattern moves up the neck through the third, fifth, eighth and tenth frets
- The ending: a stop, then a scrape slide from the third to the fifth fret on the first string
- Slide in on the fifth string into the third fret and arpeggiate the fifth, fourth and third strings.
- Hit the fourth string, third fret; the second string, third fret; and the third string, third fret.
- Do the same pattern sliding into the fifth fret on the fifth string, then the fourth and third strings.
- Slide from the seventh fret into the eighth fret on the fifth string.
- Slide on the fourth string from the ninth fret into the tenth fret, then the third and second strings.
- Stop, then scrape slide from the third fret to the fifth fret on the first string to end the song.
Full Performance
In this lesson Mark plays Sliding Rock all the way through at the tempo he usually plays it. The form is double A, double B, then double A with the outro.
- How Sliding Rock sounds at Mark's usual tempo
- The form of the tune: double A, double B, double A
- Where the outro comes in: after the final double A
- Play the A part twice.
- Play the B part twice.
- Play the A part twice more, then the outro.
In Mark's words
“This is a song that I wrote called Sliding Rock and it's got an A part and a B part.”
“I'm picking the third string open which is the same note that I just slid into.”
“There's a lot of dissonance there. That's why I really like that part.”
“That's a half step dissonance as well. That just kind of lingers within the melody.”
Questions
Who wrote Sliding Rock?
Sliding Rock is a song Mark Lavengood wrote. It has an A part and a B part.
What are the chords to Sliding Rock?
Mark says the A part is in G, and the chords are G, D, C and B flat, repeating throughout the A part.
How does the Sliding Rock melody start?
It slides in from the 11th to the 12th fret on the second string with the open D string as a drone, then the thumb picks the third string at the 12th fret, a G note.
How does the B part of Sliding Rock start?
It starts with hammer-ons from the open strings: the sixth string open to the third fret, the fifth string open to the second, the fourth string open to the fourth, then the third string open to the third and the second string open to the second.
What are the chords in the B part of Sliding Rock?
Mark names the chords as C, E flat and F.
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