Jimmy Heffernan's Reso Lessons

A pretty cool arrangement of a classic thanks to the Em tuning. Just drop your bass “G” string to an “E” and you’re good to go. This is a solo version so you won’t need a band, you’re it !
No too difficult. Minimum pain, lots o’ gain.

Level: All

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This is a great lesson if you want to learn more about one of the best keys there is on the Dobro….”D”. Popular everywhere now this tune has become a must know. And besides all that it’s fun to play. About middle range difficulty level. Two versions in different octaves.
A GREAT WAY TO START LEARNING NEW PATTERNS IN THE KEY OF “D”
Tab and backup tracks included.

Level: Intermediate/ Advanced

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Ashokan Farewell is a beautiful tune written by Jay Unger that’s become a standard. It was featured in Ken Burn’s “Civil War” documentary. Played in the key of D so here’s another chance to strengthen your D chops.
Nothing really very hard here but the arrangement has a bunch of triplet figures. These are very popular rhythmic licks applied to any melody. You hear these on slow and mid tempo songs. Very Popular !!!

Level: All

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By request here’s the old Delmore Brothers song in the key of G. The first and third time through it’s pretty cool but not too hard. The second time through is a solo with some Ickes licks I stole just like you’ve been stealing mine. It a little tricky but well worth the effort. This arrangement is chock full of licks and phrases you can use when you want to sound bluesy in the key of G.
Beginner/Intermediate/ and Advanced

Here’s a great lesson to help you get your rolls together. You’ll be able to work on you left hand bar control as well as that driving roll you’ve been looking for.
This is a fiddle tune that’s played around the Country so there will  be no lack of pickers that know if when you want to break it out at a jam session.
As with most of the lessons here it comes with tab and 2 backup tracks for practicing slow and at tempo. Have blast with Boil Em’ Cabbage Down !!

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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After years of teaching workshops I think I’ve found the most common things students don’t do correctly on the Dobro. If you don’t get them straightened out they become almost impossible to eradicate. If you’re reading this I bet you are doing at least some of these common mistakes. Left and right hand techniques are covered. Lots of exercises to help you clean up your playing and break through that wall you’ve been banging your head against.

All of these problems arise from the lack of Dobro teachers in your local area. If you took a few lessons from one BEFORE you went ahead and started learning songs you wouldn’t need this lesson. So, stop in your tracks and fix the bad technique now and turn even simple licks and songs into professional sounding Dobro playing.

There are some very simple reasons Mike, Jerry, Rob etc. sound great beyond the slick licks they play. This is a very important lesson.

Over one hour long with tab. No tracks on this one.

Level: All

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This fiddle tune has been around since dirt, well before it became a dance sensation along with the “Urban Cowboy” film. I get requests for it a lot at gigs where people want to dance. This is another one that most pickers know so you’ll be able to use it at a jam when they look at you to come up with a song. It’s got a nice feel to it and you’ll be playing it well before you know it.
Comes with tab and 2 different backup tracks both slow and up tempo.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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A true timeless standard. I arranged it here in the key of D as requested. The Dobro is tuned with the low G down to E for one chord and the ending. Pretty nice ! You can find lots of tricks in here to use on other slow breaks you have to take. The lowered tuning only comes into play very little so you don’t need the special tuning to play most of the music.
You’ll bring a tear to glass eye with this one folks ! And not too hard to play.
Comes with the backup track and tab.
Intermediate/ Advanced and anxious Beginners

This is the starting point of series of lessons on improvisation. This is a pretty cool Josh style version that drives very well. We all need to play this from time to time cause it’s one of the most popular instrumentals of all time, so you’d better be ready.
After you learn this I’m going to show you how to compose a solo with licks from the next lesson as well as the “100 Licks” DVD. So stay tuned and I’ll have you cuttin Rob’s head at Reso Summit in no time !! Tab, Fast and Slow versions, 2 backup tracks included.
Beginner/ Intermediate

This is part 3 of the “How to Improvise” series. This lesson pulls together licks from part 2 “Go to Licks”. I break all these licks down and show you how I string together licks during a solo. You can use this information to build your own solos for this song or any other.
I’ll be recording more lessons on improvisation so this the third step to get you closer to playing hot solos.
Rhythm tracks at slow and fast tempos, tab and over 40 minutes of HD video.
I think I’ll buy one !
Intermediate Level

This lesson will show you all of the common areas that uptempo licks are made up from.If anyone plays a lick in G, it’s out of one of these licks.
From Josh to Rob, all the top players use these areas when soloing in the key of G as well as just over the G chord.
We’re going to use these licks to learn how to improvise over “Foggy Mt Breakdown” in the next lesson. If you’re following along starting with the “Foggy Mt Breakdown” lesson, this is lesson 2. Practice these licks and get them in your muscle memory so that you can see how we will use them to improvise in Lesson 3 of the series.
The backup track is set to a medium tempo to make the licks easier to pick up.
The lesson is 55 minutes long and comes with Tab and 2 different tempos of back up tracks.
I play each lick in a loop so you can play along with me then on your own with the backup tracks. When we get to the end of the improvisation series you’ll have all the tools you need to solo with a big stick over any song .
At that point you can send me the Million dollars you promised to give the guy who could teach you how play like Rob.
I’ll then refund you the lesson money.

Here’s a lesson on harmonics. Used by every great player since Brother Oswald you’ll thrill and Jimmy hauls you up the mountain to the harmonic summit. Don’t look down….it’s pretty scary to see all the players down there who don’t know how to do this.
No tab or backup track on this lesson just the video.
The “classic” way to play harmonics is covered as well as the new “Ickes” slid-able chime.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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Here’s a cool fiddle tune in G minor. I use a G minor tuning on this and it gets me some great minor sounds that I think are a nice break from the major sound of our normal G tuning. Most of the song in easier than it sounds but there is one spot that requires some effort. This is the way I played Irish Spring on the “Resocasters” CD.

Tab and 2 backup tracks and a chord chart are included.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

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Here we go again ! This lesson builds on Part one and introduces the single string phrases that make these scales come alive. These phrases are used by all the big time Dobro pickin stars.
We also learn to transpose the scale patterns from G in Part 1 to the key of D.
I’ll show you how to look at the fret board and where some of the “sweet spots” are.
4 Key of D backup tracks included .38 minutes of Dobro Heaven.
All Levels

This is of one of the most famous Bluegrass songs of all time. You’d better get this before you have to fill in for Jerry Douglas and take the solo on National TV. This is really a lot of fun to play and contains tons of “Go To” G Blues licks.
2 solos are in the lesson along with the track you hear along with a slower tempo track for practice or play along with it at your next rent party. 30 minutes
Buy this !!!
Intermediate/Advanced

Here you go Teresa…you asked for it and you got it. The Blues !! Jimmy (me) breaks down the old blues tune “Milk Cow Blues” and gives you two solos plus the melody. Learn why and how to make songs and licks sound bluesy.

You’ll learn some great pockets of blues notes that will help along in learning to improv your own blues solos. Just drop me line from time to time from your new gig with Eric Clapton to let me know you still remember ole Jimmy. Great modern licks to learn and use everywhere !!
I highly recommend this lesson. I have one myself ! Tab and backup track included.

Level: Intermediate

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Here’s a cool tune that’s not hard to play. Key of G. Great lesson on how to lay back and play relaxed. Lots of people know this song but you don’t hear anyone play an instrumental version of it at all. So, be the first one on you block to bring the twang back to Country !
Almost 40 minutes of Hillbilly heaven with tab and the rhythm track included. What’s not to like ?
All levels

Here’s another standard fiddle tune you’ll need to know if you’re ever gonna make any money at this. Jerry, Mike and Rob can all play it so you’d better get this and learn it before you square off against them. Two versions, one not too difficult and the second version is pretty hot. Good pull off practice on the second version.
Tab and backup tracks included at slow and uptempo speeds.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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A short lesson that will get you pick blocking( right hand damping) with the best of them. Clean up some of those unwanted noises ! When to use it when not with exercises and examples.
No YouTube on this one folks. Just about 10 minutes.

Sometimes called Ruben’s Train this is a jam session standard and another “must know”. This version is chock full of slick D blues licks that you can collect and trade with your friends !
38 minutes of detailed instruction complete with two rhythm tracks (fast ans slow) PDF tab so you you won’t need the tab viewer anymore. Enjoy !!!!

If you only get one lesson from me….this is it ! Learn how the major scale is used over the chord progressions you have play everyday. It will guide you on how to use the major scale to play solos and fills over all the major and minor chords you’ll encounter.

One of the biggest and most useful things you can learn is how not to play the major scale in order. Almost every student knows a major G scale and when asked to play it, they start at the first note and end on the last. This is as far as most students get, they don’t know what to do with it beyond play it in that order. I give you a scale pattern that goes all the way up the neck and lays out the major scale notes in a totally new way from the way you look at it now. You can hear immediately how Mike, Jerry, and all the great players get those licks you’ve been hearing.

I improvise in the lesson using using these new pockets of notes over a backup track filled with minor and major chords AND I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT CHORDS THE TRACK WAS GOING TO PLAY ! The scale did all the work for me and it will change your playing forever for the good. I bet you’ll name your kids after me.

Over 1 hour long with tab and 3 backup tracks to jam with. Learn ‘Scales’ now you’ll thank me later.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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This is a MUST HAVE lesson if you want to understand how to solo on a chord progression that uses the circle of fifths. You can’t just use the major scale of the key like we do on most Country and Bluegrass. I take you through the thought process to get you swingin in no time (well…you’d have to practice all day and all night for a couple days.)

I include rhythm tracks that loop the chord changes in small groups so you can isolate you practice time and focus each of the chord changes that you have to play over. I explain how I came up with the solo I played on the Sweet Georgia Brown lesson.
Lots of tips in over an hour of instruction. Tab and rhythm tracks included.
Sorry no YouTube preview on this one folks.

Swing time here at Heff.com ! This is of course a swing standard played in the key of F. Lots of fun to play and in spite of sounding cool, it’s not too difficult.This is a tune that can be played in most any jam session and not be a “jam buster”. Just don’t be surprised if your solo beats every other picker. Just tell em you can’t help it, “swing is my thing”.
The lesson comes with 40 minutes of instruction with focus on what to look out for. As well as a rhythm track to practice with and Tab .
You should have this in your bag of tricks. Buy it even if you don’t like it. I have to get my back waxed.
Level….Melody/beginner….solo…intermediate/advanced

One of the true standards for the ole Resophonic guitar. Also know as “The Wild Side Of Life” and “I’m Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes”.
This one you need to know. I tried to update the way I played it to bring it into the new century so there’s a couple new tricks that you can learn from this even if you play a version already.
I played it in two different positions to give you a second break to use when you’re jamming or explaining to your new in-laws what a Dobro is.
Tab and backup track included.

Level: Beginner/Intermediate

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New Easier Download !!!!!
This is a pretty cool arrangement (I have to say stuff like that, I’m really pretty humble) of the most recognized fiddle tune in the world. Lots of stuff to learn here folks, chromatic licks, chicken pickin, and the two string strum you hear all the big time Dobro pickin stars doing.
You get a slow and uptempo version along with the rhythm tracks to both tempos. Tab included.Real close to an hour. You don’t have to play it as fast as I did to make it sound great, I just wanted the Chinese to know that we Americans still have it goin’ on.
So belly up for some Turkey with and side of straw !

Level: Intermediate

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Here’s nice pretty tune that you can play solo. Regular tuning with some cool chord voices that Brother Oswald never got around to.

It’s not too difficult but there are techniques to learn in order to pull it off. Lot’s of fun to learn. I play it when I want to seem dark and mysterious for my wife, Jeanne.

No track for this one, it’s a solo piece. Tab and a breakdown of the tune a piece at a time.

Level: All

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Here’s another song that you have to know. Every jam session gets around to this. I tried to make this version drive pretty good while not being too difficult. Nothing is easy folks, you’ll have to work at it but this will come sooner rather than later for most of you.
There’s 2 versions of the melody, one down low with open strings you could use as an intro and one an octave up you might want to use for a solo.
Tab and two rhythm tracks are included as well as 30 minutes of my personality flaws on HD video.

Level: Intermediate