Easy%Strategies%for%Improvising%on%the%Dobro%

©"2017"Ivan"Rosenberg"
"
"
1.%Change%the%ornament:%%
"
• If"you"usually"do"a"hammer9on,"try"a"slide"or"a"pull9off"lick"instead."
• Try"a"slow,"drawn9out"slide"instead"of"a"fast"slide.""
• Double9up"an"ornament,"e.g."two"successive"hammer9ons."
• If"the"open"strings"are"favorable,"try"adding"a"roll"to"the"melody."
• Or"just"try"playing"the"note"cleanly"with"no"ornamentation"at"all.""
"
2.%Syncopate:%%
"
• Play"the"same"notes"but"phrase"them"differently."One"very"effective"trick"is"to"
do"predictable,"generic"pick9up"notes"that"usually"lead"to"a"destination"note"
squarely"on"a"beat—but"instead"of"doing"the"predictable"thing,"wait"to"play"
the"destination"note"until"the"next"beat."""
• Try"working"rolls"into"the"melody"and"letting"the"notes"fall"a"bit"at"random"
within"the"roll"pattern—this"works"great"with"forward"rolls"when"the"barred"
melody"note"is"being"played"with"your"index"finger"instead"of"thumb"(will"
provide"example"in"class).""
"
3.%Repeat%notes/phrases%
"
• There's"often"a"bit"of"space"between"melody"notes"in"bluegrass"music—the"
space"where"a"roll"often"goes"to"add"rhythmic"interest"to"a"melody."Instead"of"
a"roll,"try"repeating"a"lick"two"or"three"times.""
• Also,"instead"of"constantly"going"from"note"to"note,"it"can"be"very"effective"to"
stay"put"and"play"the"same"note"a"few"times"while"the"chord"progression"
moves"around."If"the"melody"of"the"song"isn't"moving"and"there's"time"to"do"
so,"try"playing"the"note"a"few"times"with"different"ornamentation:"once"with"a"
slide,"next"with"a"pull9off,"and"next"with"a"hammer9on.""
"
4.%Go%above%or%below%the%melody%
"
• One"of"my"favorite"moves"is"to"set"up"a"destination"note"with"a"series"of"lead9
in"notes"but"end"somewhere"unexpected."For"example,"in"the"Key"of"G"over"a"
G"chord,"playing"an"ascending"phrase"such"as"DEGABC…."which"leads"the"
listener"inevitably"to"a"nearby"D"note,"but"skipping"up"to"the"next"chord"note,"
G,"instead."The"contrast"between"what"the"listener"expects"and"actually"hears"
makes"for"an"interesting"listening"experience.""
"
"
"
5.%Change%octaves%
%
• This"is"often"easy"on"the"Dobro—if"you're"used"to"playing"something"near"the"
nut"on"the"high"three"strings,"try"playing"the"same"thing"on"the"lower"three"
strings."
"
6.%Play%nonGmelody%notes%but%phrase%them%like%the%melody%
"
• In"other"words,"notes"are"played"at"the"same"time"as"the"melody"notes"would"
occur,"but"they're"different"notes."Since"the"phrasing"is"the"same,"it"still"
sounds"like"you're"improvising"over"the"particular"song.""
• If"you've"already"played"the"melody"over"the"first"half"of"a"solo,"this"is"a"good"
trick"for"moving"to"a"different"part"of"the"fretboard—for"example,"to"get"to"a"
higher"octave,"you"could"make"your"way"up"the"neck"using"random"major"
scale"notes"that"are"phrased"like"the"melody.""
"
7.%Play%FEWER%notes!%
"
• This"is"actually"a"corollary"to"syncopation."Instead"of"always"trying"to"cram"in"
more"and"more"notes,"try"leaving"some"out."When"you"do,"it"tends"to"
syncopate"the"melody"without"any"effort.""
• When"employing"this"strategy,"focus"on"tone"and"feeling—get"a"lot"of"mileage"
out"of"your"slides"and"use"vibrato"for"sustained"notes.""
"
"
"
"
 Hear the Whistle Blow (A Hundred Miles)
Flatt & Scruggs Live - Uncle Josh Solo
G Tab © 2017 Ivan Rosenberg

0 0 0

! #"
Sl Sl Sl

! 0 2
0 2 4 2 0
2
0 2 4
0 2
0 2 4 2 0

Em Am7 D G
0 2 0
H Sl
0 2 2 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 0
0 2. 0 2 4 2 0 2 0 2

Sl

2 4.
 Hear the Whistle Blow (A Hundred Miles)
Original Improvisation Strategies/Examples - G chord to Em chord
Tab © 2017 Ivan Rosenberg

0 0 0

! #"
Sl Sl Sl

! 0 2
0 2 4 2 0
2
0 2 4
0 2
0 2 4 2 0

Extra pickup note

G
0 0 0

$
Sl Sl
H
0 0 2 4 2 0 0 2 4 0
0 2. 0 2 0 0 2 2 0 2

3 slides & different lick 2 slides to 4th fret

Em G
0

$
Po
H
4 4 4 2 0 0 0 4 4. 2 0 0
0 2. 0 2 0 0 2 2

3 slides & different lick Different pickup notes

Em
0 0

%
Sl Po
H
2 4 0 4 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 2
0 2 0 2. 0 2 0

Page 1 / 3
 Hear the Whistle Blow (A Hundred Miles) - Improvisation Strategies/Examples - G chord to Em chord
pulloff lick
G Em
0 Sl 0 Po Sl Po 0
H
4. 2 0 0 2 4 0 4 2 0 4 2 0 0
2 0 2 0 2. 0 2

Repeat slide Syncopate/longer note Syncopate/fewer notes

G
0 0

#" $
Sl Sl

0 2 4 2 4 4 0 4 2. 0
0 2 0 2

Em G
0 0

#"
Sl Sl
H
0 0 2 4 2 0 0 2 4 0
0 2. 0 2 0 2 2 0 2

Go above the melody then down

hammer-on/triplet madness!
Em G
5 2 0 0

#" $
Po
H H H H
4 2 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
0 2. 0 2 02 02 02

3 3 3

Page 2 / 3
 Hear the Whistle Blow (A Hundred Miles) - Improvisation Strategies/Examples - G chord to Em chord

Po
Em
2 0

4 4
H
0 4
H
0 4
0 0
0
H H
0 #" 0 2
02 02 0 2. 0 2

3 3

repeat slides

Sl 0 Sl 0 Sl Sl 0 Sl Po 0
H
2 4 2 4 2 4 0 2 4 4 2 0 0
0 2 0 2. 0 2

Page 3 / 3
 Scale and Roll Practice
G Major Scale © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg

0 2 4 5 5 4 2 0


0 1 1 0

 0 2 2 0

G Major Scale Lower Octave

0 0
0 2 4 4 2 0
0 1 1 0
0 2 2 0

C Major Scale using open strings

0 1 1 0
0 2 2 0
0 2 3 3 2 0
1 1

G Major Scale with Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, and

H Slides Po
Sl
H Po
H 0 2 4 5 5 4 2 0 Po
H 0 1 1 0 Po
0 2 2 0 Sl
H Po
H 0 2 4 4 2 0 Po
0 1 1 0
0 2 2 0

Roll practice in G

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5

Page 1 / 2
 Scale and Roll Practice - © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg
Roll practice in G

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 5 4 4 4 2 2 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 
2 2 2 4 4 4 5 5 5

Roll practice moving the bar with each thumb note - with flat 7 note instead of major 7

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 3 2 0 2 3 5 3 2 0 2 3

Page 2 / 2
 So Lonesome I Could Cry - Old School Dobro melody
By Hank Williams, Tab © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg


7 7 7

 7
7
7
7
7
7
7.
7 7 7
7.

Sl
Sl
7 7 5 Sl 7 7
7 7 7 Sl 5 7
7 7 5 7 7
7 7 7 5 7

Sl
Sl
7 5 7
12 12 7 7 Sl 5 5 7
12 12 7
12 12 7 5
12 12 7

Sl
7 2
7 7 2 7 Sl 5
2 7.
7 7 5
7.
 Greenback Dollar - Old School Melody
Tab ©2016 Ivan Rosenberg
D
Sl Sl Sl Sl
7

  
5Sl7 7 5 7. 5Sl 7 7 7Sl5.


Sl
7 7.
5 7 5 7. 5 7 7 7 5
7 7.

G D
Sl Sl
7 7

 5Sl 7 7 12
 10Sl12 12 7 7

5 7 12 10 12 12 7

G D
Sl Sl
7

 
10 11 12 10Sl12 12 7 7Sl 5.
7.
10 11 12 10 12 12 7 5
7.

A D
Sl Sl Sl
7 2

 5Sl 7 7 2
 5Sl 7 7 7Sl 5
7
5 7 5 7 7 7 5
7
 Greenback Dollar Key of D: chord melody outline
Tab © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg
D
Sl Sl Sl
7 0 2

  
5 7 7 5 7. 0 2 7 7 5.

 5 7 7
5 7
5
5
7.
7.
0 2 7
7
7 5 7
7 5 7
6
6
7 6

G D
Sl
7 9 0. 7 7 0. 0 0

5
5 7 7 7
5 7 7
12.
 7
7
12
12
7
7
7. 5
7
5 5 7 12. 12 7. 7
5

G D
Sl Sl
12 0 0 7 7

 
12 14 12 12. 10 7 12 7 7 5.
12 14 12 12. 12 7 12 7 7 5 7.
14 12 12. 12 12 7 5 7.
7.

A D
Sl Sl Sl
7 2 0 2 7

 5 7 7
5 7 7
7
7
2
2
0
0
2
2
0 2
0 2  5 7 7
5 7 7
7Sl 5
7
5 7 7 0 2 5 7 7 5
7
 Greenback Dollar - Old School Embellished Melody
Tab ©2016 Ivan Rosenberg
D
Sl Sl Sl Sl
7

 
5Sl7 7 5Sl 7 7 7 7 7 5Sl 7 7 7Sl5.

 5 7 5 7 7 7 7 7
7
5 7 7 7 5
7. 7

7 7. 7 7

3 3

G D
Sl Sl
7 7
5Sl 7 7 12. 12 12 12 12 10Sl12 12 7 7. 7 7 7
7
5 7 12. 12 12 12 12 10 12 12 7. 7 7 7 7

3 3 3 3
Sl
G D
Sl Sl
12 10 7
7 10 11 12 12 10Sl12 12 7 7Sl 5.
12 7.
10 11 12 10 12 12 7 5
7.

A D
Sl Sl Sl
7 2. 2 2 2 2

 5Sl 7 7 2. 2 2 2 2 5Sl 7 7 7Sl 5

7
Sl

5 7 5 7 7 7 5 7 5
7 7

3 3

7
 Greenback Dollar - Key of G: chord melody outline
Tab © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg
G
Sl Sl Sl
12 0 5 7

  
1012 12 10 Sl 12. 5 7 12 1210.

 1012 12
1012 10 12.
5 7 12
12
1210 12.
1210 12.
12.

C G
5 0 0 0

 5 7.
5 7.
5
5  0
0
5
5
0
0
0
4
7. 5 5

C G
7 9. 5 0 0 0Sl 0

 
Po
7 5 7. 5 0 5 0
7 9. 5 7. 5 0 5 0 4 2 0 0
9. 7. 5 5 5

Sl
G
5 7 7 5 0 4 2 0

 5 7 7
5 7 7
5
5
7
4
0
2 0
7 5
 0 0 0 0

 
Sl Po
0


H H
0 0 4 4 4 4 2 0 0 0 4 2 0
0 0 2 5 5 02 2

3
Po

Sl 0 0. 3 2 0 5
H H 5 3. 3 2 0 5 7.
0 0 2 4 5 5 7.
0 0 2 0 2 5
3

Sl
Sl Sl SlSl
0 0 0 5 7 12
5 7 10 12 12 12 101110 10
7 7 7 5 10 12 12 12 101110 12 10
7 7 7 10 12 12 101110 12 10
12
7

3
Sl Po

5 0. 2 0 3 3 3 2 0 5

  
Sl Po
5 5. 0. 3 3 3 2 0 5 3
5 5. 4 4 2 0
5.

0 Sl 0 0

4. 3 2 0 0
0 5 5 5
 The Wandering Boy (Out in the Cold World) chord melody arrangement
© 2016 Ivan Rosenberg
Sl
G C
Sl Sl
5 7 0 12 5

 
5 7 10 Sl 12 12 12 10 5 5 5.

 5 7
10 12
12 12 12
12
10
10
12
12
5
5
5.
5.
12

H
G
Sl
0. 0 2 5 7 9 12. 12
0. 7 12. 12 10 12 12.
0. 0 0 7 0 12. 12 10 12 12 12.
12 10 12 12.
12

D G
Sl Sl
7 5 0 0 0. 12. 15 0. 0

  
7 5 7 10 Sl 11 12. 12. 15 15. 12Sl10
7 5 7 12. 12
7 10 11 12. 15. 12 10 12
12

Po Sl Po
C G
5 0. 2 0 3 3 3 2 0 5


Sl Po
10 5 5. 0. 3 3 3 2 0 5 3
10 5. 0. 4 4 2 0
10 5.

D
4 2 0 Sl 0 0

4 3 2 0 0
5 5 5
 BLUEGRASS DOBRO RHYTHM TECHNIQUES
Dobro Tab ©2016 by Ivan Rosenberg

BASIC VERSON - ALL THUMB NOTES AND THUMB STRUMSC



0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 5 5

0 0 5 5

T T T T T T T T

T T T T T T T T

7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 0 0

7 7 0 0

T T T T T T T T
ADD OCCASIONAL
T TUPSTROKE ON HIGH
T STRING T T T T T

0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 5 5

0 0 5 5

T T M T T M T T M T T M

D T T T T G T T T T

0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 0 0

7 7 0 0

T T M T T M T T M T T M

Em T T T T C T T T T

0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
2 2 2 2 5 5
0 0
5 5

T T M T T M T T M T T M

D T T T T G T T G T T

0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 0 0

7 7 0 0
Page 1 / 2
T T M T T M T T M T T M

T T T T T T T T
 BLUEGRASS DOBRO RHYTHM TECHNIQUES -
rg G ADD ANOTHER UPSTROKE ON
G HIGH STRING
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5
0 0 5 5

0 0 5 5

T M T M T M T M M T M T M T M T M M

D T T G T T T T

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 0 0

7 7 0 0

T M T M T M T M M T M T M T M T M M

G TRYTTHIS FOR VERY

T FAST TEMPOS -TFEWER NOTES!
T C T T

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5
5.
0. 0. 5 5. 5.
5.
0. 0. 5 5.

T M T M T M T M M T M T M T M

D G
0 0 0 0 0
T
Po
0
0. 0. 0 2 0 5.

2. 2. 0.

T M T M T M T M T M T I T

Page 2 / 2
 COUNTRY MUSIC DOBRO - SHUFFLE RHYTHM TECHNIQUES
©2016 by Ivan Rosenberg

G PLAY WITH SHUFFLE "TRIPLET" FEEL i.e. 4 triplets per measure, accent on "Three-One" (will explain in class).



0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

T M T M T M T M
I I I I
C G

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 5 0 0
5 5 5 5 0 0 0 0
5 5 0 0

D G

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 0 0 0 0
7 7 0
7 7 7 7 0 0
7 7 0 0

ALT STYLE: TAP BEAT 2 WITH METAL PICKS

(0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0

(0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0 (0) 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0

T M M T M T M
I I I I
 "Black Mountain Rag" Guitar-Style Rhythm
© 2017 Ivan Rosenberg
G D G
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

!
0 0 0 0 0 0 0

! 0
2
0
0
0 0
0
0 0

0 0 1 2
0 0 0

T M T M T M T M T M T T T M T M

G D G
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 Po 0
0 0 0 0 0
2 0 0 2 0
0 0 1 2
0 0

T M T M T M T M

D G
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 7
0 0 0 0 7 0
0 0 0 0 7 0

0 0 0 4 5 6 7 0

T T M T T M T T T T M

D G
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 0

0 0 4. 0

T T M T T M T T T T M

Page 1 / 2
 "Black Mountain Rag" Guitar-Style Rhythm - © 2017 Ivan Rosenberg

C
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 5. 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5. 5 5 5
0 0 0 0 5. 5 5 5
0 5.
0 2 3 5. 5 5 5

G D
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0
0 2 0 0 7
0
0 7 5 4 2

T T T T M T T T T M

G G7 C C7

0 #" $ 0 #" $ 5 #" $ 3

0 3 5

0 0 5 3

G D G
0 0
Sl 0 0
0 0 0
5 3 2 0 0 0 0
3
0 4. 0 0

Page 2 / 2
 Partial-bar arpeggios
Tab © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg
G Asus4
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

!
! 0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2

T T I M T T M I

Bm C9
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5

4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5

D E7
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9
7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9

7 7 7 7 9 9 9 9

A7sus4 Bm " 5 C9 Dsus4

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 2 4 4 5 5 7 7

2 2 4 4 5 5 7 7

T T I M T T M I

Page 1 / 2
 Partial-bar arpeggios - Tab © 2016 Ivan Rosenberg

Em7
0 0

0 0
9 9

9 9

Page 2 / 2
 Em Em/B
E minor arpeggios, chords, scales, and more
© 2013 Ivan Rosenberg
straight-bar minor
double-stops H

 
D 2 Em alternating bass 5 0 2


B 0 0 0 0 0 5 12 H 0
G 0 0 0 0 0 9 12 0
D 2 2 2 9 0 2
B 0 0
G

Em Em/B E minor lick


5 5 5 0
0 0 0 0 5 5 5 0 H
0 0 0 0 0
5 5 0 2
5 0 5 5 5 5

9th fret E no 3rd E minor arpeggio Root + 5th slide

9 8 9

9 9
9 9
9 9

9 9
8 8
9 9 9 9
9 9 9 9
8 8
9 9

Em7 no root slant slant

some Em full and partial chords

12 8 8

5 12
0 0 5 0 12 12 12 8 8
0 0 0 0 9 9 12 12 12 12
2 2 5 9 9 12 12 9
0 5 5 5 5 12 12
9 9

E natural minor scale (aka: relative minor of G)

E F# G A B C D

0 2 2 4 5 7 9 10 12 14 7 9 10 12 14
0 1 7 8
0 2 7 9 9
2 4 7 9 10
7 8
9

Page 1 / 2
 E minor arpeggios, chords, scales, and more - © 2013 Ivan Rosenberg
E natural minor scale - one string

2 4 5 7 9 10 12 14 2 5


0 5
0 4
2 4 5 7 9 10 12 14 2 5
0 5
0 4

Em chord tones nearest the nut

E harmonic minor scale

E F# G A B C D# E melodic minor scale

1 2 2 1 1 2 2 0
0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0
0 2 2 0 0 2 2 0
2 4 4 2 2 4 4 2

ascending descending
E F# G A B C# D# E D C B A G F#

Page 2 / 2
rg
 Am arpeggio
Assorted Dobro minor chords and partial chords
© 2013 Ivan Rosenberg

  
D 2 2 7 7


B 1 1 5 5 Sl


G 2 2 2 5 5 2
D 2 2 7
B 1 1 5 5
G 2 2 2 5 5 2

Am7 no root

Am lick with pull-offs

Po Po
Po Po Po
5 2 0 0 Po 2 0
5 5 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
5 5 5 2 2 0 2 2
5 5 5
5 5
5

Gm Gm Gm7 no root Gm Gm
Lick#2

fake Gm
8 8

0 3 8
3 3 3 8
3 3 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 12
3 3 3 8 0 0 5 12
3 3 8
0 0 3 0 0 0

Cm Cm dou  le stop Cm7 no root

Cm 5th-root
double stop
8

1 8
1 8 8
0 5 8 8
1 5 8
1

Bm Bm Partial Dm Partial Dm Partial Dm Dm inversion Gm

6 10

0 0 3 0 0 0
3 6 10 0
4 10 1
4 4 0 0 3 1
0 3 1
4 1