The G Run:
On of the first licks or runs you should learn for Flatpicking Guitar is the use of the G Run. This run is utilized by almost all musicians and each have their own favorite versions of it ranging from the basic G Run all the way to very elaborate finger gymnasitic type G Runs, which we will explore in later lessons.
The Basic G Run:
The basic G Run (shown in the diagram below), basically covers just 2 measures. The first measure consists of the run itself and the second measure is the G Chord ending to the run. Keep in mind that the G Run presented here can be modified in many ways. One very popular modification is to play the run as presented and to leave off the final chord strum at the end.
Lead Guitar Lessons – The Basic G Run:
The Basic G Run
Lead Guitar Lessons – How to Do The Basic G Run:
First, let’s look at the timing of this lick. It consists of 2 measures, with 4 beats for each measure and quarter notes get one beat. We start with a quarter note on the 1st beat, next we progress to a string of (6) eighth notes, which get 1/2 beat each, for a total of 3 beats, rounding out that measure. The second measure consists of (2) half notes with 2 beats each for a total of 4 beats for that measure.
Next let’s look at the up-down picking pattern of the measures. Note that the picking symbols are indicated below each note. The “V” is an upstroke of the pick and the little bridge indicates a downstroke of the pick. Almost always, you will note that down-strokes of the pick are performed “ON” the beat. In other words as you count 1, 2, 3, 4, for each measure these are the beats of the measure and you usually say the number as you count through the measure. When we play eighth notes, naturally all of the eighth notes can’t be “On” the beat, because there are more of them than there are beats in this measure. Therefore for each pair of eighth notes we have here, the first one is played on the beat and the second one is played on what we call the ‘up-beat’. The designation we usually say for this is the word ‘and’ or &.
So the way we would count the first measure would be like this: 1 2 & 3 & 4 &. Where the first quarter note gets the beat of “1″, followed by the (6) eighth notes received 1/2 beat each or 2 & 3 & 4 &.
Lead Guitar Lessons – The Hammer-On:
You will also note that there is a hammer-on to be executed between the 2nd and 3rd eighth notes. If you don’t know how to do a one of these see our article on How To Do String Hammer-Ons.
Follow your left hand fingerings, which I have located directly beside the head of each note. Again – ‘do not substitute and fingers other than the ones that are shown’, or you will not be able to execute this lick either properly or ‘up-to-speed’.
Let the notes ring through each other as much as possible, to give the guitar more of a ‘harp-like’ sound. This will increase the listening pleasure of the lick and it will also make your playing style sound much smoother.
