Flatpicking Guitar Magazine

Free Flatpicking Lesson - October 2016

“Stoney Creek”

arranged by Mickey Abraham


Download PDF | Download mp3

Hello and welcome once again to Flatpicking Guitar Magazine’s free lesson portion of our monthly newsletter. This month I have chosen to arrange the great bluegrass instrumental “Stoney Creek.” To me this tune is more than just a fast fiddle tune. “Stoney Creek” takes the listener on a melody journey.

For this lesson arrangement I have included two complete passes through the tune’s AABB form. While both passes stick close to the melody the second time through I tried to throw in some more modern and intricate phrasing. Make sure to click on the included mp3 to hear the ideas in action.

One interesting aspect to “Stoney Creek” is how the B section does not have a good ending place. The melody ends on an F chord and then goes to an E chord. This sounds quite abrupt unless you are going to go back into the A section and keep playing the tune. For this reason I suggest ending with the A section.

I hope you enjoy working on this bluegrass classic. As always should you have any questions or comments on this e-lesson just drop me a line at [email protected]