New Lessons for May 2026
New Tunes, Lessons, and Techniques from Peghead Nation instructors.
Peghead Nation instructors have released hours of new instruction in their courses, and here are the tunes and lessons we’ve just published for May 2026. Join us in any course and get your first month free. Just use promo code Learn26 at checkout!
GUITAR COURSES
Irish Guitar with John Doyle
Key of A Minor Chords: In this lesson, John shows you the basic chords you’ll need for playing in the key of A minor. Then he’ll show you how to apply them to backing up “The Congress” reel and how to add some embellishments, too.
Contemporary Flatpicking Guitar with Grant Gordy
Position-Based Scale Exercises in the Key of E: This month, Grant shows you numerous ways to master the E-major scale in various positions on the guitar fingerboard, including both prescriptive fingerings and some alternative options.
Irish Flatpicking Guitar with Flynn Cohen
The Drunken Landlady: This popular session tune in the key of E minor has an AABB format, with a few phrases that repeat in both parts. Flynn shows you some ornaments that give the tune an authentic feel, starting with a roll in the first bar.
Western Swing Guitar with Matt Munisteri
South: “South” is a popular jazz and swing standard that was a hit for the Light Crust Doughboys in 1940. Matt teaches a hybrid guitar part that combines the melody with a harmony similar to what one of the Doughboy fiddlers would have played.
MANDOLIN COURSES
Weekly Mandolin Workout with Ethan Setiawan
The Key of E: This month you’ll get the tools you need to master the basics of playing in the key of E, and you’ll put those skills to good use on “Brown County Breakdown,” a great three-part Bill Monroe tune that will get your fingers going.
Monroe-Style Mandolin with Mike Compton
Darlin’ Corey: Bill Monroe’s blues-drenched solo for his 1964 recording of this song is just eight bars long. As Mike points out, the entire solo is played in the fourth position between the seventh and 11th frets, and is based around an E chord.
Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials with Aaron Weinstein
Dinah: Harry Akst wrote the music and Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young contributed lyrics to this enduring jazz/pop standard. Aaron teaches the core 32-bar AABA form in the key of G, which is common for string-oriented jazz ensembles.
The Advancing Mandolinist with Joe K. Walsh
Waiting on Vassar: This great jam tune first appeared on David Grisman’s 1976 Rounder Record, and it was standard in his live shows. It has a tightly composed A part and an open-ended B section for improvising over a looping chord progression.
Octave Mandolin with Joe K. Walsh
Less and Less: This Tim O’Brien original is a great example of his approach to the instrument. The song is in the key of D with an AABA format, and Joe tries to convey as close to a note-for-note rendition of O’Brien’s playing in this lesson.
FIDDLE COURSES
Jazz Violin with Aaron Weinstein
I’ll See You in My Dreams: Aaron’s compact violin solo for this enduring jazz standard is in the key of F. Aaron takes you through the solo step-by-step, and explains which improvisational devices he’s applying to each passage.
Old-Time Fiddle with Bruce Molsky
Roan Mountain Hilltoppers Tunes: Bruce gives you a “twofer” this month with “Old Time Sally Ann” and “Rattletrap,” quirky tunes he learned from the Hilltoppers. Both feature drone strings, slides, and stylistic details that add plenty of character.
BANJO COURSES
Clawhammer Banjo with Evie Ladin
Julie Ann Johnson: Fiddler Emmett Lundy recorded this tune for the Library of Congress in the 1930s. Now a session standard, It is almost always played in the key of D with a straightforward AABB format and an ambiguous final chord option.
Creating Bluegrass Banjo Solos with Bill Evans
Grandfather’s Clock: Bill teaches this sentimental favorite in the key of G with a standard AABB format. Bill starts by showing you the basic melody, and then he adds various rolls to flesh out the bones into a full-fledged bluegrass banjo solo.
PLAY-ALONG RHYTHM TRACKS – Available to all subscribers. Guitar accompaniment video, downloadable audio, and chord charts for popular bluegrass, old-time, and roots tunes and songs.
Related Breaking News Posts
 |
New Lessons for April 2026New Lessons, Tunes, and Techniques from Peghead Nation's Master Teachers Read More |
 |
New Lessons for March 2026Peghead Nation instructors have new lessons, techniques, and tunes to keep your musical journey on track! Read More |
