Most Classic Bluegrass Song?

[marnold***]

I played bluegrass bass back in the day, but not guitar. Bass parts were mostly dead simple. The banjo picking looked like it required more right hand dexterity than I possessed.

[piebaldpython***]

I played bluegrass bass back in the day, but not guitar. Bass parts were mostly dead simple. The banjo picking looked like it required more right hand dexterity than I possessed.

With SIMPLE bass parts, it allows for much more imbibing of the local 'shine. Banjo/dobro picking, while fast and furious at times, is primarily based on several types of "rolls".....again, to allow more imbibing.....and to allow the player to check out the ample decolletage on display out on the dance floor.

Tongue firmly in cheek lest anyone has a coronary over the above. It's a rainy, dreary day in Philly and I wanted to laugh.

Seriously though, go on YouTube and click on CARTER FAMILY......and that should give you a list of classics.

[R_of_G]

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Seriously though, go on YouTube and click on CARTER FAMILY......and that should give you a list of classics.

The Carter Family has classics for sure, but not Bluegrass. That's "old time" music, and yes, there is a difference despite them being related, primarily the role of the instruments.

"Old time" music involves less (or no) soloing, and then typically only by the fiddler while the rest of the instruments hold almost exclusively rhythmic roles.

Bluegrass bands, on the contrary, often have multiple soloists (fiddle, banjo, guitar) who will take turns soloing off of the main melody of the song.

In that way, bluegrass is as much a derivative of jazz as it is old time music. There's a reason "Little Liza Jane" is a standard for both bluegrass players and New Orleans brass bands. Nothing happened in a vacuum.

In answer to RC's question about finding bluegrass songs to learn... just do what PBP said and sub "Bill Monroe" for "The Carter Family" and you'll be all set. Then go back and learn "old-time" music from the Carters too.

[rcwilk]

The Carter Family has classics for sure, but not Bluegrass. That's "old time" music, and yes, there is a difference despite them being related, primarily the role of the instruments.

"Old time" music involves less (or no) soloing, and then typically only by the fiddler while the rest of the instruments hold almost exclusively rhythmic roles.

Bluegrass bands, on the contrary, often have multiple soloists (fiddle, banjo, guitar) who will take turns soloing off of the main melody of the song.

In that way, bluegrass is as much a derivative of jazz as it is old time music. There's a reason "Little Liza Jane" is a standard for both bluegrass players and New Orleans brass bands. Nothing happened in a vacuum.

In answer to RC's question about finding bluegrass songs to learn... just do what PBP said and sub "Bill Monroe" for "The Carter Family" and you'll be all set. Then go back and learn "old-time" music from the Carters too.

This all sounds like good advice, and fun to start a whole new genre!

RC