Most Classic Bluegrass Song?

[rcwilk]

Actually, my question is more an advice question on learning bluegrass on guitar - what are some of the classics that you would recommend beginning with? They needn't be simple - I kind of prefer a challenging piece, but I know so little that I would like one that has the most traditional structure.

Oddly, this new adventure rose out this bboard, and questions about Bill Monroe and the beginnings of Bluegrass.

RC

[tjcurtin1]

Big Sciota and Billy in the Lowground are classics, fun to play and not too hard to learn: listen to both on Brian Sutton's cd of duets with other flat-picking greats Not Too Far From the Tree
The tabs are not too hard to find - somewhere I got a tab of Sutton's first break ion Big Sciota which is fun to play, but I can no longer find it on line. I can send it to you if you are interested.

[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]

\
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

[sunvalleylaw]

The first two I learned were fiddle tunes, common among any group of bluegrass pickers. They were "Billy in the Low Ground" and "Red Haired Boy".

Reasonably easy versions to learn are both available here: http://www.bluegrassguitar.com/leadtabs.html

Learning these along to a metronome did wonders for my right hand, picking technique, rhythm and alternate picking. Good stuff!

[Retro Hound]

Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Uncle Pen are two of the basics. If you play bluegrass, you have to know those two.

[sunvalleylaw]

I was just thinking I needed to learn a couple new fiddle tunes. Those two that Retro Hound suggested sound like good ones. Many of the bluegrass fiddle tunes are written around the main chord shape in the song's key. For instance in "Billy", the C chord in open position, and in "Red Haired", it is the G chord, both in open position. So when it comes time for improvising off the main melody, those chord tones are the keys to sounding good. Good practice for note selection.

[player***]

dueling banjos played on guitar can be pretty swift if done right.combo the chords and melody and make it your own version of a simple tune.