Bluegrass

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Bluegrass

• by Susan Simandle

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What is Bluegrass music?

• Bluegrass music is a form of American music with
  its own roots in the traditional music of the
  Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia, as well as
  the music of African-American slaves.
• http//explanation-guide.info/meaning/Bluegr
  ass-music.html
  

It began in Kentucky, the Bluegrass state.
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Where is it from?

• Bluegrass music had its start in the rural south
  (Kentucky) after World War II. It was basically a
  fusion of "hillbilly", "folk" and various types
  of "country" that were popular with the farm
  families and blue-collar workers.
  http//www.zianet.com/elm-st-station/blu-hist.html

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Who invented Bluegrass?

• If any one person can lay claim to having
  "invented" bluegrass it would certainly be Bill
  Monroe. http//explanation-guide.info/meaning/Blue
  grass-music.html

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• The Bluegrass style was named for his band, the
  Blue Grass Boys, formed in 1939.
  http//explanation-guide.info/meaning/Bluegrass-mu
  sic.html

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• Monroe's 1945-48 band, which featured banjo
  player Earl Scruggs, singer/guitarist Lester
  Flatt, fiddler Chubby Wise and bassist Cedric
  Rainwater, created the definitive sound and
  instrumental configuration that remains the model
  to this day. http//explanation-guide.info/meaning
  /Bluegrass-music.html

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What makes the bluegrass sound unique?

• Acoustic instrumentation

Harmonies featuring two, three, or four parts
An emphasis on traditional songs
Improvised instrumental solos http//explanat
ion-guide.info/meaning/Bluegrass-music.html
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• Instrumentation

Acoustic no electricity
"How many Bluegrass musicians
does it take to change a light
bulb? One, and three to complain
because it's electric. Ricky Skaggs
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• Fiddle (aka violin)

often the lead instrument
active bowing
Ray Legere of Bowfire
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• Banjo

clawhammer frailing
3-finger rolls
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• Guitar

six-string steel
Martin D28
flat top
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• Mandolin

8 strings, tuned to 4 pitches
soft sound
tuned like the violin
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String Bass
no bow
played standing
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Resonator Guitar
Dobro
more volume
Hawaiian
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Who was instrumental in the development of
Bluegrass?

• The Carter Family

Bill Monroe
Lester Flatt
Earl Scruggs
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The most influential group in country music hist
ory, the Carter Family switched the emphasis f
rom hillbilly instrumentals to vocals, made sc
ores of their songs part of the standard count
ry music canon, and made a style of guitar- pla
ying, "Carter-picking," the dominant technique f
or decades. http//www.geocities.com/Vienna/70
59/carters.html
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Bill Monroe
Father of Bluegrass
Incorporated songs and rhythms from string ban
d, gospel (black and white), work songs and
"shouts" of black
laborers, country and blues
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Lester Flatt
used thumb and finger picks on guitar
with Monroe and Scruggs, developed the B
luegrass sound
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Earl Scruggs
developed the three-finger style of b
anjo
picking
performed with Flatt for 21 years
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Who is performing Bluegrass today?

• Ricky Skaggs

Alison Krauss
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• Ricky Skaggs

born in Lawrence County, Kentucky
plays mandolin and fiddle
http//explanation-guide.info/meaning/Ricky-Skaggs
.html
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Alison Krauss
most successful Bluegrass musician ever
studied with Bill Monroe
http//explanation-guide.info/meaning/Alison-Kraus
s.html
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Nickel Creek
Sean Watkins guitar
Chris Thile mandolin, banjo
Sara Watkins fiddle
formed the group in elementary and middle school