Bluegrass

redrider37 · #1 July 27th, 2007

Hi Everyone,

Lat saturday and sunday I went to a bluegrass festival and everyone was jamming in various groups. Because I am not a confident player I just sang along where I could and observed the others playing.

The thing I noticed was everyone seem to use a similar strumming pattern (country style/Bluegrass?) but I did'nt want to show my ignorance and ask them how to play.

If you were to strum along to say, "man of constant sorrow" or "by the banks of the old oiho", would you use bass struming method and if so would you add something to spice the strumming up?

Next year I want to join in, I am sure If I could get the rhythm I could do it.

Thanks

pete

Lcjones · #2 July 27th, 2007

**
There's a few of us on the boards here that have or still play bluegrass guitar. It's a great genre to learn strumming, flat picking as well as finger picking.

There are quite a few new bluegrass tunes out there these days but when you get into the old standards, such as Man of Constant Sorrow, there are a multitude of ways to play them. My best advice is to jump right into to it. Watch and listen. You'll catch on pretty quick.

Usually a bluegrass rhythm guitarist uses bass run along with a strumming pattern. Use your pick to place emphasis on a bass note and continue to follow through with a strum. In many cases you will see an alternating pattern such as ...

G Chord (emphasis on the RED note. The vertical line and arrow indicate the follow through strum)

--------3-^-----------------------------
--------o-|-----------------------------
--------o-|-----------------------------
--------o-|-----------------------------
----2-----|-----------------------------
--------3------------------------------

---------3--^-------------------------------
---------o--|-------------------------------
---------o--|-------------------------------
---------O---------------------------------
------2------------------------------------
---------3---------------------------------

I've included a small snippet of a bluegrass run. Nothing special. Just a simple blue grass progression. I'm capo'd on the 2nd fret and the chords are G,C,D and A. Practice this a few times and you'll start to get the feel of it. It's pretty much standard in the world of BG rhythm guitar.

Hope this helps.

**
LC

eddiez152 · #3 July 27th, 2007

Les,
Now that was a wonderful snipit. I love it when u get into this.

Europa · #4 July 27th, 2007

Les seems to know quite a bit about Bluegrass.

You can start your own Bluegrass info thread.

Thanks for that bit of info Les.

Intelligence3 · #5 July 27th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lcjones

**
I'm capo'd on the 2nd fret and the chords are G,C,D and A.

**
LC

I am presuming you mean the G shape, C shape, D shape, and A shape played below the capo, correct, making them A D E and B?

Or do you mean they are actually G C D and A, which, with the capo, I would personally have no idea how to play.

justinthyme · #6 July 27th, 2007

redrider - once you've got the hang of Les' lesson there's a bit more on bluegrass here:

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/fo...grass-lick%5D/

You might also look at solidwalnut's rhythm lessons beginning here:

Much Ado About Rhythm: Part 1 [Beginner & Intermediate/All Styles/Technique]

Good luck with it and have fun.

Lcjones · #7 July 27th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intelligence3

I am presuming you mean the G shape, C shape, D shape, and A shape played below the capo, correct, making them A D E and B?

Or do you mean they are actually G C D and A, which, with the capo, I would personally have no idea how to play.

Yes. This is in the "key" of A. Capo'd on the 2nd fret, you would play the key of A out of the G position. Likewise, you could play capo'd on the 5th fret and play out of the E position. Or the 4th fret and the F position. The chords are played above the capo and not below.

And in Nashville numbering, regardless of capo'd fret, I, IV, V and II would be the order of the day.

**
LC

Intelligence3 · #8 July 27th, 2007

Thanks. Sorry for the basic questions but those are the ones I have so far.

BTW, for my fellow rank newbies, great explanation here of Nashville Numbering:

The How and the Tao of Folk Guitar free online edition

Kirk Lorange · #9 July 28th, 2007

Nice positive picking there, Les. Great example.

Smurf42 · #10 July 28th, 2007

That is a good example, but to play it authentically you need to listen to some of the greats, both old and new! Check out the Del McCoury band and Allison Krauss & Union Station for new, and anything by Bill Monroe, or anyone from that era.

Also, you can check out this site for some guitar instruction, this will give you some basic songs to learn that are popular at the jams....

WholeNote: Bluegrass Guitar Lessons

This will help ya get up to speed on some of the standards. I hope this helps!

derek6107 · #11 July 28th, 2007

Great thread guys. Thanks for kicking it off redrider37.

Stratrat · #12 July 28th, 2007

I'm eatin' this thread up, as I'm interested in learning me some bluegrass!

redrider37 · #13 July 30th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek6107

Great thread guys. Thanks for kicking it off redrider37.

Hi guys,

Wow, When I posted the initial question I wondered whether people would think it was a dumb question but your replies are fantastic and very very helpfull, cheers.

pete