 |
|
06/15/09, 02:29 PM
|
|
Baroness of TisaWee Farm
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: flatlands of Ohio - sigh
Posts: 1,963
|
|
|
bluegrass music question/help needed
I KNOW this isn't homesteading related...but I'm a homesteader, so does that count?? 
I write a monthly "Dear Abby" type advice column and I'm absolutely brain-dead...and it's due tomorrow! I need help with coming up with questions that are bluegrass music related. For instance, in the past we've used things such as:
What kind of bass is the best for a bluegrass band?
Why do women mostly play the bass?
How do I know when I can join a jam?
How do I jam?
What kind of banjo should I buy?
Difference between old time and bluegrass?
Practice hints?
Why does my girlfriend shriek in pain when I get my banjo out?
Etc....
Can you come up with any questions for me??? I have no problems with answers....it's the questions that are driving me crazy!!
Thanks!
CC
|
06/15/09, 02:50 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 6,395
|
|
|
Someone told me that true bluegrass doesn't use percussion. I don't think that's true. What did they make homemade up in the hollers for percussion.
Where can I buy a washtub bass?
What are some homemade things I can use to make a capo?
If I go to a pickin' how can I ask someone for help getting in tune?
Why don't I see lap dulcimers much at pickin's or jams?
How can I find out where jams are held?
|
06/15/09, 02:55 PM
|
|
Baroness of TisaWee Farm
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: flatlands of Ohio - sigh
Posts: 1,963
|
|
|
Ooh....good ones! You must be a musician...how many other people even know what a capo is?
You DO know why banjo players use capos, though, don't you??? So they can play out of tune in another key!!!
:banana02:
|
06/15/09, 04:12 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,585
|
|
|
What does it take to be a professional musician?
How do you get gigs?
Where to go to find if busking is legal?
How do I change my strings?
How do I tune my instrument?
What are the rules of a jam?
What are the top 10 (or more) bluegrass songs to learn?
What kind of instruments are not welcome at bluegrass jams?
|
06/15/09, 04:37 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,730
|
|
|
What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle?
What's the difference between bluegrass and old time?
What will happen if a person leaves a stringed instrument in the trunk of a hot car for long?
How to find a good instrument repair person?
__________________
All rights are reserved. You want to use my writing, you have to pay for it. Please contact me regarding rights available and compensation required.
|
06/15/09, 05:17 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 955
|
|
|
I had a friend from California stop by on his way through last week. He is a musician and a typical snobby city type. I took him to a local good old country restaurant and when we got there there was a bunch of locals playing Bluegrass in a side room. He wandered over to listen and he about went into shock, he said "my god look at those instruments, there was a mandolin exactly like that one that sold on ebay for $33,000. just last week and that double bass it must have cost a fortune I never saw one like that before."
Needless to say he was impressed by our good ole local boys.
"O"
|
06/15/09, 05:17 PM
|
|
on furlough-downsized
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WV, FINALLY! (zone 5b)
Posts: 1,516
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ovsfarm
What's the difference between bluegrass and old time?
|
Oh, oh, I know this one!  Bluegrass: the number of reps of the tune (with variations) equals the number of players in the jam, or when the jam master says "Last time 'round!"
Old time: the number of reps of the tune (with variations) is only limited by two things...... 1. everybody is too tired/ too drunk to continue playing......
2. everybody in the room, including non players, can play a round on at least one instrument! :banana02:
Last edited by 3ravens; 06/15/09 at 05:50 PM.
|
06/15/09, 05:42 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,730
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3ravens
Oh, oh, I know this one! Bluegress: the number of reps of the tune (with variations) equals the number of players in the jam, or when the jam master says "Last time 'round!"
Old time: the number of reps of the tune (with variations) is only limited by two things...... 1. everybody is too tired/ too drunk to continue playing......
2. everybody in the room, including non players, can play a round on at least one instrument! :banana02: |
Was that you I saw back there in the corner last Saturday night? 
Another question I thought of was, is it better to play by music or by ear?
Dh plays guitar and bass, I play fiddle, pennywhistle and bodhran (Irish drum), and dd plays some fiddle and mandolin. We do a lot of old time, gospel, and historical but some bluegrass and Celtic.
__________________
All rights are reserved. You want to use my writing, you have to pay for it. Please contact me regarding rights available and compensation required.
|
06/15/09, 06:16 PM
|
|
on furlough-downsized
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WV, FINALLY! (zone 5b)
Posts: 1,516
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ovsfarm
Was that you I saw back there in the corner last Saturday night?
Another question I thought of was, is it better to play by music or by ear?
Dh plays guitar and bass, I play fiddle, pennywhistle and bodhran (Irish drum), and dd plays some fiddle and mandolin. We do a lot of old time, gospel, and historical but some bluegrass and Celtic. |
I don't know where you are, so can't say if that was me or not. I play AT lap dulcimer (not very good, but I have fun) and pennywhistle, and bones.
Oh, and the answer to the dulcimer question? They are so quiet, you have to mike 'em to the max or play 'em solo just to be heard!
OP, I suppose you've already done the jam/session etiquette thing?
|
06/15/09, 06:18 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,278
|
|
|
Who is considered the father of bluegrass music
Where is he buried?
Where did bluegrass get its name?
|
06/15/09, 07:12 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,204
|
|
|
Where did the following trains start and end? Wabash Cannonball, Orange Blossom Special, Midnight Train to Georgia(oh, that's not a bluegrass train song....) City of New Orleans.......................
Which is the most mentioned state in bluegrass songs? Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, others?
How many mountains can you name in bluegrass songs? Good Ole Rocky Top, Blue Ridge, Smokeys
Which instrument is most often used to make a train whistle? Choo-choo, air brakes
How did I get tears in my ears?
|
06/15/09, 07:51 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,053
|
|
|
Who is considered the father of bluegrass Dobro?
|
06/15/09, 07:53 PM
|
|
Baroness of TisaWee Farm
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: flatlands of Ohio - sigh
Posts: 1,963
|
|
|
Wow....some really good ones. Made me laugh, too.
I already did the difference between a violin and a fiddle (including the obvious....a fiddle smells like beer).
Also, 3Ravens hit it right on the head, and I'd never thought about it that way! So true! I play both old time AND bluegrass, and ain't that the truth!!!
My 2cents on the lap dulcimer response.... around here, they only seem to be able to play in D. Drives everyone else nuts. Besides being quiet, for the most part.
What IS the answer to "what instrument is most often used for train whistles and air brakes?" I'm guessing fiddle??
|
06/15/09, 07:56 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 9,511
|
|
|
This would be a good topic in my opinion....
Should I take my kids to a bluegrass festival?
Should I introduce young people to bluegrass music?
Kids of today enjoy rap, pop, and hip-hop...is it worth showing them BG?
Here is a different topic:
I am new to BG...is it worth going to a festival? What should I expect? Aren't they over-charging for tickets?
And another topic:
There isn't much BG in our area. I would love to start a weekly jam session. Should I? How do I start?
And another topic:
I don't have alot of money due to the economy, to spend going to festivals or on BG music. Do you have any ideas how I can go more inexpensively? (One answer is to apply for a weekend position working 4 hours a day, and your ticket is free at some festivals).
Do any of these help?
|
06/15/09, 07:57 PM
|
 |
construction and Garden b
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: east ont canada
Posts: 7,380
|
|
|
hogtieing, how too increase the audience Saturday night!
banjo chords for AC/DC and black sabbath
sizing your horse and buggy for your bass
fiddling around
best tasting little brown jug
__________________
àigeach carnaid
chaora dhubh
" Don't raise your voice, improve your argument."
cruachan 
|
06/15/09, 08:01 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hooterville, Ga.
Posts: 24
|
|
|
How many notes can I get out of a Jews Harp ?
|
06/15/09, 08:24 PM
|
|
on furlough-downsized
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WV, FINALLY! (zone 5b)
Posts: 1,516
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cc-rider
Wow....some really good ones. Made me laugh, too.
I already did the difference between a violin and a fiddle (including the obvious....a fiddle smells like beer).
Also, 3Ravens hit it right on the head, and I'd never thought about it that way! So true! I play both old time AND bluegrass, and ain't that the truth!!!
My 2cents on the lap dulcimer response.... around here, they only seem to be able to play in D. Drives everyone else nuts. Besides being quiet, for the most part.
What IS the answer to "what instrument is most often used for train whistles and air brakes?" I'm guessing fiddle??
|
Well, if you know what yer doing, you CAN tune the dulcimer to different keys.... but its hard to do "on the fly" between tunes! And you can get a capo for 'em, if the bridge is made right! (Mine is....) But you're right, they don't "play well with others" without some work! Have you ever heard anyone play one with a psaltery bow? Not real trad, but a beautiful sound.
|
06/15/09, 08:34 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Idaho
Posts: 4,332
|
|
Who was Joe Ahr?
What happened to the name on Bill Monroe's mandolin? 
Who made Don Reno's capo?
|
06/15/09, 09:16 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,273
|
|
|
To what key should I tune my banjo in order to best accompany my hound dog's singing?
How many times should you sing the same verse (with chorus) when no one in the group can remember any of the other song verses?
How to kill the song that just won't end - in other words, how to you break the circle that is unbroken?
Is it better to give that enthusiastic listener that lacks any musical ability, yet who wants to participate in the jam, spoons or a washboard?
How to disarm a drunk of their percussion instrument?
__________________
Anne
Give me a sweet home set among the trees,
With friends whose words are ever kind and true.
-Phoebe Carey-
LONE PINE FARM
Barnesville, PA
Boer goats, Angora goats, Eclectic mix of poultry
|
06/15/09, 09:33 PM
|
 |
Big Front Porch advocate
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 44,425
|
|
|
Do hammered dulcimers have a place in Blue Grass?
__________________
"Live your life, and forget your age." Norman Vincent Peale
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:05 PM.
|
|
