Recovering Bassist
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2017
- Messages
- 1,035
- Reaction score
- 0
Don't get too hung up on what exactly bluegrass music is. It doesn't matter who you ask because no one agrees completely.
My definition of what bluegrass or mountain music is would be fast pass, three-part harmony, using guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass with an instrumental break.
Lots of gospel songs are sung in this genre too.
Just look up bluegrass songs and you will find more than enough music.
Take "Ill Fly Away". That song, in my mind, is typical bluegrass and typical gospel. It can be sung fast or slow. If you bring it slowly will it still be a bluegrass song? IMO yes.
Here is a perfect example.........and what is that?????? A uke????!!!!
OMG, you better call Bill!
Perfectly said Linda! Thanks! Professional Bluegrass folk don't totally agree on what it is and isn't, there's always been a debate, but don't get hung up on that for this week, not what it's about. I mean after all, we're ukulele players and don't belong anyhow! lol That's why that song exists btw, as a parody of the way some Bluegrass purists view what is and is not allowed in it. Basically, if you see a band with a banjo, a mandolin, a fiddle, an upright bass and an acoustic guitar, chances are pretty much 100% you're about to hear some Bluegrass! The instruments are usually not amplified, especially in traditional Bluegrass, they play into microphones. Some bands, such as the Del McCoury band, gather around just one microphone, and expertly dart in and out of it to sing and play their parts.That's an art form in itself. Lots of fast "hoe down" type stuff, lots of instrumental breaks, lots of high singing, lots of high harmony. That singing style is known in Bluegrass circles as the "High lonesome" sound. Here's a link to an article that explains it fairly well. Hope this helps some, but really, just try it and have fun this week!
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-bluegrass-and-country-music