Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bluegrass

Please suggest some tunes for me to learn to play

mzurer — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:45:23 -0800

What 5-25 songs should I learn that will be most likely to come in handy at bluegrass/old-time music jams? I'm learning to play mandolin and can read sheet music moderately well based on my past life as a violinist. I'm looking for stuff that will help me improve and also make it more likely to be able to play with others. As a bonus, links to resources (free is good, but if there is an excellent book you'd reccomend purchasing I'd love to know about it) with sheet music arrangements, or even better, with mandolin-specific transcriptions, that would be great!

String her up: non-classical violin music

sciencegeek — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:14:31 -0800

I have a friend who is a violinist. She's only played and listened to classical violin music. Please recommend artists and recordings of non-classical violin. Stephane Grappelli, and Joe Venuti are great but I don't know which recordings are good examples of their work. I'd like her to get a taste for what is out there including jazz, bluegrass, cajun, kelzmer, and any other genre/artist showcasing good violin/fiddle playing.

Who's Got That Old-Time Mountain Murder Music?

Lipstick Thespian — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:50:51 -0800

Gimme That Old-Timey Religion! I'm a huge fan of Carter Family, Doug Wallin, Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Doyle Lawson, the Alan Lomax Collection of Southern music, Smithsonian Folkways, etc. and am looking for other artists that are similar.

I'm hoping the Metaverse can turn me on to some great old-timey musicians that may have escaped my notice. Same for any fantastic compilations or collections of Appalachian, old-timey, trad country music.

Help recall folk/bluegrass/gospel song.

wabashbdw — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:09:13 -0800

Help me remember this folk/bluegrass/gospel song! Ok, I've only heard it once and that was a while ago, but surely this one won't be too tough for the hive mind. As best I can recall, the song was about a young man who wanted badly to join the church choir. Despite his enthusiasm for the message, however, he has a terrible voice and is 'cut' from the group (I think...I could be wrong about that). Eventually, he dies and in heaven his voice catches up with his devotion and he sings with the angels (or something along those lines).

Any help?

Can you suggest some bluegrass-based modern artists along the lines of Alison Krauss & Union Station?

jackypaper — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:08:25 -0800

Can you suggest some bluegrass-based modern artists along the lines of Alison Krauss & Union Station? Thanks!

Accomodations In Pikeville KY

madmamasmith — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:31:28 -0800

Does anyone know about places to stay in Pikeville Kentucky??? I want to take my fiance to Hillbilly Days in Pikeville Kentucky for his b-day. I want to stay in a secluded cabin or cottage near Pikeville. I have only been able to find cabins in Lexington, which is like 2 hours away. Does anyone know of any neato places to stay that's between Lexington and Pikeville? I will take a cool hotel or B&B as a last resort, but I would prefer a nice remote cabin, where we can relax and have some real privacy. Any ideas?

Identify a bluegrass song

gravelshoes — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:53:13 -0800

Identify a bluegrass/country song heard last week on the radio I was in the US last week and heard a song on a bluegrass station to which the chorus went something like:
"I'm sitting at home getting hammered while my wife's out getting nailed"
I thought the DJ said it was a song on a newly released album by a band called the Banjos, but repeated googling has uncovered nothing.

Headed out on the trail - help equip our sing-a-long arsenal!

jofuu — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:52:51 -0800

My girlfriend and I are hiking the Appalachian trail for two weeks at the end of the month. We're taking along a Martin Backpacker (guitar) and a small set of bongos. What are some very excellent blues/folk/bluegrass/mountain songs that we should learn before we go? We're also bringing a hand held recorder so we can remember all this.

I'm looking for more traditional rootsy stuff as opposed to anything by contemporary artists. Obviously, I won't reject any ideas though so throw them at me.

Thanks in advance Metafilter!

Corcovado Breakdown

Acari — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:21:20 -0800

What if Getz and Gilberto were, you know, cousins? Would they still have made beautiful music together? So I want to learn to play Bossa Nova tunes, but I want to play them on the banjo. The banjo is my first stringed instrument ever, and I'm still pretty retarded at it, except for my right [pickin'] hand [which has always been my favourite].

I looked around, and I found some nice youtube videos of one girl who does banjo bossa nova, but it doesn't really solve some basic issues for me.

Issues like:

-Is this going to be ridiculously hard?
-What, precisely, gives songs that bossa nova sound?
-What tuning is most reasonable? [my 5 string banjo has never been tuned to anything but open G]
-How can I make the end product sound bluegrassy?
-Why aren't these bossa nova chords in my banjo chordbook?

I can hear in my head what I want to do, but I just don't know how to get there on the banjo.

Assume as much ignorance of theory as you can bear without giving up on me. I don't mind if I have to look up every single musical term in your answer if it will help me in the end.

Recommendations for a Fahey fan

nasty, brutish, and of average height — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 07:11:08 -0800

Recommend me some old, weird Americana in the vein of John Fahey, please. Listening to John Fahey late last night, I realized I'm in the mood for more weird, backcountry yet kind of avant garde music. I like his guitar playing, but what I'm really after is that mood, if that makes sense (this is why I like Fahey more than Leo Kottke). I'm thinking of things like his "Portland Cement Factory at Monolith, California" or some of the abstract stuff from Yellow Princess.

Stuff I've already found:

I have a passing familiarity with old bluegrass, country and roots, but it doesn't go much deeper than, for instance, the Carter Family or Robert Johnson.
I've heard the recent Fahey tribute album
I know the bigger artists associated with modern, freak-folk stuff. I'm mostly looking for older stuff, but since I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of that genre, let me know if there's a particular modern artist I should check out.
I've seen this thread, which seems to focus more on current bands. But I'm looking at it nonetheless.

Help me find moody mountain music

Roman Graves — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:00:51 -0800

Looking for moody old-time/Appalachian folk music. I'm on the hunt for some great old-time/Appalachian folk music, but not just any. Specifically, I'm looking for darker, more atmospheric tracks. Fire and brimstone themes are very welcome. In the vain of latter 16 Horsepower, but more traditional. Maybe something you'd expect to hear if Sergio Leone had made a film in Eastern Kentucky. Specific album and/or song recommendations appreciated.

Oh sing me a song 'bout a Dobro

snsranch — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:27:46 -0800

Should I dump my dreadnought for a resonator guitar? I'm thinking that a resonator would give me more of a banjo voice as opposed to the bigness of the dreadnought. I'll be doing mostly finger picking and much less stumming/flat picking.

Does anyone have any experience with resonators?

Is there anything special that I should look for in it's appearance or construction?

Of course, I will be trying many guitars, but I will feel much more comfortable in the field after reading your comments and advice. Thanks in advance.

How about another MusicFilter question?

twine42 — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:29:30 -0800

MusicFilter : I'm looking for not-so-serious covers which have been yanked from one genre to another. How do you expand upon a fairly basic "recommend me more music" question?

I'm currently loving Hayseed Dixie's covers (rock->bluegrass), Weird Al's covers (various->polka) and the rather more serious "Rhythms Del Mundo" covers (various->latin).

So, I'm after some suggestions of other music that's been brought from one genre to another, and preferably stuff that's ended up in a similar kind of style to those mentioned above (ie, turning 'Strawberry Fields' into a thrash metal track probably won't do it for me).

First person to suggest Nickelcreek gets smacked with a Fiddle

empyrean — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:25:39 -0800

I'm looking for examples of stripped-down bluegrass songs with the kind of eerie/sad sound that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart ache. There's a particular kind of plaintive Appalachian style that really exudes what those people endured. Almost like a bluegrass dirge. I'm thinking along the lines of something that sounds like it could've been recorded a hundred years ago... raw, simple and authentic. Suggestions welcome.

Toe Tappin' Porch Music

phrontist — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:50:23 -0800

I'm looking for artists/songs that sound like the slide-guitar/banjo intro to KMFDM's WWIII. I'm not really very familiar with bluegrass (is that even the right genre?) outside Bill Monroe, and none of his stuff sounds much like this.

Help My Sister's Dream Come True

interrobang — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 10:08:43 -0800

My sister told me recently—with some sadness—that she's wanted for a long time to play the upright bass in a bluegrass band. She lives in Toronto, though, and outside of her lab, she doesn't really know anyone. She learned how to play the violin in elementary school, and played it through high school, but she's probably rusty. Still, she has a solid foundation for knowing approximately where the notes are on a four-string instrument.

I suggested that maybe she should find some bluegrass in Toronto, and talk to someone about:

1. getting some lessons,

and

2. finding people to play with.

She said she'd checked craigslist, and didn't find anything. She also didn't know of anywhere in Toronto where she could even find bluegrass.

So my question is this: do any Toronto mefites know anyone with a bluegrass band that I could put in touch with my sister? Or, do any Toronto mefites know of any bluegrass "hotspots" where she could get started?

Which Rocky Top?

FunkyHelix — Sat, 27 May 2006 23:14:41 -0800

Can you help me figure out which version of 'Rocky Top' I'm thinking of? Cannot stop listening to the Osbourne Brothers version of Rocky Top. There used to be a version floating around that was slowed down and mournful. I can't remember who recorded it, and it's driving me nuts. I think it was a female singer.

Folk/Bluegrass/Country songs that tell stories?

jdroth — Sat, 27 May 2006 09:01:29 -0800

What a surprise: I'm working on another music mix and would like suggestions. This mix features folk/bluegrass/country songs that tell stories. The less production, the less instrumentation, the more acoustic the better. Songs like Kenn Roger's "The Gambler"? Too produced. I'm looking for vocals and a little bit of instrumentation.

The inspiration for this mix was "Coyotes" by Don Edwards [iTMS] (which can be heard in Grizzly Man).

Other songs that fit the bill include "Cold Missouri Waters" by Cry Cry Cry [iTMS]; Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" performed by Dolly, Emmylou, and Linda [iTMS]; the acoustic version of "Dead Man's Hill" by Indigo Girls [iTMS of original version]; "Mama's Opry" by Iris DeMent [iTMS]; and so on. Not all the songs have to tell stories. I have Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" [iTMS] and Dolly Parton's re-make of "Seven Bridges Road" [iTMS] in the mix at the moment. And Dixie Chicks' "Travelin' Soldier" [iTMS].

So far this mix tends toward the somber, but that's certainly not a requirement. What do you say, Mefites? Can you help a fellow find similar songs?

Bluegrass Ska?

geekhorde — Mon, 01 May 2006 21:53:06 -0800

So, I really think that a combination of bluegrass and ska would be really hella cool. Anyone doing anything like that? I can almost hear it in my head (all fiddles and guitars and mandolins, and horns, in a ska rhythm). I'd love to listen to any band doing that kind of hybrid-fusion.

Bluegrass guitar or mandolin teacher in NYC?

davidvan — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 10:21:02 -0800

I'm looking for a bluegrass mandolin and/or guitar teacher in new york city - specifically someone near Columbia University or on the upper west side (or who would travel there for lessons). Have tried finding one on craig's list and looked at flyers at music stores. Any suggestions on how to find such a teacher, or knowledge of such a person?

Where to hoe-down?

squirrel — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 15:12:54 -0800

Big outdoor party next summer (for 60 people). East (San Francisco) Bay, as in Berkeley, Oakland. (Cheap) venue ideas? We're throwing a big anniversary bash next summer in the Berkeley area. We want grass and trees, but also a place that we can have an accoustic band and catered food for 60-80 people. I'm looking for suggestions on venues, catering crews and bluegrass bands. Personal accounts especially appreciated.

Cross-Atlantic Bluegrass Reception?

OmieWise — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 06:04:32 -0800

Appalachian mountain music and bluegrass owe a lot to the songs and styles brought to Appalachia by Scottish settlers who came from those highlands to the US highlands. Still, the music is different from most Celtic styles. How have musical styles in Scotland been affected by bluegrass, and what are some examples?

banjo picking

snsranch — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:00:08 -0800

Bluegrass Filter: Banjo specifically. Frailing vs. clawhammer vs. threefinger. What exactly are these methods? And how do they differ? After chiming in on this question (http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/23677) I googled for more info and was left terribly confused.

Bluegrass Music

LeeJay — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 22:05:27 -0800

I'm looking to expand my knowledge of bluegrass. [MI] Bluegrass occupies a special place in my heart. The first song my father taught me was "Bringing Mary Home" by The Country Gentlemen. I remember loving the steady stream of bluegrass drifting out of my father's workshop. Aside from the aforementioned Gentlemen and the recent 'O Brother Where Art Thou' soundtrack, I know nothing about bluegrass. Could someone in the know guide me towards bluegrass worth listening to?

Old-Timey Music

kenko — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 11:49:20 -0800

That high lonesome sound. Any recommendations for old-timey music—string bands, ballads, fiddle music, country blues, even up to orthodox bluegrass? I'll soon be surrounded by vendors of such things but I don't have much grounding—any really standout groups or recordings I should look for?