Something I Know Something About: Bluegrass Music

What is It?: Bluegrass music is an American musical genre descended from English/Irish folk music, centered in Appalachia and noted for distinct use of acoustic instrumentation including acoustic guitars, banjos and fiddlers. Unlike most related music (country), bluegrass allows each instrument to improvise with an accompaniment making it strangely related to jazz (and thus allowing for the existence of Bela Fleck).

Is it awesome?: Yes.

Random Fact: The banjo is a descendant of African instruments - giving the genre of bluegrass yet another connection to soul and jazz.

Commentary: Bluegrass is a recent discovery for me, and it's become a increasingly large section of my iTunes library over the past year. Unfortunately, when most folks think of bluegrass this is there first thought:



















"I is a produkt of da Georgia edjacation system."

Truth be told, bluegrass is considered a legitimate and professional form and has a valuable place in modern music. First thing you've got to know is the history of the genre:

First, bluegrass has three waves, and kind of three resulting sounds. Here are some samples:

First Wave Bluegrass: Bill Monroe's "Into the Pines"



Bill Monroe is almost universally recognized as the father of bluegrass. In fact, when folks were struggling to figure out what to call the genre, they used the name of Monroe's backup band - "the Blue Grass Boys" - as kind of an impromptu name. What made Monroe distinct from say, Johnny Cash? Part of it was the introduction of Earl Scruggs, a late-coming banjo player that developed the Scruggs style of banjo playing: a style requiring picks on the thumb, pointer and middle finger with three-note rolls. This particular style is credited as one of the key characteristics of the style. The Soggy Bottom Boys from the Coen Brother's "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" is another example.

Second Wave: JD Crowe and the New South's "Tennessee Border"


The second generation obviously pulls a lot from the first, but this was also the beginning of a divergence in the genre and the creation of progressive vs. traditional bluegrass. Progressive might best be exemplified by "Old and in the Way," a progressive bluegrass band featuring as one of its members, Jerry Garcia on banjo. Yeah, imagine that for a second. Fun Times.

Third Generation: Johnson Mountain Boys' "Duncan and Brady"


The third generation is still largely traditional but has just about everybody miked for a change. Another noticeable difference is that a lead guitar has emerged, an import from rock music.

Modern Progressive: Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel"

Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and several other modern progressive bluegrass bands pull heavily from both traditional bluegrass and other influences - in fact, some commentators now comment on many of these groups as "grungegrass." This is, by far, the most popular subgenre of bluegrass in modern times and is more likely to incorporate new chords and instruments and further experiment than modern traditionalists. Some songs, specifically the Avett Brother's "Pretty Girl from Chile," openly use chords, instrumentation and melodies from completely different genres - in this case, a decidedly strong Spanish influence.

Will I Continue to Listen to It?: Yes and while I'm decidedly in the progressive camp, I'm definitely not opposed to expanding into the traditional camp.

Name Something Related to Learn More About: Two things: (1) jazz and (2) Jerry Garcia.