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  • My Little Georgia Rose | Bluegrassbasics

    Concert Pitch - My Little Georgia Rose.p Nashville - My Little Georgia Rose.pdf

  • Long Journey Home

    < Back Long Journey Home Previous Next Long Journey Home - Transposed .pdf Download PDF • 40KB Long Journey Home - Concert Pitch .pdf Download PDF • 34KB Long Journey Home - Nashville .pdf Download PDF • 44KB

  • I'll Stay Around | Bluegrassbasics

    Nashville - I'll Stay Around.pdf

  • Guitar | Bluegrassbasics

    < Back Guitar In bluegrass music, the guitar plays an integral part of the ensemble as the basis of rhythm and chord-structure for the songs. That's one reason why many bluegrass jams tend to follow the guitarist. As bluegrass music has formed over the years, the guitar has taken on more of a role as a melody instrument as well. Due to these roles in the ensemble, bluegrass guitarists seek guitars that are loud and have a lot of bass response - for the rhythm guitar - as well as treble presence for solos to cut through the mix of other instruments. Far Left - The Martin D-18 is an iconic bluegrass guitar. This standard model of the Martin lineup features a solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, and ebony fingerboard and bridge. It is made in Martin's "dreadnought" size and has forward-shifted scalloped bracing to give it a robust sound. This guitar does not have a ton of complexity to it, so it is a good choice for the bluegrass ensemble. 2nd from Left - The Recording King RD-328 is modeled somewhat after the Martin HD-28 . It pairs a solid Adirondack spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides. The Adirondack spruce is a very stiff wood that can be played hard and responds well in a bluegrass setting. The rosewood back and sides are a very "reflective" wood that add a lot of complexity to the sound of the guitar. This is another great option for a bluegrass ensemble and is another color on your sound palette. Middle - Pono DS-20 - This is a variation on the typical square-shouldered dreadnoughts listed above. Whereas those guitars have the body meeting the neck at the 14th fret, this style moves the bridge back into a more centered position in the lower bout of the guitar. This gives it a loud, full sound but also makes the neck of the guitar shorter - meeting the body at the 12th fret. This guitar can be a good choice for musicians who want the large body size, but have difficulty reaching the neck of a 14-fret dreadnought. While it isn't as ubiquitous as the D-18 and D-28, there is some tradition of 12-fret dreadnoughts being played in bluegrass music with Norman Blake being a notable example. 2nd from Right - The Recording King ROS-11 is modeled after the Martin 000-18 and while it isn't a "typical" bluegrass guitar can be a good option for certain guitarists. It still has a relatively large body shape but the more narrow waist can make it more comfortable to play, especially for musicians with shoulder issues. It has a very balanced tone and is more commonly seen in Old Time ensembles. Far Right - Epiphone Olympic - Definitely not a typical bluegrass guitar, an archtop guitar can be a good choice for a bluegrass jam that already has a number of guitarists. The arched top and f-holes give it a sound that is punchy and occupies a different aural space than the dreadnought guitar does. That's one reason the Epiphone Olympic - made famous by Dave Rawlings - paired so well with Gillian Welch's Gibson J-50. *It is important to note that Epiphone released a modern version of the Olympic , which lacks some of the definition of its namesake. Previous Next

  • April 2025 | Bluegrassbasics

    April 2025 < Back Dream of a Miner's Child - Key of F Red River Valley - Key of G Paradise - Key of C Crazy Arms - Key of D East Virginia Blues - Key of G Salty Dog Blues - Key of G You Don't Love God If You Don't Love Your Neighbor - Key of G A Hundred Years From Now - Key of G Wildwood Flower - Key of D Over the Waterfall - Key of D There Is A Time - Key of Am Blue Moon of Kentucky - Key of A Sittin' On Top Of The World - Key of G Your Love Is Like A Flower - Key of A Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine - Key of F Red Haired Boy - Key of A Previous Next

  • I'll Stay Around

    < Back I'll Stay Around Previous Next I'll Stay Around .pdf Download PDF • 40KB I'll Stay Around - Nashville .pdf Download PDF • 43KB

  • Some Old Day | Bluegrassbasics

    Nashville - Some Old Day.pdf

  • Banjo | Bluegrassbasics

    Banjos The 5-String Banjo, played in the 3-finger "Scruggs" style is one of the defining sounds of bluegrass music. Banjos have a long history and have gone through many changes since first coming to the Americas on slave ships from West Africa. Because of this, it is important to make sure you're playing the appropriate banjo for each style of banjo music. Left - Gretsch G9400 Broadkaster Deluxe - This 5-string resonator banjo is what most people think of when discussing bluegrass banjos. It has 5 strings - including the short 5th string that gives it the distinctive sound, a resonator on the back - to project loudly in a bluegrass ensemble, and a flathead tone ring under the head for a increased depth of sound. This banjo is normally played with a thumb and two finger picks in order to get the characteristic attack of the bluegrass banjo. Middle - Gretsch G9451 Dixie Deluxe - This 5-string open-back banjo should not be confused with its bluegrass sibling. Although it still has 5 strings, it is usually played with bare fingers in a clawhammer or frailing style - often heard in old time music. Lacking a resonator, it doesn't project as much and has a much more "round" sound to it. Right - Stromberg-Voisinet Tenor Banjo - Notice that this banjo is missing the 5th string that is characteristic of bluegrass and old time banjos. They are most commonly played with a pick, similar to guitar. Tenor banjos find a ready home in jazz, jugband, and celtic music.

  • Banjo Capos | Bluegrassbasics

    Banjo Capos Paige Original Banjo Capo - This "yoke" style capo works particularly well on banjos. Since most banjos have a flat fingerboard radius, the centered yoke style puts equal pressure on the strings. This capo stores behind the nut when not in use. It usually requires two hands to operate effectively. It is a simple design, but works very effectively on a wide variety of instruments. Paige Clik Banjo Capo - A similar style to the original, this capo has a built-in tension release - their "Clik" system. It is similar in function in all other ways. Strum Hollow 5th String Capo - Since 5-string banjos have a short 5th string, they need a separate capo for just that one string. While some techniques are tried and true - like tapping in miniature railroad spikes that the 5th string can be hooked under - this little device requires no modifications to the banjo. The string slides into the brass slot and the thumb wheel is tightened to keep it from moving. The thumb screw is white plastic, but can be colored in with a permanent marker to make it less conspicuous. When not in use, it can be stored past the nut - attached to a string. *Not pictured - Shubb C5b Capo - This lever-action banjo capo is loved by many but lacks the ability to be stored on the banjo when it is not in use.

  • How Mountain Girls Can Love

    < Back How Mountain Girls Can Love Previous Next How Mountain Girls Can Love - Transposed .pdf Download PDF • 40KB How Mountain Girls Can Love - Concert Pitch .pdf Download PDF • 34KB How Mountain Girls Can Love - Nashville .pdf Download PDF • 43KB

  • My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains

    < Back My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains Previous Next My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains .pdf Download PDF • 39KB My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains - Nashville .pdf Download PDF • 44KB

  • Will You Be Loving Another Man | Bluegrassbasics

    Concert Pitch - Will You Be Loving Another Man.pdf Nashville - Will You Be Loving Another Man.pdf

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