Instrument Tuners Being in tune with everyone else in the jam session is of the utmost importance! Checking your tuning often is essential as environmental changes like heat and humidity can change your tuning over the course of a jam session as well as putting on and taking off a capo. There are a wide variety of tuners available. As a multi-instrumentalist, the D'Addario Micro Tuners are appealing because they are small and discreet while providing a consistent tuning experience across instruments. They also tune using the vibrations of the instrument so a noisey jam session doesn't interfere with tuning. D'Addario Micro Guitar Tuner - For attaching to the headstock of various instruments - not just guitar. D'Addario Micro Soundhole Tuner - For attaching inside the soundhole of most guitars. D'Addario Micro Banjo Tuner - For attaching under the brackets of the banjo pot. D'Addario Violin/Viola Micro Tuner - For attaching to the body of a fiddle. D'Addario Eclipse Tuner - Great for multi-angles, especially on a dobro. Snark Super Tight Tuner - Another great option for a variety of instruments.

Concert Pitch - Sunny Side of the Mountain.pdf Nashville - Sunny Side of the Mountain.pdf

February 2025 < Back Bury Me Beneath the Willow - Key of G Richmond Blues - Key of G Mama Tried - Key of D I Wonder Where You Are Tonight - Key of C Shady Grove - Key of Dm The Wreck of the Old 97 - Key of Bb Angelina Baker - Key of D Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Key of A Redwing - Key of G Tear My Stillhouse Down - Key of G The Old Apple Tree - Key of C Dream of a Miner's Child - Key of G Hold Whatcha Got - Key of G Turn Your Radio On - Key of A Keep on the Sunny Side - Key of G I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes - Key of C I'm Using My Bible for a Roadmap - Key of G Long Gone - Key of A Previous Next

< Back Banjolele/Uke Ukuleles are not part of the typical bluegrass ensemble. Due to a renewed popularity in the United States, they are becoming more common at bluegrass jams. A major hurdle for ukes is the ability to be heard in such a large group. The combination of the small size and nylon strings makes projecting the sound quite a challenge. One solution to this is playing a banjolele. It is the same size and tuning as a ukulele but being built on a banjo body means that it is typically louder and projects better than a traditional ukulele. If a banjolele isn't an option, then using larger ukulele sizes like tenor- or concert-sized ukuleles could be helpful. Left - Stella Banjolele - This banjolele was built in the heyday of banjo ukes in the 1920s. It has been upgraded with Ratio Tune-A-Lele Ukulele Tuners . The original "friction" tuners did not hold the tension of the strings very well. These upgraded tuners are "geared" but have a very small footprint. Right - Harmony Baritone Ukulele - Baritone ukuleles are tuned like the top 4 strings of a guitar - DGBE. This one has been upgraded with Grover geared ukulele tuners . Previous Next

Nashville - I'm Gonna Sleep with One Eye Open.pdf

< Back Mandolin - Ibanez M510-BS Sharon is hoping to pass this along to someone who will give it a good home and some playing time! Although not pictured, she does have the tailpiece cover that was taken off to facilitate string changes. Previous Next

November 2025 < Back ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Previous Next

< Back Mandolin With Bill Monroe being known as a mandolin player, it is an instrument that finds a welcome home in bluegrass jams. It serves as both a melody instrument and as an important rhythmic instrument. There are many different types of mandolins but due to their style of construction, there are two main types that tend to be used in bluegrass music - A-style and F-style. If you're just starting out, an A-style mandolin will offer higher quality at a more affordable price-point. The main thing to seek in a mandolin is solid wood construction. The top should be hand-carved solid spruce while the backs and sides should be solid maple. Additionally, a bluegrass mandolin should have f-holes as these add to the traditional sound. Left - Eastman MD605 - This model is several years old and there have been some cosmetic changes. It is made with a solid sprue top, solid maple back and sides, and ebony fittings as well as an internal pickup. Right - Eastman MD305 - This is Eastman's most affordable model and is well-loved. Although it comes with a matte finish - which is a little "loud" when it rubs - it can be buffed to a semi-gloss. *Not Pictured - Eastman MD315 - This is Eastman's most affordable F-style mandolin. Again, if money is a consideration, the A-style is the way to go. Other reputable entry brands are Kentucky , Gold Tone , and The Loar . Previous Next

Concert Pitch - Raised by the Railroad Line.pdf Nashville - Raised by the Railroad Line.pdf

Sandy Spring Bluegrass Jam Archives October 2022 Bringing Mary Home - Key of G Your Cheating Heart - Key of D Monster's Holiday - Key of D Jambalaya - Key of C James River Blues - Key of G Folsom Prison Blues - Key of F Wreck of the Old '97 - Key of C The Darker the Night - Key of D East Tennessee Blues - Key of C Big Sciota - Key of G 40 Years of Trouble - Key of G Foggy Mountain Top - Key of G Long Journey Home - Key of G Midnight on the Water - Key of D Dink's Song (Fare Thee Well) - Key of D Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Key of C Knocking on Heaven's Door - Key of G Nellie Cane - Key of D September 2022 Long Gone - Key of A Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky - Key of F White Oak on the Hill - Key of G Bill Cheatham - Key of G Folsom Prison Blues - Key of F I Still Can't Believe You're Gone - Key of D C.C. Rider - Key of C White Freight Liner Blues - Key of G Mountain Dew - Key of G Walls of Time - Key of A Angelina Baker - Key of D Swallowtail Jig - Key of Em Wagon Wheel - Key of G Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Key of A Whiskey Before Breakfast - Key of D Old Home Place - Key of G Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Key of G August 2022 Mountain Dew - Key of G Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Key of E Turkey in the Straw - Key of G St. Anne's Reel - Key of D Truck Drivin' Man - Key of E Faded Love - Key of D Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Key of G You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - Key of G Mama Don't Allow - Key of E Nine Pound Hammer - Key of G Big Spike Hammer - Key of G When the Springtime Comes Again (Little Annie) - Key of G Behind These Prison Walls of Love - Key of G Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Key of G Swallowtail Jig - Key of Em Whiskey Before Breakfast - Key of D Begging to You - Key of E Friend of the Devil - Key of G Dream of a Miner's Child - Key of G Long Journey Home - Key of G July 2022 Foggy Mountain Top - Key of G St. Anne's Reel - Key of D Cry, Cry Darlin' - Key of D Red Wing - Key of G Dixie Hoedown - Key of G Nellie Kane - Key of A Deep River Blues - Key of E Man of Constant Sorrow - Key of F I Gotta Get Drunk - Key of D Every Day is a Winding Road - Key of D Big Sciota - Key of G Fly Me to the Moon - Key of C Whiskey Before Breakfast - Key of D Wabash Cannonball - Key of D Jambalaya - Key of C Nine Pound Hammer - Key of G June 2022 Jambalaya - Key of C Gold Rush - Key of A Tear My Still House Down - Key of G The Weight - Key of G Angelina Baker - Key of D Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky - Key of F In the Gravel Yard - Key of G Turkey in the Straw - Key of G East Tennessee Blues - Key of C Whiskey Before Breakfast - Key of D Lost Highway - Key of D Faded Love - Key of D They Call the Wind Mariah - Key of G Crazy Arms - Key of D Take Your Shoes off Moses - Key of G May 2022 Honey You Don't Know My Mind - Key of A Banks of the Ohio - Key of G White Freight Liner Blues - Key of G The Old Home Place - Key of G Whiskey Before Breakfast - Key of D Faded Love - Key of D Why You Been Gone So Long? - Key of E Momma Don't Allow - Key of G I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me) - Key of G Folsom Prison Blues - Key of F Ragtime Annie - Key of D Blue Ridge Cabin Home - Key of A I've Been All Around This World - Key of D Midnight Special - Key of A Long Black Veil - Key of D April 2022 White Freightliner Blues - Key of G Nine Pound Hammer - Key of G Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Key of E Angel from Montgomery - Key of G In the Garden - Key of G The Race is On - Key of G Too Old to Cut the Mustard - Key of C I've Endured - Key of D Cumberland River - Key of G Dream of a Miner's Child - Key of G Bury Me Beneath the Willow - Key of G Bill Cheatham - Key of G Blue Moon of Kentucky - Key of D Jambalaya - Key of C Man of Constant Sorrow - Key of D How Mountain Girls Can Love - Key of C Gold Rush - Key of A The Train the Carried My Girl from Town - Key of C

< Back Bass The upright bass is a very valuable instrument to the bluegrass ensemble but it can be somewhat misunderstood at times. While the electric bass guitar has been used in some bluegrass groups, the upright - or double bass is what's typical of the genre. Like other orchestral stringed instruments, basses come in fractional sizes. Unlike the violin counter parts, in the United States a "full-sized" bass is actually a 3/4 size bass. It is extremely rare to encounter even a 7/8 bass. In bluegrass music, the bass is traditionally played without a bow - by plucking the strings with bare fingers. It is well worth investing a little bit of money into having it set up by a professional as many of the more affordable options are shipped in less that ideal playing condition. Palatino VB-004 3/4 Size Upright Bass - This bass is made out of spruce and maple plywoods with ebony fittings. This is a great option for jam sessions where an instrument of this size is bound to take some bumps. The outline of this bass is gamba shape, rather than a violin shape. Again, the lack of delicate corners is helpful in crowded company. Previous Next

< Back Tuners Being in tune with everyone else in the jam session is of the utmost importance! Checking your tuning often is essential as environmental changes like heat and humidity can change your tuning over the course of a jam session as well as putting on and taking off a capo. There are a wide variety of tuners available. As a multi-instrumentalist, the D'Addario Micro Tuners are appealing because they are small and discreet while providing a consistent tuning experience across instruments. They also tune using the vibrations of the instrument so a noisey jam session doesn't interfere with tuning. D'Addario Micro Guitar Tuner - For attaching to the headstock of various instruments - not just guitar. D'Addario Micro Soundhole Tuner - For attaching inside the soundhole of most guitars. D'Addario Micro Banjo Tuner - For attaching under the brackets of the banjo pot. D'Addario Violin/Viola Micro Tuner - For attaching to the body of a fiddle. D'Addario Eclipse Tuner - Great for multi-angles, especially on a dobro. Snark Super Tight Tuner - Another great option for a variety of instruments. Previous Next