Bluegrass Music Blog

 Bluegrass Music

 History of Bluegrass: 

    Bluegrass is made up of the following; American southern string band, Blues, Country, English, Irish, and Scottish traditions.  After World War two the Bluegrass music came out of the rural south even though the music dates back as far as 1930's. Bluegrass gets its name from a man named Bill Monroe's band 'The Bluegrass Boys'. During this time Bluegrass music was about issues prominent in everyday people, such as; religion. love, family, and home. These songs were typically upbeat and happy, but could turn to a darker side of things. Protest songs have even been created in the bluegrass style. Bluegrass was developed from the elements of Old-time music, Traditional Music of the Appalachian regions. The Appalachian regions had many Scottish-American immigrants that brought their musical traditions with them. As the Bluegrass sound spread, the amount of listeners increased for their own sake. Especially after the invention of audio recordings. Bluegrass was originally folk music and later introduced as hillbilly. But in 1948 Bluegrass took a change to country and western style to increase headlines. 

Bill Monroe: 

    Bill Monroe was from Kentucky, and grew up in a very musically talented home. He and his siblings grew up working on the farms and played music. His foundation for his music came from his mother and uncle playing the fiddle and his friend playing both the fiddle and guitar. When Bill and his brother grew up the moved to Chicago where they formed a band. When they split Bill Monroe created the Bluegrass boys band. His music incorporated songs and rhythms from string bands, gospel, black laborer work songs, country, and blues music. He tried many different instruments before settling on the banjo, bass, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. After he passed he was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame from his great influence on country and Bluegrass music. 

 

  Bluegrass Instruments: 

     A usual Bluegrass band consists of a fiddle, mandolin, bass, guitar, and a banjo, and usually acoustic with guitar and base carrying the role of making a rhythmic foundation. Unlike Old-time music every instrument plays a different part of the melody, instead of playing the melody together. Bluegrass differs from country music because they follow Bill Monroe's style of singing in a high-pitch. Another interesting attribute of Bluegrass music is that anyone who has an instrument can take a solo turn, age and expertise doesn't matter. 

How Bluegrass Sounds: 

    The sound of bluegrass music is a very quick and fast paced tempo. The singers often sing for conformation and the music is meant to be played in a large crowd. Performers are often open about their emotions during their songs and play in a sense of urgency. Each song there are opportunities for the instruments to have their own solo. Bluegrass uses layering and ordering of vocal harmonies. When listing or performing bluegrass music it is always important to share your music as well as listen to others share. It is also important to have fun. 

Bluegrass Today: 

     Around the 1980's the original structure and sound of Bluegrass began to fade away slowly, while Contemporary and Progressive Bluegrass started to show up. Many different genres of music were incorporated into these new bluegrass songs, these genres include country and folk music and Folk Rock music. Today there is even a Bluegrass Day and annual festivals for those interested in Bluegrass music. Bluegrass as a whole continues to bring up common truths and also dark realities of life. It also is continuing to spread around the world. 

    Bluegrass is now performed and enjoyed world-wide. There are many new influences to the original Bluegrass music. Some of the other music styles that are huge influencer for the Bluegrass music are Jazz, Celtic music, and Rock. A great thing about Bluegrass music is that it has been translated to many different languages for them to enjoy as well. The popularity of Bluegrass music is growing all around the world and progressing. "Bluegrass music has become so popular, the International Bluegrass Music Association claims members in all 50 states and over 30 countries."

https://folkways.si.edu/bluegrass-folkways-american-roots-tradition/history/music/article/smithsonian#:~:text=Bluegrass%20music%20came%20out%20of,issues%20important%20to%20everyday%20people.

https://medium.com/music-voices/a-history-of-bluegrass-music-e3492d689b16

My Experience with Bluegrass: 

     My dad has been in a Bluegrass band for as long as I can remember. He can play many different instruments as he comes from a musically talented family. When I was younger, he and a group of his friends would come over every friday night. We have a building that had all my dads equipment as well as chairs and a futon. They would pick until eleven at night, I would sometimes fall asleep on the futon. I always loved fridays because I would go out there and listen to them. Sometimes they would even let me sing along. They would perform at churches occasionally on weekends and I would always go with them. It was such a fun time, the music would get the community together, people would dance, and sing along. They even played on the radio one time and I was able to go to the studio with them. He tried to teach me how to play guitar, but I never could catch on the the placement of your fingers. He played the bass for his band. 

This is his band playing my favorite song. He is the one playing the bass: