You’ve heard the music and you love the sounds. You’ve decided to look into getting Bluegrass Guitar Lessons. The following is a short history of how Bluegrass became the popular genre it is today.
You probably know that Bluegrass has its roots in the American South and Appalachian mountains. Here, isolated from the rest of America, the musical traditions brought by the Irish, English and Scots developed and mixed with the local folk music. The Irish and Scots had a long tradition of sting music and ballads.
That style only really developed truly in the 1920 to 1930 period. At that time the isolated regions became open to the city trends. Here African Americans were playing Jazz and the blues. Ragtime and Gospel were also cited as early influences to the evolution of Bluegrass music.
But the name Bluegrass was only applied to this sort of music during the 1950′s. Then a man called Bill Munroe named his band “the Blue Grass Boys ” due to the fact he came from Kentucky. Kentucky was well known as the Blue Grass State. With his musical popularity the term took hold.
In bluegrass style each instrument plays the melody and does some improvisation around it while the other instruments provide accompaniment. The traditional Bluegrass instruments are predominantly stringed – mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass and the acoustic guitar. Vocals are optional. When there are vocals is it common for them to be two to four part harmonies. The unique aspect is that usually the highest voice is in a dissonant manner. This gives rise to the descriptive term “High lonesome sound”.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that acoustic guitars were recognised as a valid solo instrument. Furthering the guitars cause was a Doc Watson, a multi talented player. His ability spawned a craze for playing flat pick guitar.
All musical styles naturally evolve and the latest innovation to emerge in Bluegrass circle is called Newgrass. This is where musicians allow their other interests like hip-hop meld with their Bluegrass roots. And so a sub-style is born.
People in their thousands love Bluegrass music. Whether it has been part of their growing up or they have come across it in the few years, its popularity continues. Today many Americans are choosing to take Bluegrass guitar lessons to be part of the music they enjoy.
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