[Harp-L] Bluegrass: thoughts and observations

[Tony Eyers <tony@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I play a lot of bluegrass, so I'll weigh in. Like all genres, bluegrass 
has a hierarchy, people playing brilliantly, others getting by, others 
starting out. The difference with  bluegrass is that all the players 
stand around and pick (play) in informal group settings, partly due to 
the portability of acoustic instruments. So, an inexperienced harmonica 
player can walk up to a session of seasoned bluegrass pros, pull out an 
instrument and start up.

And wreck it.

A bit like walking on to a stage unannounced, and joining in with a top 
class blues band. Bluegrass is a demanding genre. The good players have 
worked very hard to become good. Harmonica players can be included, the 
instrument does fit well, both for fiddle tunes and the singing. If you 
play well, then you will be welcomed by the good players.

How do you get there? Easy. And hard. Go to a bluegrass festival or two. 
Listen to the good players, but resist the temptation to join in. Then 
seek out the beginners. There are plenty, getting together their 
versions of "Old Joe Clark" and "Red Wing". Learn a few of the tunes 
(Steve Kaufmans 4 hour bluegrass workout from Homespun Tapes is a great 
source). I have an online course which outlines techniques for 1st 
position bluegrass tune playing. It's a long journey to become good, 
bluegrass is like anything else. However, bluegrass festivals are an 
excellent chance to find your peers, much more so than blues jams.

There are some great bluegrass harmonica players about, some on the 
list. Cara Cooke, Trip Henderson, David Naidich (chromatic, with a great 
new CD out). Check them out. Get to a festival. It might just be your thing.

Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
...everyone plays