Hello Pickers!
This is my first blog on the interweb tubes. I would like to know why old time fiddlers and or banjo players can’t seem to jam together with bluegrass fiddlers and or banjo players? I know the old standby argument: Bluegrass is kind of the bebop of old time, the old songs have been jazzed up by the bluegrass crowd and they don’t play it the way it’s supposed to be played, too many flashy solo’s and chord changes. The bluegrass folks don’t want to play the same melody over and over again for 10 minuets and don’t like playing in the key of D all night long. I think if people are open to playing together, they can learn from each other’s style. In my band I have strayed from the traditions of old time and Bluegrass but still use elements of both in my songs. I learned how to use open tunings from old time and I learned how to improvise by playing bluegrass. I enjoy playing both styles and wish people wouldn’t put their heads in the sand and say, “I’m an old time musician or a bluegrass musician and that’s it.” I guess you could apply that to any genre of music. There’s something to be learned from each one and you shouldn’t limit your self to just one. What do you think?
On all of my blogs I hope to post a song or two for you to listen to. and I am going to make them available for free download on my website. Just go to this link
At the top of the page you can save an mp3 of this weeks song right to your computer for FREE! This week’s song is called “Suwanee River Hoedown”. It’s an old fiddle tune I found on a Stanley compilation that combines old time fiddling and bluegrass banjo. The recording I made myself and I was going to put it on my “Take Me Back to the Delta” album but it never made it on. I play all the instruments on this recording and for you musicians out there the fiddle is tuned in open E and the banjo in open D with the capo at the 2nd fret. Dig it!
cw
Hey Cliff,
Nice job on the tune SRH and a great pick for the topic. I have pondered the same general question and I guess it is just a matter of choice. As a guitar player, it’s even worse to play at an old time jam cuz not only do they play in D all night, repeat the same melody 10 times and disallow improvisation, but they rarely give a guitar player a break and expect that he/she will pound out a basic two chord rhythm all night. But, if I go to an old time jam, that’s what is expected of me. So it becomes a choice. I think the other aspect is understanding the “why.” I believe that form of music is used at contradances, sq dances etc and the main function of the music is for the dancers to have a repetitive grove which to dance and to not be distracted by a break in the form. On that point, even in modern day dance clubs, they play loud computerized tech-no music with a pounding low end repetitive bass pulse. I can’t stand it, but it serves the purpose of supporting the dancers.
I guess the same could be said of some Bluegrass jams wherein a participant wants to introduce a swing tune and blow over a Django tune or a jazz standard. Most BG’s would bulk and say, “it ain’t BG!” So, in summary, I guess the lines have been drawn and it is ultimately up to the players to choose which jams to attend and/or just knowing the rules of each. If you started a jam with the “no rule” rule, it would be a select few that would attend. I’m in!
Thanks
M
Comment by Mike Gurzi — March 3, 2010 @ 10:28 am |
Hey Cliff…You’re looking pretty handsome in that photo but who’s the bearded, stitched up hillbilly dude in the foreground? In reference to your commentary, I think we’ve had this discussion a couple times before at the “Office”. You’re right! What I want to know is why can’t a Punk Rock Drummer play with a Bluegrass player? I’ll play in any key, anytime! Ha! We could all have a blast and learn from each other. Meet me at the Office so we can duke it out accordingly! Congratulations on the new blog!
Comment by Guitar Safari — March 3, 2010 @ 3:18 pm |
because old time music is super gay
Comment by jjh — March 3, 2010 @ 7:21 pm |
how do you know jj?
Comment by Cliff Wagner — March 4, 2010 @ 4:35 am |
You need only look to the competing banjo styles,
frailing, come on, even that word is gay.
Comment by jjh — March 8, 2010 @ 6:37 pm
Hello Cliff-nice blog. Do they make wigs for beards? If so I’m gettin’ one. That thing is grizzly and I like it.
Speaking on the topic, I think players of musical styles should interbreed all the time. Musical snobbery leads to musical boundaries. I think Lutherans should have lunch with Rosicrucians and avant jazz saxophonists should jam with backwoods fiddlers. Bending the “rules” leads to broadening music and takin’ it in a new direction. Love ya Cliff-keep on doin’ what chew do!
Comment by Pete Brightman — March 3, 2010 @ 7:45 pm |