Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish and English traditional music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of Appalachia, and was influenced by the music of African-Americans through incorporation of jazz elements.
In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each
takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the
others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. This is in contrast to old-time music,
in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument
carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment.
Breakdowns are often characterized by rapid tempos and unusual instrumental dexterity and sometimes by complex chord changes.
Bluegrass music has attracted a diverse following worldwide. Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre as: "Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound."
Sub-genres
alternative musicThere are three major subgenres of bluegrass and one unofficial subgenre.
Traditional bluegrass
Traditional bluegrass
emphasizes the traditional elements; musicians play folk songs, tunes
with simple traditional chord progressions, and use only acoustic
instruments. Generally, compositions are performed on instruments that
were played by Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys in the late 1940s. In the early years, instruments no longer accepted in mainstream bluegrass, such as the accordion,
were used. Traditional bands may use their instruments in slightly
different ways; for example playing the banjo by the claw-hammer style,
or using multiple guitars or fiddles in a band. In this subgenre, the
guitar rarely leads but acts as a rhythm instrument, one notable
exception being gospel-based songs. Melodies and lyrics tend to be simple, often in the key of G,
and a I-IV-V chord pattern is common. Although traditional bluegrass
performers eschew electrically amplified instruments, as used in other
forms of popular music, it is common practice to "mike" acoustic instruments during stage performances before larger audiences.
Traditional bluegrass bands Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Del McCoury, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Doyle Lawson
and Quicksilver, and Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass enjoy
nationwide popularity. California mountain bluegrass, a variation on
traditional, has enjoyed regional popularity with such bands as Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack.bluegrass country tours
Progressive bluegrass
Another major subgenre is progressive bluegrass.
Groups use electric instruments and import songs from other genres,
particularly rock & roll. Although a more recent phenomenon,
progressive bluegrass has roots going back to one of the earliest
bluegrass bands. The banjo and bass duets Earl Scruggs played even in the earliest days of the Foggy Mountain Boys
hint at the wild chord progressions to come. The four key
distinguishing elements (not always all present) of progressive
bluegrass are instrumentation (frequently including electric
instruments, drums, piano, and more), songs imported (or styles
imitated) from other genres, chord progressions, and lengthy "jam band"-style improvisation. The String Cheese Incident
is one band that sometimes mixes a bluegrass tune with a jam band
feeling, especially in original tunes like "Dudley's Kitchen". A twist
on this genre is combining elements that preceded bluegrass, such as
old-time string band music, with bluegrass music.
Bluegrass Gospel
"Bluegrass gospel"
has emerged as a third subgenre. Many bluegrass artists incorporate
gospel music into their repertoire. Distinctive elements of this style
include Christian lyrics, soulful three- or four-part harmony singing, and sometimes playing instrumentals subdue. A cappella choruses are popular with bluegrass gospel artists, though the harmony structure differs somewhat from standard barbershop or choir singing. Mainstream bluegrass artists Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out have produced bluegrass gospel music. While The Issacs, Mount Zion and The Churchmen play Bluegrass Gospel exclusively.
Neo-Traditional bluegrass
A newer development in the bluegrass world is Neo-Traditional Bluegrass. In the 1990s, most bluegrass bands were headed by a solo artist such as Doyle Lawson and Rhonda Vincent, with an accompanying band. Bands playing this subgenre include The Grascals, Mountain Heart, The Infamous Stringdusters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Pert Near Sandstone, Cadillac Sky, Waterfall Blue Boys, and Cherryholmes who all have more than one lead singer.
"New" grass
Recent developments in the Punk scene have lead some musicians to
incorporate the traditional sounds of folk and bluegrass with punk rock
attitudes and messages. Old Man Markley,
a band out of Los Angeles, CA, has been building a fanbase which
directly links the cultures of both Bluegrass and Punk. Of other notable
examples, Cactus Attack hailing from Massachusetts blends punk rock
attitudes, bluegrass and folk with tough melodies and lyrics reminiscent
of lyrics of old.
Ticketamerica.com has concert tickets for all different varieties of
music from the 50 and 60's era to the alternative rock that has become
mainstream to blue grass country music in all cities.
