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  #1  
Old 03-20-2018, 12:23 AM
DissonantTimbre DissonantTimbre is offline
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Default Bluegrass standards

What are some bluegrass instrumental standards? I'm looking to branch out my playing a bit and bluegrass is something I've never tried.
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Old 03-20-2018, 02:55 AM
FwL FwL is offline
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Here's a decent starter list:

http://harmonicatunes.com/bluegrass-repertoire/
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Old 03-20-2018, 05:49 AM
martingitdave martingitdave is offline
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The term bluegrassers use to describe the instrumental music is “fiddle tunes.” Do a web search for some videos and instructions for those. Home Spun Tapes is one of the better resources. There is also a young guy on YouTube named Banjo Ben Clark who, I think, does an excellent job teaching popular fiddle tunes.
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:45 AM
Johnny K Johnny K is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DissonantTimbre View Post
What are some bluegrass instrumental standards? I'm looking to branch out my playing a bit and bluegrass is something I've never tried.
There's a dirty word in the bluegrass jam camp i've been attending the last 3 weeks. Instrumental.

LOL.

Only one I can think of is Orange Blossom Special.
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Old 03-20-2018, 12:47 PM
BFD BFD is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny K View Post
...Only one I can think of is Orange Blossom Special.
I'm only 4-5 years into BG jamming, festivals etc, tho it's what I probably do most of. In my experience OBSpecial isn't very standard in dedicated BG circles. It seems more like a showpiece usually reserved for less BG-specific audiences.

I'd agree that the list posted by FwL contains lots of common BG fiddle tunes, many of which you'll find a number of Youtube versions to learn from.
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Old 03-20-2018, 03:10 PM
Johnny K Johnny K is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFD View Post
I'm only 4-5 years into BG jamming, festivals etc, tho it's what I probably do most of. In my experience OBSpecial isn't very standard in dedicated BG circles. It seems more like a showpiece usually reserved for less BG-specific audiences.

I'd agree that the list posted by FwL contains lots of common BG fiddle tunes, many of which you'll find a number of Youtube versions to learn from.
Thanks for the clarification. I am pretty new to the bluegrass jamming. I've always heard OBS on Bluegrass shows on radio in my youth. I've been listening the SirriusXM Bluegrass channel lately to sort of immerse myself. I haven't been hearing many instrumentals at all and I have not heard one instance of OBS.
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Old 03-20-2018, 04:35 PM
Bunnyf Bunnyf is offline
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Some super popular ones:
Old Joe Clark
Blackberry Blossum
Soldier's Joy
Arkansas Traveler
Bill Cheatum
Whiskey Before Breakfast
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Old 03-21-2018, 03:10 AM
LeftArm LeftArm is offline
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If you're prepared to by a book then The Complete Flatpicking Guitar book and Bluegrass Guitar Solos That Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know by Steve Kaufman.
Both are great.
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Old 03-21-2018, 08:34 AM
grasser grasser is offline
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You have that good list of fiddle tunes above, but there are also banjo-centric instrumentals, largely from the repertoire of Scruggs:

Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Foggy Mountain Special
Pike County Breakdown
Farewell Blues
Dear Old Dixie
Fireball Mail
Home Sweet Home
etc.

A few mandolin-centric instrumentals, of which Rawhide is the best known.

But, in my opinion, you won't want to neglect the great vocal songs of Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse, and the king himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8CVX1IXtY
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Old 03-26-2018, 01:07 PM
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Cypress Knee Cypress Knee is online now
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I would say that Bunny's list a great starting point, and maybe add Red-Haired Boy. Beginning tabs for these tunes and many more may be found at:

http://www.bluegrassguitar.com/leadtabs.html

As others have said, you can find all kinds of material on youtube. I suggest going for the simple melody lines first, as the advanced leads can get you lost from the original tune in a hurry.

CK
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Old 03-26-2018, 01:25 PM
tonyo tonyo is offline
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Christopher Henry is offering a dvd course downloadable for only $15

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater
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Old 04-06-2018, 11:09 PM
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BoneDigger BoneDigger is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grasser View Post
You have that good list of fiddle tunes above, but there are also banjo-centric instrumentals, largely from the repertoire of Scruggs:

Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Foggy Mountain Special
Pike County Breakdown
Farewell Blues
Dear Old Dixie
Fireball Mail
Home Sweet Home
etc.

A few mandolin-centric instrumentals, of which Rawhide is the best known.

But, in my opinion, you won't want to neglect the great vocal songs of Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse, and the king himself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8CVX1IXtY
This is a good start. Add in John Henry, Old Joe Clark, Clinch Mountain Backstep, and so many others.
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Old 04-07-2018, 06:53 AM
macmanmatty macmanmatty is offline
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Some not mentioned are

WildWood Flower
Wabash Cannonball
I'll fly away
Battle hymn of the republic
Turkey in the straw
You are my sunshine
Going down the road feeling bad
Cripple creek
The Tennessee waltz
The vacant chair
Beautiful dreamer
Stoney ridge
Red haired boy
Sally godin
Ashokan farewell
Faded coat of blue
Rugged old cross
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Old 04-07-2018, 10:15 AM
Mandobart Mandobart is offline
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I've been playing bluegrass for over 40 years now. I'm still learning new things. You'll find often that songs sound nearly identical with different names - "Sally Ann" becomes "Sail Away Ladies" when you change keys from C to G. Same thing with "Billy in the Lowground" and "Temperance Reel." "Lost Indian" and "Cherokee Shuffle" are also the same song, just different keys. So learning one song really gives you at least 2. Capos are universal in BG guitar. Embrace it. Most tunes are capoed to be played using the key of G and C chord shapes. Caution; only guitars, banjos and dobros may capo. Fiddle, mandolin and upright bass have to suck it up and actually learn to play in B, Bb and F. Hands-down best way to learn BG is play with other people a lot. Also immerse yourself in the genre. Listen to BG at work, in your car, at home, etc. Go to as many festivals as you can - there are great players to hear and almost always a great jam scene too.
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Old 04-07-2018, 09:23 PM
macmanmatty macmanmatty is offline
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B and F are ok Rhythm Guitar keys Bb not so much. If you gonna solo though I agree keys of G (Em) A (F#m) C (Am) D (Bm) E (C#m) and are best. Sometimes key of F (Dm) works ok too.
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