Randy Stein Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I just returned from the Outer Banks in North Carolina with family. One night we went to dinner and drinks at a local place and they had a 5 piece bluegrass/country band. The fiddle player also had a concertina she played a bit on. We talked and she asked if I could play with them. I ran back, got my box and sat in. I forgot how much fun bluegrass can be and also how some of the changes happen pretty fast. I know John Mock plays with some country bands but bluegrass is a whole different genre. Just saying... rss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody Kruskal Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 (edited) How did it work out Randy? Did including the concertina sound right to your ear in the Bluegrass context? Edited July 24, 2016 by Jody Kruskal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinBradfield Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 As a complete newcomer, what were you doing to accompany them with your concertina? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Stein Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 (edited) Good question Jody. Initially I played rhythm with some periodic solos. Laying back helped when I wasn't sure what to do. Eventually I don't got in the groove and had a blast. The fact I wasn't miced help limit the brazen mistakes. All in all it seemed fine and the band was generous and accepting. Edited July 24, 2016 by Randy Stein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody Kruskal Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) I remember being on staff at Augusta Heritage some 12 years ago. They run concurrent weeks, so even though it was a family program I was part of, there was also Bluegrass week going on. I recall playing lots of old-time and getting on very nicely with that, even being inspired to start with my inquiry more deeply into that genre. But Bluegrass has always eluded me. I did play with Tony Trishka informally one night. It was fun trying, but I did not feel very satisfied with my contribution to the music. It did not sound right to my ear. Though everyone was very polite and welcoming... I think it was just good manners. Perhaps I should try again. There are plenty plenty of Bluegrass jams around here. Edited July 25, 2016 by Jody Kruskal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Stein Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) My first foray into the genre was with my first musical and circus partner, Joe Binder (aka Joey Bello). Joe played guitar and mandolin having studied with Jethro Burns. We did a lot of swing style and blues. I also had the chance to work for a short time in Knoxville and did a lot of playing what was gently referred to as "mountain music" there. I did have the opportunity to play with Bob Mavian a few times. He was a great player and a gem of a human being. onward.... rss Edited July 26, 2016 by Randy Stein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartEstell Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 I play a lot of mountain music, but not in what anyone would consider an authentic style -- I certainly rarely approach the breakneck speed of some bluegrass. If you alter the arrangement to remove all the fast-moving stuff, the melodies are often quite slow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Weinstein Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 Arise, from the depths of time. So, I haven't been working on the Concertina much in recent years (the 20's have been stressful, go figure). However, a monthly Bluegrass jam started up just up the road from me. Nice, friendly, and an idiom I definitely don't know. I'm contemplating starting by just working on bass lines (since I have a deep low end on my instrument), and doing chords and backing, rather than trying to jump right in and play melody lines at bluegrass speeds. Thoughts and advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunks Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 A bluegrass band will probably have at least one or two lead instruments, a bass and a guitar for the mid range. I'm finding ( as I did with the fiddle moving from old time style ) that a soft 2 note chug on the off beat adds a lot and allows for easy forays into the melody or other harmonies without competing. I think the percussive nature of the banjo. mandolin and acoustic guitar make it sound somewhat frantic/urgent. A good fiddle player can smooth it out as could a concertina with some mid and high range sustained notes. That's where my ear tells me the sweet spot is. On 7/26/2016 at 6:58 AM, StuartEstell said: I play a lot of mountain music, but not in what anyone would consider an authentic style -- I certainly rarely approach the breakneck speed of some bluegrass. If you alter the arrangement to remove all the fast-moving stuff, the melodies are often quite slow... Stuart, If you see this which instrument do you favor for bluegrass? I'm a JD player myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Taylor Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 (edited) 10 hours ago, wunks said: Stuart, If you see this which instrument do you favor for bluegrass? I'm a JD player myself. Stuart has not been around here for a long time but he plays a Maccann duet. He has quite a lot of videos on Youtube and on SoundCloud. Edited April 17 by Don Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunks Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 He also plays Jeffries duet and anglo ( see his post above ) and contributed to Gary's Jeff duet tudor...😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PortableOrgan Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 On 4/16/2023 at 10:27 PM, wunks said: I'm finding ( as I did with the fiddle moving from old time style ) that a soft 2 note chug on the off beat adds a lot and allows for easy forays into the melody or other harmonies without competing. Can you elaborate on this a bit? Are you playing 2 notes simultaneously, or in succession? If the former, are you playing power chords (root & 5th), octaves, or something else entirely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunks Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 (edited) 14 hours ago, PortableOrgan said: Can you elaborate on this a bit? Are you playing 2 notes simultaneously, or in succession? If the former, are you playing power chords (root & 5th), octaves, or something else entirely? 2 notes mostly but I move it around a lot, adding or dropping a note. A single low note is often enough. Mid-range and higher I might play 3 notes and sustain one or another. lots of double stops ( including single note ) in Bluegrass; depends on what your instrument is capable of. I'm still exploring this and I haven't wrung out a satisfactory Bluegrass flavor yet, letting my ear tell me what works. Edited April 18 by wunks clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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