Tips for a newbie?

[Skabasskid]

I'm just now getting into playing Bluegrass with a new band. I've been listening to it casually for awhile, but now that I'm finally getting into things, I want to know the bassics. (pun thoreauly intended)

But all puns aside, I would like to know some basic information such as:

• Who to listen to

• Basic Technique Necessities

• Etc.

Thanks a ton!
-Keegan

[punkozuna]

well, since no one else has answered.....

• Basic Technique Necessities

1-5, repeat as necessary ;-)

I'm only being half-facetious. "Playing 1-5 on the one-three" will get you started jamming. You can add the embellishments as you hear them from other players/records.

Blue Grass is a great genre for beginning bassists because the bass role is pretty limited and simple. Yet you could spend a lifetime on the subtleties of timing and working on what embellishments actually help the song.

[bobsax]

Howdy Folks
I'm in the same boat as Punkozuna.

I'm guessing that with Bluegrass knowing the repertoire is a good thing to know as is playing by ear.
I've been working on both by just jamming along with bluegrass music. The library has lots of titles like "Classic Bluegrass and Old Time Hits etc.

I'm looking into the Bluegrass Academy online. It looks like they have play along tracks of BG tunes and I reckon they're probably bluegrass standards.

I would bet (or hope) there's a list somewhere here at TalkBass of the essential tunes to know for sessions and jams.

[NWbassman]

Here is a list of folksong cord charts
Folk song Cords – basic
Guitar Chords to Folk Songs


Not sure where I got this.
It should give you a place to start
I asterisked the ones I run into regularly and added a few

All-Time Bluegrass Jam Session Top 63
compiled by Pete Wernick and randomly added to by me

Up-Tempo

Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms *
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
New River Train
Think Of What You’ve Done
Nine Pound Hammer *
Little Maggie *
Good Old Mountain Dew *
Salty Dog *
Footprints In The Snow
Worried Man Blues *
Long Journey Home (Two Dollar Bill)
Lonesome Road Blues
Bile Em Cabbage Down *
Sitting On Top Of The World *
How Mountain Girls Can Love
Fox On The Run *
Jesse James
Love Please Come Home
Rabbit In The Log (Feast Here Tonight)
Rocky Top *
John Henry *
Roving Gambler
Sunny Side Of The Mountain *
I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home

Instrumentals

Cripple Creek *
Angeline the Baker *
Boil Them Cabbage Down *
Liberty *
Waterfall
Old Joe Clark *
Foggy Mt. Breakdown *
Soldiers Joy *
Salt Creek *
Clinch Mt. Backstep
Red Haired Boy
Sally Goodin
John Hardy *
Blackberry Blossom *
Bill Cheatham *
Whiskey before Breakfast *
Dear Old Dixie

Waltz (3/4) time

All The Good Times Are Past And Gone
White Dove
Blue Moon Of Kentucky *
Tennessee Waltz *
Paradise
Dark As a Dungeon

Other Slow Tempo

Faded Love *
Long Black Veil *
Banks Of The Ohio
Don't This Road Look Rough And Rocky

Gospel

I’ll Fly Away *
I Saw the Light *
Will The Circle Be Unbroken *
Angel Band
Swing Low Sweet Chariot *
Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad

Well-known songs that work well in bluegrass style

This Land Is Your Land *
Wabash Cannonball *
You Are My Sunshine *
When the Saints Go Marching In *
Red River Valley
She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain
Mama Don’t ‘Low
Careless Love
Red Wing *
Charlie and the MTA *

[tomshepp]

These folks Bluegrass Bass » BassGrass.com have a forum and will also help. They were very helpful when I asked the same question.