About This Activity
Bluegrass Instrumental Course For instruments: Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Bass, Banjo, Dobro Experience level: students should be familiar with basic chords and have done some melodic playing as well. Instructors: Bruce Thompson and Sam Katz Summary: This course is intended for folks interested in learning bluegrass instrumentals (fiddle tunes) commonly played at jams. Each week we will focus on at least one instrumental tune. Students will have the time to listen and prepare tunes in advance of each class Links to audio and/or video examples as well as music (standard notation and tabs) will be provided. Each class will review the tune as a group then divide into small groups to work on playing the tune together. We will also discuss learning techniques and tools such as StrumMachine and a metronome. Students will become familiar with the tunes covered in the course and develop techniques to quickly learn new tunes. Topics: Memorizing, learning and mastering a melody Learning the rhythm part and accompaniment Switching from rhythm to lead parts Setting the tempo, kickoffs and endings Leading the tune in a group Improvising ideas, tips and techniques Jam etiquette Possible Tunes (subject to change): Angeline the Baker (D) Old Joe Clark (A) Soldier’s Joy (D) Cold Frosty Morn (Am) Big Sandy River (A)
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