Hypothetical question

[Fullmental Alpinist]

Here are some classic old guitars where Tony Watt is testing them for bluegrass rhythm.

Tony -- who loves Martin D-18s -- really liked the old AJ and SJ RW for bluegrass.

 

Well, even though I know nothing about bluegrass I chose the AJ and the SJ too. Amazing guitars and that AJ is as loud as everyone says they are (notice Tom's reaction after his first couple strums).

 

As always, thanks for posting Tom.

 

FMA

[Murph]

Traditional Bluegrass has too many rules.

 

That's why Sean and Sara, heck even the Punch boys with Chris, Allison, Gillian and others have moved on.

 

You don't hear that kind of nit-picking with the Blues.

[tpbiii]

Traditional Bluegrass has too many rules.

 

That's why Sean and Sara, heck even the Punch boys with Chris, Allison, Gillian and others have moved on.

 

You don't hear that kind of nit-picking with the Blues.

 

Well, most traditional players would encourage players like these (except Alison, who can and does play transitional bluegrass well -- just not all the time) to move along. In fact, they are not pleased with all the things being played that are called bluegrass.

 

The worldwide appeal for bluegrass -- and why so many things that are not bluegrass call themselves bluegrass -- is pretty much the bluegrass rules for collaboration. They allow immediate and high quality musical creations on the fly with musicians who have never played or practiced together. Obviously they work well for traditional bluegrass -- but they work well in general for musical collaborations, and that is really why they are so popular. The rules are for players, not listeners.

 

As to actual traditional bluegrass as practiced in the Appalachians, most people have never heard it. It is pure acoustic, and it does not record well -- you have to be there, and most people from outside the area never have. Like most culture based music, it is an acquired taste.

 

I think traditional players' attitude is well captured by a quote from John Hartford when asked why he kept playing the fiddle without the modern frills. He said if he did play them in more modern, popular ways he might attract people he did not know and probably would not like if he did.

 

So they pretty much agree with you.

 

Best,

 

-Tom