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with them. People watch my hands now.”
Jamming is an integral part of the beginning picker’s education
in bluegrass; in fact, many bluegrass musicians argue that this is the
best way to learn. O ld tunes and traditions are handed down from
generation to generation during these jam sessions, perpetuating
the rich cultural history locked inside the melodies and chords.
A ge old tunes like “John H enry” and “C ripple C reek” are recognized
throughout the bluegrass community as invaluable songs in
a picker’s repertoire. A lthough there are more contemporary bluegrass
songs and many variations of the old hymns and ballads, it is
essential for new bluegrass musicians to familiarize themselves with
the original arrangements.
“Interpretations of the music are penciled in the structure of the
song,” says longtime bluegrass musician D erwin H inson. “Someone
might change the song, adding a minor chord where there should
Possum Creek Bluegrass Band:
Jones Smith (banjo), Ben Chontos
(upright bass), Alex Ball (guitar)
playing a gig at the Surf Club.
be a major chord to give it a little bit of flare. If someone gets too
far away from the tune, though, they lose the crowd. T hey will
lose the attention of the ones who really appreciate it.”
Musical integrity is something that H inson believes should be
preserved in bluegrass, but considering the progressive nature of the
music, this may be easier said than done. For traditional bluegrass to
remain relevant to more modern generations, sometimes modern interpretations
are needed to create a connection with younger audiences.
“T he new generations of bluegrass musicians are keeping up with
the tradition of borrowing from different musical styles and making
it their own,” says John Fonvielle, the host of the M agnolia FatBack
Folk H our radio show on WH QR , 91.3 FM . H e describes how multiple
genres like jazz and the blues have come to influence bluegrass.
“T hey add a little more to the sauce,” Fonvielle says.
L ike many of today’s young bluegrass bands, the members of
th e mel od ies and chords. “
perpetuating the rich cultural history locked in si d e
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