Bluegrass Jam Along

Latest Episodes:

Mini Jam #4 - 3 tunes at 75bpm Jul 25, 2022

Show notes

This week we've got something I haven't done in a while - a mini jam episode. That means we're playing 3 tunes back to back instead of focussing on just one. The idea is it feels a bit more like playing at a jam session. I know some of you use these tracks to work up to attending a jam so hopefully this will help with that!
I've gone for the 3 most popular tunes from the first year and a bit of the podcast. They are:

Cherokee Shuffle in A (starts at 1:30)
Whiskey Before Breakfast in D (starts at 9:32)
Turkey in the Straw in G (starts at 16:49)

We're doing all three at 75bpm and each tune follows our regular 'jam along' format. That means I play backup and you play lead, then we swap, then we repeat the whole thing another 3 times. The whole jam lasts around 25 minutes.

If you want chord charts for these tunes, head to bluegrassjamalong.com, where you'll also find details of how to get in touch. I'd love to hear any feedback on these mini jams so do let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Matt

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks
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Food for Thought #9 - Letting go of Perfect Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

Hi everyone.
This is another Food For Thought episode and it centres around the idea of perfection. Chris Eldridge said something recently that made me think about letting go of the idea of playing perfectly - I had an experience at a jam this week that really made me understand what he meant.
Have a listen and feel free to head over to Bluegrass Jamalong's Instagram or Facebook and tell us what you think!
If you haven't read the Brainjo book I mentioned in this episode, I'd really recommend it. Here's the interview I did with Josh Turknett, who wrote it, to give you a sense of what it's about.

Happy picking.

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Big Sciota (G 85 bpm) - Performance Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to Big Sciota. This is a performance track, rather than a backing track. It's me playing both tune and backup so you've got a reference to listen to if you're new to the tune, or just want to be able to listen a few times to the whole thing.
Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done and jam along!
If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch), head to bluegrassjamalong.com

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Big Sciota (G 85 bpm) - Jam Along Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Big Sciota and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the jam along track where I play backup, then the tune and we swap over. It's four times through in the key of G at 85 bpm.

backing track starts at 00:32

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.
If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch), just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Big Sciota (G 85 bpm) - You Play Lead Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Big Sciota and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play lead track where I play backup so you can work on the tune. It's four times through in the key of G at 85 bpm.

backing track starts at 00:29

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.
If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch), just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Big Sciota (G 85 bpm) - You Play Rhythm Jul 18, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Big Sciota and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the you play rhythm track where I play the melody so you can work on backup. It's four times through in the key of G at 85 bpm.

backing track starts at 00:31

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done.
If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch), just head to bluegrassjamalong.com

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Steve Nall (Nully) from Collings guitars Jul 15, 2022

Show notes

My guest this week is Steve Nall, better known as Nully, head of production at Collings guitars.
I didn't realise till we sat down to chat that it was exactly five years to the day since Bill Collings passed. We talked about Bill, his approach to guitar making (and life in general), as well as how the business has developed, with and without him and how Nully got into guitar building in the first place.
We also chat about working with great players like Julian Lage and Bob Minner to develop instruments and what makes a Collings different from other guitars.
It was a fascinating conversation - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
For more info on their guitars and mandolins, check out the Collings website.

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Marcel Ardans (Lessons With Marcel) on Billy Strings, Trey Hensley, Molly Tuttle and Tony Rice Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

My guest this week is Marcel Ardans, from the Lessons With Marcel YouTube channel.
Marcel has spent hours (probably weeks) transcribing the playing of bluegrass players. In this episode he picks four of his favourites and we chat about their styles, influences and what makes them unique.
First up is Billy Strings, followed by Trey Hensley, Molly Tuttle and Tony Rice.
Check out Marcel's fantastic YouTube channel if you haven't already - Lessons with Marcel - and aslo Marcel's website, where you'll find TABs of the artists we chat about (many of them free).

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Fiddler's Dram (D 75 bpm) - Performance Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to the classic tune Fiddler's Dram. This is a performance track, rather than a backing track. It's me playing both tune and backup so you've got a reference to listen to if you're new to the tune, or just want to be able to listen a few times to the whole thing.

Don't forget to check out the other three episodes when you're done and jam along!

If you want a chord chart (or just want to find out more or get in touch), head to bluegrassjamalong.com

Support the show

===
Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Fiddler's Dram (D 75 bpm) - Jam Along Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

This week we're jamming along to Fiddler's Dram and I've got three brand new backing track episodes for you. This is the jam along track where I play backup, followed by the melody then we keep swapping. It's four times through in the key of D at 75 bpm.