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Mar 7, 2024 · Appalachian music was influenced by a wide range of cultures, thanks to the simple instruments brought over by the first multinational inhabitants. Native Americans created this mixed cultural heritage along with the emigrant Scots-Irish, English, Scots, and Africans.
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- Spoons. This instrument is about as simple as it gets. Take 2 spoons, pinch them between your fingers so that their backsides are facing each other, and then slap them against your thigh or other hand for a distinct, percussive “click.”
- Banjos. The banjo originated from stringed instruments with gourd bodies that were brought over by African slaves. Like the mandolin, the banjo is not incredibly unique these days (it’s prominent in bluegrass and even mainstream country music), but the niche that it has carved out in mountain music is special.
- Washtub bass. Spoons and washboards are great for adding a clicking beat to mountain music. But they don’t do much for the low thumping that a big bass drum would do in more percussion-heavy music.
- Mountain dulcimer. As the name suggests, this unique instrument was born right here in Appalachia. Its box-like construction was easier to produce in the home than the complex arched backs and tops of mandolins or fiddles.
Appalachian music is the music of the region of Appalachia in the Eastern United States. Traditional Appalachian music is derived from various influences, including the ballads, hymns and fiddle music of the British Isles (particularly Scotland), and to a lesser extent the music of Continental Europe.
- Jonathon Engels
- What is Bluegrass? Bluegrass music is roots music from the American South. It’s essentially a blend of blues and gospel from African-Americans and string band music from Scots-Irish traditions.
- Traditional Bluegrass Instruments. Bluegrass instruments traditionally center around string instruments. Banjo and fiddle are considered crucial to the sound, with guitar, mandolin, and upright bass also being common additions.
- The History of Bluegrass Music. Early Appalachian Folk Music. Early Appalachian folk music really began to arise in the mid-1700s and early 1800s. Lower-class immigrants from Europe (particularly Scotland and Ireland) arrived and created self-sufficient communities in the mountains, which eventually grew into the small towns we know today.
- The Best Bluegrass Bands & Artists Today. Of course, bluegrass music is still very much alive and kicking today, with new incarnations of its traditions found in newgrass (also known as progressive bluegrass).
Jun 22, 2016 · The banjo may be one of the oldest instruments used in traditional Appalachian music, but ballad singing is considered one of the earliest styles. Ballads are typically stories set to music and usually sung unaccompanied.
The Appalachian dulcimer is now a core instrument in the American old-time music tradition, but styles performed by modern dulcimer enthusiasts run the gamut from traditional folk music through popular and experimental forms.
A research guide to sources on traditional Appalachian musical instruments and their makers, especially in Watauga County, NC. Find books, articles, bibliographies, and journals on dulcimers, banjos, fiddles, and more.
