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The Dappled Grays, Deja Blue, Sweetwater Creek and Smokey’s Farmland Band are just a few of the many Georgia bluegrass bands worth seeking out on any trip to the state. Below, find must-see music venues, festivals and more points of interest, and listen to music by bluegrass artists in the "Our Bluegrass Picks" playlist.
- Fiddle
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Dobro
- Ukulele
- Upright Bass
- Harmonica
- Lap Steel Guitar
- Accordion
- Acoustic Bass Guitars
“Fiddle” is a colloquial term for the violin. The difference in terminology is due to what style is being played on the instrument. A violin is used more in classical music. The Fiddle, on the other hand, is used in country music, bluegrass, and other folk music. A Fiddle tends to have four strings and comes in different sizes and shapes. It can ei...
Next, we have the Banjo, a stringed instrument. While there are many different types of banjo, it’s the five-string version most commonly found in bluegrass bands. It’s also played in the “Scruggs style,” a three-finger picking style named after the legendary banjo player Earl Scruggs. The Banjo has a body typically made of wood. It has a head over...
Another core instrument in the string-based bluegrass genre is the Mandolin. It is considered not only as essential as the banjo but also as easy to learn as the guitar, given its fewer strings. Though there are several types of Mandolin, the archtop mandolin is commonly used in bluegrass, that’s thanks to Orville Gibson of Michigan, who was awarde...
Dobrois the name of an American guitar brand owned by Gibson. At the same time, it refers to all wooden single-cone resonator guitars. It was invented by the Dopyera Brothers, immigrants from the Slovak Republic. A resonator guitar is an acoustic guitar. Sound is produced when strings vibrate through the bridge to the metal cones or resonators. Res...
We usually associate the Ukulelewith Hawaiian songs. That’s probably because the instrument gained popularity in Hawaii. Did you know that it’s also one of the string instruments used in bluegrass? And believe it or not, it’s not Hawaiian! The Ukulele, a plucked instrument, is of Portuguese origin. The cheaper Ukuleles are usually made from plywood...
An Upright Bassis the same as a double bass or bass. They are named differently according to how they’re played and what style is used. Bass and double bass are used more commonly in the classical music genre. The upright bass term literally refers to the instrument’s position while being played. That is what is frequently seen in bluegrass bands. ...
There has been a bit of debate on whether or not the Harmonicais a bluegrass instrument. In fact, it’s only occasionally that you see a Harmonica in bluegrass music. Still, that earns this instrument a spot on our list. The Harmonica is a wind instrument and not a string type, which makes it a bit harder to accompany the bluegrass genre explicitly....
At this point, you may get confused between a resonator guitar and a Lap Steel Guitar. After all, they look too similar. In addition, Lap Steel Guitars are played much like a Dobro. The main difference between the two is that the Lap Steel Guitar is plugged in. That means that it is louder than a Dobro. Think of Dobro as an acoustic guitar, where t...
Next, we have the Accordion. This is a free-reed aerophone from the family of box-shaped instruments. There are several types of accordions. The basic nature is that the keys and a bass casing on two sides of the inflating and deflating instrument push air to produce the notes. To play, the accordionist compresses the bellows at the same time press...
Last but not least in bluegrass music is the Acoustic Bass Guitar, or ABG. Bluegrass bands usually prefer the bass fiddle. But if the ABG is chosen wisely, it is among the bass line providers in bluegrass bands. The ABG has a hollow wooden body that could be similar to or perhaps larger than an acoustic guitar. The ABG is also similar to the double...
Jun 29, 2020 · Bluegrass Music separates itself from the music of the early string-bands in several different ways. If you pay attention to the rhythmic element of Bluegrass you will quickly notice that the levels of syncopation, or off-beat, patterns are more intense alongside a more driven pulse.
Traditional bluegrass performers believe the "correct" instrumentation is that used by Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and bass).
- Accordion. The accordion might be most associated with polka music, but it's a versatile instrument. You'll find accordions used in all kinds of music, including vaudevillian style old-timey folk music, klezmer, and Cajun music.
- Banjo. What we call a banjo probably evolved from an instrument brought to America by African slaves. They were called banzas, banjars, or banias. Because the slaves weren't permitted to play drums, they started making banzas.
- Dobro. A dobro is an acoustic guitar with a metal resonator built into its body. This resonator serves as an amplifier, and you might hear it referred to as a resonator guitar.
- Fiddle. The fiddle is a mainstay in all styles of traditional and rural music, from classic country to bluegrass, folk, and roots rock. Though it's technically the same instrument as a classical violin, the technique used to play it turns a "violin" into a "fiddle."
For anyone seeing an authentic bluegrass band for the first time, the unique bluegrass instruments, driving tempos, soulful harmonies, and fierce, piercing tenor singing can be a lot to take.
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Georgia Bound is a traditional bluegrass band with country and gospel flavors. Our approach to music is a blend of strong instrumentation with tight vocal harmonies and unique arrangements!
