How I Learned To Love Bluegrass Music

One night a few years ago I was taking a walk down the Tennessee side of Bristol’s State Street when all of a sudden I heard music coming from somewhere in the distance. As I got closer and closer I finally realized there was a live concert in progress, and the music they were playing was nothing short of amazing. Up ahead, on a small wooden stage, was a group of musicians “pickin’” a plethora of acoustic instruments and singing songs that I had never heard before – but somehow knew I loved. That hot, sticky July evening gave me my first taste of Bluegrass music, and I’ve been hooked on it ever since!

The quality of the music emanating from the stage that night was just as good as anything I had ever heard on the radio, and better than most. As I sat on a large rock and watched those guys pick and sing for the better part of two hours, I became more and more impressed with their obvious talents and skill with each song they performed. It quickly became apparent that each of them played multiple instruments, and they played them all extremely well. At first I thought that surely I had just happened upon a group of performers with almost super-natural musical abilities, but as I saw more and more Bluegrass groups in action that summer and fall I came to understand that they were really, well, just typical… as Bluegrass musicians go.

In the years since my introduction to the world of Bluegrass, I have come to understand that as a general rule most Bluegrass musicians are masters on at least two or three stringed instruments, and many of them can play them all! But “pickin’” isn’t all they do of course – they sure know how to sing too! The region I live in was officially designated by Congress as the “Birthplace of Country Music” a few years back, so it really is no surprise that our little “corner” of the Appalachians is home to more than its fair share of outstanding Traditional Country, Bluegrass and “Old-Time” singers and musicians.

If you have never really been inclined to give Bluegrass music a try, you owe it to yourself to do so as soon as possible. But do yourself a favor: Don’t just go out and buy a Bluegrass CD. Instead, make your first experience with the “music of the mountains” a live Bluegrass concert. After you see a group or two perform live on stage with their numerous instrument changes, super-tight harmonies and vocal gymnastics, I’m guessing you’ll be hooked as well!