Come on down join the fun and expand your bluegrass repertoire.

NBCMS Bluegrass 101
Join Darcy Whiteside the first Wednesday of the month Live and in Person at 6:30 PM (Mountain Time) for Bluegrass 101! Pleasantview Community Hall 10860-57 Ave.

What is Bluegrass 101?

Bluegrass 101 is an education session away from the main jam providing an opportunity to learn how to play bluegrass and jam in a fun a supportive environment.
Each month, Darcy Whiteside and Jim Storey walk through popular bluegrass tunes, break them down, slow them down and explain how to play them. If you’re apprehensive about playing in a group and don’t know the ins and outs, join Darcy & Jim, and they’ll show you how.

“It’s just what I was looking for, “says Lucy Rachynski, banjo player and singer. “Jamming is more complicated than even experienced jammers think.” Guitar picker Bob Leitch went on, “As a novice, it’s really an easy way to learn the etiquette, the basics and it kind of forces you out of your comfort zone. But the group here makes you feel so comfortable. Darcy has such a good way of explaining the material at a level that everyone can understand.”

As Darcy Whiteside explains,” The mission of the Northern Bluegrass Circle Music Society is to promote, present and preserve, bluegrass music. Part of that is providing an opportunity for club members to learn about bluegrass music, and learn the nuances of playing bluegrass music, both in a jam and band setting. And that's the goal of Bluegrass 101.

Bluegrass 101 is not a slow jam. Every month, a bluegrass song is chosen and broken down. These songs would not be considered beginner songs (e.g. Cripple Creek, I'll Fly Away, Will the Circle Be Unbroken), but they are songs that you may hear at jams of any level and/or performed by professional bluegrass bands. The emphasis is to choose songs that represent bluegrass music.

 For one hour, the song is played at various tempos. Each time the song is played, members are encouraged to play fills, take breaks, and sing verses. Jim Storey and I talk about the specifics of the song. For example, is the song straight time or does it swing? Is there something that makes this song special (such as a backstep or emphasis on a certain chord or section of the song)? Emphasis is placed on the role of each instrument in a bluegrass song, and the importance for a player to add to the song (tone, taste and timing). Players are encouraged to experiment at various points.

The goal is to create an atmosphere of support to learn, make mistakes and, ultimately, to continue to elevate as bluegrass musicians, whether you are beginner, intermediate or advanced.” We believe this is a unique opportunity for players (and those simply interested in learning more about bluegrass) to really learn a bluegrass song - how to make it enjoyable not only for you, but for the listener as well. And still keep true to the roots of bluegrass music.” (from the summer 2015 edition of the NBCMS newsletter)

Bluegrass 101 is the first Wednesday of the month at the NBCMS Jam!

Darcy Whiteside hosts “The Bluegrass Hour”, every Sunday from 12 noon to 1 PM (Mountain Time) on CKUA Radio
Listen Live

Del McCoury