Old-Time excerpt                                                                     Bluegrass excerpt

 

The region around Kentucky is sometimes called the bluegrass region because of the type of grass that grows there.  It is not known when exactly the word 'Bluegrass' was adopted to label this form of music, but it is believed to be derived from the band named The Blue Grass Boys.  This band was formed in 1939 with Bill Monroe as its leader (who grew up in the Kentucky bluegrass region). Due to this lineage, Bill Monroe is frequently referred to as the 'Father of Bluegrass'; however, as with other kinds of music, Bluegrass developed as a gradual derivation from other genres.

 

One of the things that distinguishes Bluegrass music from all other genres - even its closest cousins of Country and Old-Time music - is the types of instruments used. A typical Bluegrass band will have members playing the fiddle , the acoustic guitar, upright bass, the mandolin, the five-string banjo, and possibly the resonator guitar (Dobro). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are four different stages of evolution that bluegrass music has undergone.  The first stage of Bluegrass music spanned from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s, and was when Bluegrass was 'born'.  The bands that pioneered this era were Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and The Foggy Mountain Boys.  Below is an audio of The Foggy Mountain Boys performing The Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

 

 

 

 

    Stage 1 Bluegrass

 

 

The second stage of Bluegrass spanned from the mid-1960s and continued until the mid-1980s. A wave of new bluegrass musicians, many of whom had played with first-generation musicians during their younger years, developed styles of their own. Bands during this era include J.D. Crowe, Norman Blake, and Harley 'Red' Allen.  Below is an audio of J.D. Crowe performing Train 45.

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Stage 2 Bluegrass

 

 

In the mid-80s, the third stage of Bluegrass musicians entered the scene. By this time, Bluegrass was a very different genre from how it started, having expanded past the boundaries of the rural Bluegrass region.  Technology also played an important role in the continuing development of Bluegrass music. Thanks to the best and most innovative sound and music equipment, each and every member of the band enjoyed having their own mikes, which made it easier for all members to perform more improvised instrumental solos and get involved in vocal harmonies. The Tony Rice Unit is a great example on how this kind of arrangement benefited bluegrass music  Below is an audio of The Tony Rice Unit performing Tipper.

 

 

 

 

 

        Stage 3 Bluegrass

 

 

The fourth stage of Bluegrass actually emerged during the same time as the third stage; however, it is called Progressive Bluegrass or Newgrass because it uses electrical music instruments as well as the piano and drums. Besides the addition of these new instruments, most Newgrass songs are either derived or directly imported from other genres, which makes the chord progressions more complex than those used in traditional bluegrass.  Below are audio clips of the New Grass Revival performing Doin' My Time (one of the first 'Newgrass' bands) and Trampled By Turtles performing Wait So Long (one of the most current 'Newgrass' bands).

 

 

 

 

 

     Stage 4 - Early Newgrass                                           Stage 4 - Current Newgrass