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Bluegrass.
A growing collection of bluegrass standards, old-time tunes, and fiddle favorites. Every song has its key, chord progression, and history. Public domain songs also have lyrics and free sheet music. All written by a picker for pickers.
All 54 songs.
Learn the tradition.
Articles about bluegrass history, instruments, and how to jam.
Lead, tenor, and baritone: how bluegrass harmony works
What lead, tenor, and baritone mean in bluegrass singing, where each part sits, when harmony comes in at a jam, and how to learn a harmony part by ear.
How a classical violinist can join a bluegrass jam
A guide for classical violinists who want to play at a bluegrass jam: five tunes to learn first, the bowing that changes, and what happens in the circle step by step.
Gift ideas for bluegrass players and pickers
Holiday gift ideas for bluegrass pickers: tuners, capos, picks, strings, rosin, and songbooks for guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, and dobro.
How to play fiddle backup in a bluegrass jam
Fiddle backup means playing behind a singer or another player's break. Learn when to lay out, which long notes to hold, and how to add short fills.
What keys do bluegrass jams use?
G is the most common bluegrass jam key, followed by A, C, D, and E. Learn why these keys win, how a capo moves them, and how to prepare before you go.
How to take a break in a bluegrass jam
A break is your solo turn in a bluegrass jam. Learn how the nod works, what to play, how long it lasts, and how to pass without a problem.