These are great tips. A big challenge for me is melodic memory. I can listen to everyone play through the melody at a jam, and when it gets to me, I basically forget it and revert to noodling. I'll try these ideas out. I've been doing something similar to the contour idea, and just trying to get the melodic rhythm down and following the direction of the melody, which has worked well on some tunes.
Really nice tips Andy. Being new to bluegrass, I don't yet know very many songs/tunes, so this is very helpful. I can get back home decently, and lurk in the small cords, but the kick offs can sometimes be elusive. I need the most work on getting started. Jim
Andy I discovered you through Marcel's channel. I really like your approach to teaching and the way you explain things if I can get up the funds, I would absolutely love to take a lesson with you!
Thanks for the lesson! Your videos have really helped me a lot. I went to a festival this past weekend and was able to kinda hold my own in jams and take some breaks, and your videos had a lot to do with that! Quick question-on the idea of improvising vs prepared solos, are most experienced guys playing a prepared solo if they know the song? I played some improvised and some prepared breaks over the weekend, and while the prepared breaks sounded a lot ‘fancier’ and cleaner, I always felt like I was cheating a little (to be fair at least one of them was a Tony solo lol). It almost felt like the prepared solos were less authentic? Maybe I’m looking at it wrong? My long term goal has always been relatively free improvisation (in all genres I guess). Either way, thanks!!
Certainly, the bluegrass pioneers of the 40's and '50's were not free improvisers, and they played things the same way over and over. I see a mix of both improvising and arranging, even among the very best out there
One of your posts was talking about bob minner, i notice he picks/ strums constantly behind the soundhole , you seem to be at the back of the actual sound hole, is this just a preference in sound? Bob does same position on all his guitars so possibly not a sweet spot for a particular instrument? Apologies for being a bit ocd❤
Choose a place between the bridge and the neck that sounds great to you. Bright near the bridge, or dark over the sound hole. What you like may change depending on the size of the group you play in.
