Bluegrass

[JackieC]

Any kind of music can be played on accordion. I play 5 string banjo and accordion and have played anything from German to old time music on those instruments. In my opinion, Bluegrass music is a faster rendition of its more traditional 'old time' music, which originated in the Appalachian mountains of the United States.

 

[Eddy Yates]

Old post, but very interesting to me. All good points about the accordion being able to contribute a lot to any music. I’ve played piano with a lot of great bluegrass players, and I think the key to doing that with accordion is the same: know the tunes, know the tradition, study how the other instruments interact, study the great players and begin by imitation and cooperation. Don’t play so much. Play single notes very often as counterpoint. Play staccato a lot. The problem is not with the instrument. The problem is with the player.
I think that the original post brings up the dark side of the genre. For some reason, some bluegrass players and fans are very rigid in their approach. They simply won’t accept different instruments other than fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass. We call them “Bluegrass Nazis.” Yeah, I’m talking to you.
They seem to be unaware of Sally Ann Forster, who played accordion with the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, as Jeff of NASHVILLE pointed out.
Bluegrass started as a fusion of many musics, including African American jazz, so the idea that it’s a pure music is probably based on a warped conservatism.

 

[EMan]

My wife and I went up to Galax, Va in the Blue Ridge Mountains for the 86th annual Fiddlers' Festival this year. Plentiful Bluegrass everywhere...and I mean everywhere. Great music and great people, but getting back to us playing Bluegrass...I don't think that would be an issue. Partaking in the melody of a bluegrass tune, IMHO, would be akin to a take on a jazz piece. Improvisation on a simple melody. Most tunes appeared (from a chord construct view) relatively simple progressions that would be capable of accepting the accordion as a melody instrument; getting the blue grass people to accept accordion might be more of a challenge. Kind of like when you tell people that you're going to play classical on the accordion; the uneducated kind of look at you strangely.

I agree that we and our accordions can fit into just about any music style, when it is played in concert with that style. Look at Clifton Cheniere and Buckwheat Zydeco. Who would have ever thought our accordions would be comfortable in that type of music; but they were just fine.

 

[Eddy Yates]

Right on, EMan!
I just rediscovered the 3CD set of Planet Squeezebox, and although there are a lot of worlds there, there are even more to be discovered by the next generation of accordion players. It’s a versatile and beautiful instrument.

 

[hais1273]

I too, don't see a problem in playing bluegrass on an accordion. It's not wrong, just different. Probably quite tricky to fit all those grace notes in.

I'm coming to learn that many musicians do not like "different". Some, it appears seem threatened when they are presented with a novel experience, why? No idea! Well, I have but I'm not willing to put my thoughts in writing.
I've been told that French and Breton traditional dance music should not be played on CB or Piano accordions. After, a very heated discussion, it transpires the only reason for this bizarre statement was that the woman dosen't like any kind of chromatic accordion whatsoever. They're just not "folky" enough! Anyway, has anybody any idea what a "proper folk instrument" is? I'd like to know.
Niether of us play with that group now.

Seasons Greetings to everybody.

 

[Eddy Yates]

Smiley Burnett (Accordion)and Gene Autrey were cast as members of a bluegrass band in the movie “In Santa Fe”. According to Wikipedia, Burnett played over 100 instruments.