Ok, I know I’m pretty new here. I’ve quickly made a couple of friends, not looking for any enemies. I do not know if what I am about to say is some kind of heresy or not, so please forgive me in advance....
Why is bluegrass always played so fast, and does anybody really still enjoy it once it hits groundbreaking speeds?
I came from the banjo world, jokes welcome. Ross Nickerson was my idol/mentor. Always amazed me how lightning fast he could play. I actually got to be pretty fast myself on the banjo, so I’m not making remarks based on the fact that I cannot accomplish something.
Recently, I got the Hal Leonard Mandolin Method and I’ll be honest, I really enjoy listening to the accompanying cd. Red Haired Boy, Texas Gales, and several others that are played at a moderate speed, not the typical bluegrass speed, and I have never heard them played any more beautifully. Blackberry Blossom for instance. I’ve heard it a million times, but I’ve never enjoyed it the way I did listening it at a moderate speed on the mandolin, on this same cd.
And Whiskey Before Breakfast. Same thing.
The other day, I went down a rabbit trail of YouTube videos, and one ended up being 2 players, 1 guitar which I imagine you all are familiar with, and 1 mandolin which I am positive everybody here knows of. I greatly admire this mandolin player, own a lot of his teaching material.... really look up to him.
But in this particular video, they played Whiskey Before Breakfast. Yes, was pretty amazing the speed they were playing it at. But I really didn’t enjoy the tune all that much....
I didn’t even finish it...
I don’t know if I am just a grumpy old man? Lol
Hope I am not offending anybody at all, just wanted to say this for a long time, even in banjo circles. Curious if I am alone.....
Bookmarks