Playing
“This World is Not My Home” Lyrics and Chords
“This World is Not My Home” is a country gospel song of murky origin that hit the Top 20 on the U.K. charts in 1962.
“Unclouded Day” Lyrics and Chords
Preacher Josiah K. Alwood spotted a beautiful rainbow against a dense black cloud while traveling home to Michigan from Ohio back in 1879. He woke up the following morning inspired to write “Unclouded Day.”
“Rock Salt and Nails” Lyrics and Chords
“Rock Salt and Nails” ruminates in 3/4 time to a chord progression and melody that is reminiscent of the Stanley Brothers classic, “Lonesome River.”
“Kentucky Waltz” Lyrics and Chords
“Kentucky Waltz” is a beautiful, timeless Bill Monroe composition that is welcome in any jam circle that features strong fiddlers, but the chord progression in the B part might take you out of your comfort zone.
“Dark Hollow” Lyrics and Chords
“Dark Hollow” has some deep, tangled roots. I guess that’s why they call it roots music.
“In The Pines” Lyrics and Chords
A Ph.D student writing her thesis about “In The Pines” found more than 150 versions of this song that dates back to at least the American Civil War.
“Can’t You Hear Me Calling” Lyrics and Chords
“Can’t You Hear Me Calling” is a Bill Monroe classic that he first recorded and released in 1950 with a lineup of Blue Grass Boys that included Mac Wiseman on lead vocal and guitar, and Don Reno on banjo.
“I Wonder Where You Are Tonight” Lyrics and Chords
The number of big bluegrass acts that have covered “I Wonder Where You Are Tonight” is too large to list.
“Blue Moon of Kentucky” Lyrics and Chords
If you had to choose one song for Bill Monroe’s Hall of Fame plaque, “Blue Moon of Kentucky” would be it.
“Sitting On Top Of The World” Lyrics and Chords
“Sitting on Top of the World”—or “sittin’” if you prefer—is a staple of American roots music that’s been played in just about every style since it was first recorded by…
Gear
The Best Bluegrass Guitar Picks for Flatpickers
The guitar pick is a bluegrass guitarist’s second most important piece of gear. Here are the best guitar picks currently out there.
Mahogany vs. Sapele as a Guitar Tonewood
The key differences between mahogany and sapele as a tonewood, and what you can expect from each.
How to Get That Cigarette Smell Out of Your Guitar
You bought a used acoustic guitar online and it has arrived smelling like cigarettes. Here’s how to get that cigarette smell out of your guitar and case.
Sitka vs. Adirondack Spruce as a Guitar Top Tonewood
Spend enough time among flatpickers, and you’ll soon learn that everyone has an opinion about whether Sitka or Adirondack spruce makes the best guitar top.
It’s Mostly True: Guitars Sound Better With Age
Some things improve with age, like wine, certain liquors, and cheeses. Guitars can be the same, but they need to be played regularly and often to age well.
Culture
Bluegrass Jam Etiquette: What You Need to Know
Knowing how to play in a bluegrass jam can make you more confident heading into your first jam, so here’s a primer on bluegrass jam etiquette.
The 7 Best Bluegrass Jamming Towns in America
We understand the draw of a town where it’s easy to find people to pick with. Here are the best bluegrass jamming towns in America.
The Best Bluegrass Flatpicking Guitar Albums of All Time
The essential recordings and groundbreaking artists who ought to be part of anyone’s flatpicking guitar education.
Understanding the Nashville Number System
The Nashville Number System is a simple way to indicate a song’s chord changes by using numbers instead of the typical letters, so you aren’t tying them to any specific key. It’s one of the most important ways bluegrass musicians communicate.