You know for the longest time I didn't really make a distinction between the two but now after a couple years of playing I can honestly say I like the old time style and sound better than that of bluegrass. The thing in my opinion that most separates the two styles is the melody. Most of the old time songs I've learned have a stronger melody in that it's not as cluttered as the bluegrass version of the same song. In my style of pic n bow the melody is everything :). I'm interested in hearing other thoughts on the subject!

Hey,  MM!  Glad you found the style that speaks to you.  What,  though,  is "pic n bow"?

Ive always felt that Old time was about the tune and Bluegrass was more about showcasing the instruments/musicians

I have had an affinity for old-time music since a very early age.  Something about it just hit a spot within me I suppose.  I have performed and played in many styles of music, but when it comes down to what I prefer it has always been old-time.  I agree that bluegrass is more of a showcase.  In my opinion it builds upon the old-time foundation and branches out into new territory.  There is room for more improvisation within bluegrass jams where old-time is more strict upon the melody.  I love the sound of several instruments jamming in unison so I guess that is the main reason old-time takes the cake for me.

I've loved old time since I was a child too and that's my preference.  Although I do like some bluegrass it just doesn't do it for me like old time does.

(I'm just sitting back waiting to see who throws the first punch!  These style vs. style threads can be fun--)

Old time music is just Bluegrass that's not fully evolved yet. Kind of Neanderthal vs. Cro Magnon in evolutionary terms.

Seriously, I don't want to curb your enthusiasm Mad Martigan, but this topic has been wrestled with many times here. You might try the search box in the upper right corner of the page to review. Just try "Old Time Bluegrass" for starters.

Too late.

its all just music to me if i hear a tune i like i try to learn it i,m in to music not this type or that type just music

Went to the feed and seed today in the old truck with a compilation tape of favorite fiddlers on it.  Marion Sumner and Art Stamper both of who played both musics extremely well.  The issue is one for city folks to fight about, I got plants to get in the ground.

Ain't been playing long enough to like one or dislike the other.  I just listen to and play the tunes that sound good to me.  Some are Old Time, some Bluegrass, and others defy categorization.

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Originally posted by RobBob

Went to the feed and seed today in the old truck with a compilation tape of favorite fiddlers on it.  Marion Sumner and Art Stamper both of who played both musics extremely well.  The issue is one for city folks to fight about, I got plants to get in the ground.

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 You need to make 2 garden plots and pipe in the different genre to each and see which one the plants like best.

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Originally posted by notlwonk

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Originally posted by RobBob

Went to the feed and seed today in the old truck with a compilation tape of favorite fiddlers on it.  Marion Sumner and Art Stamper both of who played both musics extremely well.  The issue is one for city folks to fight about, I got plants to get in the ground.

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 You need to make 2 garden plots and pipe in the different genre to each and see which one the plants like best.

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Yessss!

quote: (Pic n Bow) would be me referring to playing banjo and fiddle :) 

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Originally posted by mudbug

Hey,  MM!  Glad you found the style that speaks to you.  What,  though,  is "pic n bow"?

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Hold it now folks its not a fighting issue lol I like all music I play Irish,bluegrasss and Oldtime. All styles are good and all can be just as challenging as the other not too mention beautiful. I just realized oldtime is my favorite and had to mention it :). I guess it just finally occured to me why I like oldtime the best, The melodys and the unison of instruments.

Much as though I love the oldtime sound I want to play bluegrass. 

I guess it's the apparent "competition" between the instruments that draws my ardent showmanship (or "Look at me" factor if you prefer).

Let's face it both rock and it's just down to preference.

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Originally posted by RobBob

Went to the feed and seed today in the old truck with a compilation tape of favorite fiddlers on it.  Marion Sumner and Art Stamper both of who played both musics extremely well.  The issue is one for city folks to fight about, I got plants to get in the ground.

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Heh, heh... I agree... the concern over the distinction is mostly of concern to city people, IMO.  I know an 80 year old clawhammer player from West Virginia who is very likely to show up at Bluegrass jams, and I've never heard him say a bad word about Bluegrass.  A local ag pilot plays both clawhammer and Scruggs style well.  And see my post in Humbled's version of the thread.  To me, it's all really COUNTRY music, and if it's good quality, it's good... and hey, I even like "commercial" country music if it's not too popified.  The people I play for in nursing homes often have small town and/or rural roots, and they don't care whether the tune I'm playing or song I'm singing  is Old Time, Bluegrass, or "Nashville".

quote: An hour from Harlan Kentucky and twenty minutes from Art's old place definitely doesn't qualify me as a city boy ;)

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Originally posted by RobBob

Went to the feed and seed today in the old truck with a compilation tape of favorite fiddlers on it.  Marion Sumner and Art Stamper both of who played both musics extremely well.  The issue is one for city folks to fight about, I got plants to get in the ground.

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Well, good for you!!!! It's good to have another Kentuckian aboard! But it IS true that city folks DO like to argue about this kind of stuff.

I met a Scruggs player at a local festival... he was up from the Bay Area... said he wanted to get into playing some Old Time clawhammer, since he grew up with the music. I told him I thought that was a great idea. He said though that the Bay Area Old Time purists weren't very welcoming because he wanted to play clawhammer on the same resonator banjo he used for Scruggs-style.... but the clawhammer players he remembered DID use resonator banjos!
So they gave him the cold shoulder which I thought was kind of a silly, petty thing to do... but I have to admit, when I was a kid learning to play Old Time fiddle and banjo in L.A., I was just like that and probably would have done the same thing!!!

I guess what I'm saying is that while there IS a difference, the line between the two is not as neat and tidy as some would think, especially with great fiddlers like Art Stamper playing BOTH.

Tell the Scruggs player to stick a towel in the back of his banjo, and try again. I'll bet the tissue was not resonators, "per se," but rather that such banjos are much louder than the open backs and tend to dominate an ensemble. Having a beginner who might not play very well be the loudest person in a jam is a difficult situation.

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Originally posted by coelhoe

Tell the Scruggs player to stick a towel in the back of his banjo, and try again. I'll bet the tissue was not resonators, "per se," but rather that such banjos are much louder than the open backs and tend to dominate an ensemble. Having a beginner who might not play very well be the loudest person in a jam is a difficult situation.

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Good point Dennis,

Unfortunately the banjo player in question is out of reach.

And while the issue you brought up COULD be solved pragmatically as you suggested, there are enough dogmatic purists that even your pragmatic solution MIGHT not have helped.

But then it might have.... we'll never know, prolly.

My first wife sang in a bluegrass band and eventually ran off with the band leader.  Somehow, I never could like bluegrass after that.  However, I do appreciate the talent required to be a good bluegrass musician... LEE

I like them both but OT is more plesant to the ear. I like the sound of everyone playing together. My playing has gotten sloppy in the BG jams so I'm looking at the OT tunes for now..they seem to play each note and are more precise. I think this will help me play better and smoother. You have to know the song in order to play along. BG, you just hang in there and play what you hear.

Kathy

I would love to try ot but around here it is bluegrass or nothing....therefore my opinion don't count for much (if I even have one)

quote: Buddy im sorry to hear that! lol Your right though bluegrass guys are talented folks!

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Originally posted by leemysliwiec

My first wife sang in a bluegrass band and eventually ran off with the band leader.  Somehow, I never could like bluegrass after that.  However, I do appreciate the talent required to be a good bluegrass musician... LEE

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quote: Opinions always matter Rene :) speak your mind.. 

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Originally posted by Rene

I would love to try ot but around here it is bluegrass or nothing....therefore my opinion don't count for much (if I even have one)

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