Morris - Posted - 10/17/2009:  15:44:36

Hello Folks! Does anybody use syncopating durring excersizes? To the best of my knowledge It seems to important because there is a single page showing the excersize on my Bel Bays Bluegrass book. Are bluegrass style solos made on these exercises?

Edited by - Morris on 10/17/2009 17:04:13

fiddlepogo - Posted - 10/18/2009:  01:09:15

Some bluegrass fiddlers have a more Old Time style, some have a more bluesy style,
some (the best one) can do either of those styles (and maybe a couple of other tricks too)
as the song or tune requires it.
But the bluesy bluegrass licks DO often have syncopation.

Michael- Old Time 90% of the time!

"It's hard to take yourself seriously when you're singing about chickens!"

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Petimar - Posted - 10/18/2009:  17:13:23

I think one should practice making the 1/8 notes as even as possible (50/50), then the first as long as possible (say 90/10), and everything in between at as many different tempos as possible. This will give the player the ability to add any amount of syncopation, or swing, as they feel fits that piece.

Pete Martin
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Morris - Posted - 10/20/2009:  12:47:52

Thank you for the comments. I can see now how blues style playing is syncopated by listening to a few songs in my head.

Micharl &Pete, Thank you for your suggestions.

"That man is the richest, whos pleasures are the cheapest."

OTJunky - Posted - 10/20/2009:  18:09:15

The "Georgia Bow" involves syncopation, is often used in Bluegrass - in fact "Uncle Pen" is largely based on it.

FWIW, I think the use of syncopation in Bluegrass fiddling derives more from the influence of Scruggs style banjo playing than from blues playing.

--OTJ
"I can barely fiddle on four strings. Why would I want five?"