The Pentatonic Scale

The Pentatonic Scale

Most bluegrass fans are familiar with Lester Flatt’s classic G run on the guitar.  We hear that run over and over from guitarists at every bluegrass festival and it never gets stale.  Most people play the G run by starting with the root G note and then sliding up from...
Louvin Brothers, part 1

Louvin Brothers, part 1

(Editor’s note: It is a pleasure to introduce our newest welcome columnist, Aynsley Porchak. Many of you may remember seeing Aynsley at Grass Valley when she performed for us with her band Carolina Blue a couple of years ago.  She is not only a talented fiddler but...
Songs About Mother

Songs About Mother

For my money the best song ever written about Mother comes from Hazel Dickens. I like songs that tell a story, and this one about a young lady leaving home for the first time speaks to how a mother can strengthen and guide a child for their whole lifetime: I thought...
We’rrrrre Back!

We’rrrrre Back!

After 14 months of pandemic captivity, I played a gig last Saturday. It was so much fun, I’m planning to do it again this Saturday at the same venue, R&W Vineyards in Cupertino. The band that I’m playing with (and I use the term band loosely) is the Ames bluegrass...