Brand New Strings

Brand New Strings

A certain time eventually comes in the life of any string musician when it’s time to change your strings. Unless you have a good reason to change your strings, like an upcoming gig or event, you probably avoid the chore just like I do. It might still be fun to noodle...
Six Degrees

Six Degrees

A little over ten years ago we lost one of the finest bluegrass musicians of all time. Kenny Baker, who fiddled for Bill Monroe on and off for a quarter century, died of a stroke at age 85. One could argue forever about who is the best bluegrass fiddler of all time....
The Greatest Instrument

The Greatest Instrument

Nobody loves gear and instruments more than I, and I have often waxed poetically on the joys of fine guitars, banjos, fiddle, basses and the like.  That love burns strong. The recent find of a Lloyd Loar mandolin in some old barn was fascinating – can you...
Crossroads

Crossroads

We all face crossroads in our lives, important junctures where we could take one path or a different one. It may be a decision about which direction is better or it might be a choice about which is the lesser evil. The crossroad can be a powerful image for music...
Two Opposing Things That Are Equally True

Two Opposing Things That Are Equally True

Here’s a word I’m going to throw at you, dialetheism. If you’re like me, you use this word frequently in the course of everyday conversation. However, if you are not as articulate and loquacious as I am I will tell you that dialetheism is the view that there are...