Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GTR-111 - The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 111

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

 

Mankind, along with many other creatures, is a planner. But often these plans go awry just like the poor mouse in Robert Burns' poem. How can you devise, tweak and implement plans which actually work and bring about positive results?

 

Plans do work! They can also fail miserably. Come along for this discussion of "plan versus no plan" and the art of attempting to actually follow plans--all related to learning to become a better bluegrass musician.

 

Here are some of the plans I have customized for you:

Mandolin: The Mandolin Treasure Chest

Bluegrass Banjo: The Banjo Learning System

Clawhammer Banjo: Clawhammer Banjo Lessons 1-6

Bluegrass Bass: Bass Instruction Course

 

You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.

 

If you enjoy the show you can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

 

Additional information about the podcast is always found here on the episode show notes page: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-111-show-notes.html

 

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who love planning bluegrass "stuff" such as planning to learn an instrument, to go to a festival, to start a band, to write a song, start a podcast, write an instruction book, invite some pickers over for a jam. Some of those plans work out and make the world a better place.

GTR-110 - Let's Get Picky

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 110

Let's Get Picky - The pick. That's where it starts. You can have a hundred grand tied up in a glorious instrument but if your pick is crummy, or if you use it in a crummy way, you might as well be playing that $99 Amazon deal-of-the day instrument.

 

Conversely, you could be starting out with that $99 special and take a little care with pick choice–find one that really sounds good and suits you–and make much better music!

 

All right. Let's talk picks...

 

You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.

 

If you enjoy the show you can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

 

Additional information about the podcast is always found here on the episode show notes page: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-110-show-notes.html

 

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who love making music with wooden boxes, strung with wire and plunked with bits of plastic or other semi-flexible materials... and let's not forget that high, lonesome wailing. Yeah!

GTR-109 - Don't Do Like I Did

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 109

Don't Do Like I Did - When I got home from the jam session last night I had one of those forehead slapping, Homer Simpson "Doh!" moments. I hope you enjoy this little short episode describing something you should never do at a gig or a jam session.

 

The number of listeners to this podcast has risen over the last months (which is a great thing) but the donations, purchases or other financial support has not risen accordingly. Due to technical bandwidth limitations with my current podcast hosting plan (Yes, it costs me to put these out.) I was forced to squeeze this episode down to the bare minimum in terms of length and file size. I would really like to move up to the "unlimited plan" with my hosting service but, frankly, that all depends on you.

 

You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.

 

If you enjoy the show you can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

 

Additional information about the podcast is always found here on the episode show notes page: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-109-show-notes.html

 

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who love bluegrass music and get a thrill participating and contributing to the scene.

GTR-108 - Listener Questions

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 108

Listener Questions - By request, I begin this episode by telling the story of how I helped rob a bank!

After that I clear my email inbox and answer some listener questions and comments. I decided to do this "on air" because you might have the same question. It's sort of a "kill two birds with one stone" effort.

I think you will learn a few things and enjoy hearing what other people are saying and thinking. If you have written to me recently I may be replying to you!

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-108-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who have discovered bluegrass music and want to learn to play it too!

GTR-107 - Gold Nuggets

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 107

Gold Nuggets - Sometimes, if you back up and take a second look at things, you will discover some gold nuggets which you missed in your headlong rush the first time!

In this episode I explain my "how to ace college" method, guaranteed to bring you up at least 2 letter grades, and the value of note taking and how to challenge your mind. That is a very important topic if you are attempting to improve your musicianship!

Near the end of the episode I talk about my inspiration for a song I wrote entitled "Harvey Johnson" and close the show out with the entire song. I hope you like it and please record and perform it. And if you have any pull with Del McCoury, just once in my life, I'd love to hear him sing it! (I have a couple of other people in mind too.)

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-107-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who have the courage to play and enjoy the kind of music they like, regardless of what the mainstream media is pouring out as "acceptable" and "trendy"!

GTR-106 - In and Out

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 106

In and Out - You are either on the outside looking in or the inside looking out. Learning how to earn access to the musical circles is key to growth and personal satisfaction.

In this episode I discuss the concept of "being in" and how to get "in". I conclude this episode with some sure-fire ways to be "out!" too. Enjoy the show.

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-106-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass music--a realm of interlocking and overlapping circles!

GTR-105 - How To Pick With Grisman

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 105

How To Pick With Grisman - Would your wildest dreams come true if you could sit and jam with David Grisman for hours on end? Or maybe Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Garcia, or any of your musical heros? You'd be surprised at how easily this can be done. And guess what? You will become a better player at the same time.

I also give a quick update on the progress of the Apricot Ale I brewed during Episode 104.

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-105-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--one of the rare styles in which you can easily meet and possibly jam with the biggest "stars" in the genre!

GTR-104 - Homebrewing a Jam Session

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 104

Homebrewing a Jam Session - If you can only get lousy bread at the store, you should learn to make your own! If the local grocery store only sells crummy rot gut beer, you learn to make your own. If the jam sessions you attend do not suit you, you start your own jam session. Yes. I said you. Don't sit around hoping someone else will take the initiative. Just do it yourself.

Because I was pressed for time this week, you will discover that this episode is a little different. While I discuss how to start your own jam session I am also rattling pots and brewing a 5 gallon batch of homebrewed apricot ale. You can learn a little about both subjects if you listen in.

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-104-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--hillbilly jazz which thrives on jamming!

GTR-103 - Build Something

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 103

Build Something - Plenty of people in the bluegrass realm eventually try their hand at making an instrument. In this episode I discuss my own history of home-made instruments and offer up some tips and encouragement in the hope that you might try it too.

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-103-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the music where old logs, brass, wire and varnish are held in high regard!

GTR - Bonus 04 - Human Compressors

GrassTalkRadio.com Bonus Episode 04

Human Compressors - In this short bonus episode I talk a bit more about audio compressors and make an analogy regarding human behavior.

If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.

For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/bonus-episode-04-show-notes.html

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the most mighty fine music in the world!