Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GTR-093 - Bluegrass Vocal Stacks

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 093

Bluegrass Vocal Stacks - What is the best way to move up a rung or two on the ladder of greatness? Improve your singing--in particular your bluegrass harmony singing.

In this episode I run through the basics of devising and understanding bluegrass trio singing. Lead, tenor and baritone. I also discuss the three ways to stack bluegrass harmonies: standard trio, high lead and high baritone.

And don't forget--Christmas times a'coming! Learn some Christmas tunes on that mandolin with Jackson's Christmas Songs For Mandolin eBook.

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-93-show-notes.html

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

GTR-092 - Non-Musical Skills

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 092

Non-Musical Skills - It's not all about the music. Yes, good musical skills are important but there are a lot of other handy skills which can propel your music forward. How are your soldering skills? Know how to jump start a car? Do you gripe and belly-ache a lot? 

And don't forget--Christmas times a'coming! Learn some Christmas tunes on that mandolin with Jackson's Christmas Songs For Mandolin eBook.

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-92-show-notes.html

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

GTR-091 - Just Say Yo!

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 091

Just Say Yo! - I love irony. Irony is: "a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result." That is exactly, to a tee, what I describe in this episode. Bluegrass. Strictly clean and decent. Yeah, right.

Have a great week. I still have a lot of downed trees to deal with.

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-91-show-notes.html

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

GTR-090 - My Life As A Stripper

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 090

My Life As A Stripper - In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael I quickly put together this episode giving you a taste of what it's like to be forced to camp out. To fill out the promised full length episode I include a test episode from a possible future podcast series.

The only sorta-kinda bluegrass content in this episode is me talking about making a new fretboard for a 1909 Gibson Mandola by the light of kerosene lanterns during this storm.

Anybody who stops by over the next few weeks, hoping to pick or shoot the breeze, better bring their chain saw and bottle of George Dickel. Bring your guitar 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-90-show-notes.html

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

GTR-089 - Quick Update

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 089

Quick Update - I recorded this short episode while walking around the barn gathering up and tying down anything which could blow into the next county. I give a very short review of a festival I went to last weekend and talk a bit about playing with drummers.

I am releasing this show a day early because the last time a hurricane steamed through our county it was nearly a week before I had electricity and internet. If the good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be back next week for a full length 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-89-show-notes.html

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

GTR-088 - Give It A Rest

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 088

Give It A Rest - A bit of obsession is helpful at times but you don't want to become Captain Ahab chasing a mythical white whale!

In this episode I talk about the importance of providing opportunities for your subconscious mind to process all those inputs you pour into your head when practicing.

Taking time off, whether 10 minutes, a week, or a month, is important to your sanity and will improve your overall progress as a musician.

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-88-show-notes.html

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

GTR-087 - Why We Record

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 087

Why We Record - Here are 8 reasons to capture sound for the future. As examples you will hear Tiny Moore jamming backstage with Grisman, a limited release of The Tattooed Biker, Swedish bluegrass patriarch Bo Gustafsson playing a Gibson K-4 mandocello for the first time, a whacked out version of Old Joe Clark and other equally historic recordings.

You should record. Have you ever wanted to go back in time? Well, you can. Just hit record now.

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-87-show-notes.html

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

GTR-086 - Tuning Gizmos

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 086

Tuning Gizmos - Imagine choosing the shade of paint based upon the sound of the color. Absurd, right? So why are so many tuning their instruments visually?

In this episode I explore the modern trend of tuning visually with various "tuning gizmos" and compare it to the "old time way". After all, is not part of playing bluegrass about preserving some of the old time ways? Settle in and ride with me on this thought excursion.

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-86-show-notes.html

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

GTR-085 - Behind the Curtain

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 085

Behind The Curtain - Think of that scene from The Wizard of Oz when the wizard bellows into a microphone, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" Toto pulled back the curtain and Dorothy found out that the mighty and powerful wizard was a humbug! That's show biz!

This episode explores how some of that goes on in all performance arts including bluegrass. I take you behind the curtain and reveal a bit of the reality.

I also do a bit of discussion about being an "opening act" and how that may be the high point of your musical achievement--and that's great! Opening for the "big boys" is a feather in your cap and something to be proud of.

I hope that you enjoy the show and will support our sponsor... me!

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-85-show-notes.html

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

GTR-084 - Pro Habits

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 084

Pro Habits - Here are 21 ways you can measure your degree of professionalism. We all want to be viewed as good at what we do. The bluegrass world, and the world at large, is populated by a wide spectrum of people. At one end of the scale are the "hacks" and at the other end the "pros". Have fun and 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-84-show-notes.html

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