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For people who play bluegrass music... or want to!
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
Wednesday Feb 05, 2020
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 147
Jamplification
Are you satisfied with the sound you experience at your local jam session? Has someone suggested setting up a mic or two? Will it help or hurt? After a bit of discussion about what it means to be an "expert" I dish the dirt on the use of PAs at jam sessions.
Thank you to Charles Schlaufman for emailing me with his question and this show topic. You too can submit questions, comments or show topic ideas to me at brad@bradleylaird.com.
The outro music is a recording of "Rickett's Hornpipe" recorded on a Tascam 4 track analog cassette recorder in my living room back about 1999. That is Mike Estes on fiddle, Buddy Ashmore on guitar, David Ellis on banjo (with removed resonator), me on mandolin, and Randy Godwin on bass.
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 146
Your Bluegrass Bucket List
In this episode I challenge you to create your own "bluegrass bucket list" of things you dream of doing, seeing, experiencing, or creating. First, dream it. Then, do it!
Get out a pencil and make a list. Start checkin' them off!
The show notes for this episode (and some embedded YouTube videos of some of Jackson's recent DAW creations) are located at http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-146-show-notes.htm
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
Tuesday Jan 21, 2020
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 145
Considering Duality
It is rare to find anything in this world which is all bad or all good. It's always somewhere in the grey zone. In this episode I discuss the ten things I think are bad in bluegrass and ten things I think are absolutely superlative. You have to keep a balance.
I close the podcast with a comparison (for those frothing at the mouth for a "definition" of bluegrass) between the poetic form called a sonnet and the string band form we call "bluegrass".
The show notes for this episode are located at http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-145-show-notes.htm
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons!
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird. This really helps keep gas in the car and food in the fridge. And, with luck, I will get a new set of bass strings in 2020.
Friday Jan 10, 2020
Friday Jan 10, 2020
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 144
Metro Gnomes
Personal practice with a metronome is one of the best ways to improve your playing. I have said that so many times. Unfortunately, a lot of folks just don't do it. Not for long anyway.
In this episode I discuss the frustrations of that evil device and how you can turn that nasty little gnome into your personal slave. Or at least come to terms with him. My collection of metronome MP3 tracks can be downloaded here.
The show notes for this episode are located at http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-144-show-notes.htm
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Saturday Jan 04, 2020
Saturday Jan 04, 2020
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 143
20/20 Vision
Welcome to the new year and the new decade. In this show I talk about the idea of knocking out unfinished projects and ideas. I also talk about my never-ending tune book and a recent jam session with my pals in Atlanta. Here we go. 2020 is here. Let's pick!
The show notes for this episode are located at http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-143-show-notes.htm
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
Thursday Dec 19, 2019
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 142
Cases and Gig Bags
Ah, gig bags! The luthier's best friend! In this episode I run through a list of the 8 major kinds of cases and gig bags. I talk about their purposes and give you my two-cents worth on the available types. The show notes for this episode are located at http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-142-show-notes.htm
Now is the season to get your copy of Jackson's Christmas Songs for Mandolin eBook. You can get it here. Every purchase puts Christmas bucks in his pocket and maybe he can get me a really nice pair of socks or a set of strings with his massive profits. (Not bass strings. He can't afford that and neither can I!) Help the boy!
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
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-142-show-notes.html
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 140
Crabs and Bluegrass
So I woke up from a horrible nightmare and starting thinking about fishing for crabs. Yes! That's a topic for GrassTalkRadio! Please indulge me and check out this episode where I rip on folks who have stolen the name "bluegrass" and give you step by steps for collecting your own bucket full of blue crabs. Yummmmy! (Be sure you have a large enough pot or you'll be releasing your crabs!)
Please go to the show notes. You are missing the extras if you don't. http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-141-show-notes.html
Now is the season to get your copy of Jackson's Christmas Songs for Mandolin eBook. You can get it here. Every purchase puts Christmas bucks in his pocket and maybe he can get me a really nice pair of socks or a set of strings with his massive profits. (Not bass strings. He can't afford that and neither can I!) Help the boy!
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
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-141-show-notes.html
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
Wednesday Dec 04, 2019
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 140
Get Out Of Your Rut
Lord, have mercy! Does every song have to be in G or A? As I recline on the shrink's couch I vent my frustrations of playing everything in just one or two keys and playing the same songs over and over (ad nauseum).
Just for novelty, if nothing else, try playing in B or B-flat just once! I'd happily play a song in G# or Eb just for freaking relief!
In this episode I share three ideas for getting out of your rut. Learn to play in new keys. Try new tunings and, for cryin' out loud, bring a new song to the table once in a while.
Now is the season to get your copy of Jackson's Christmas Songs for Mandolin eBook. You can get it here. Every purchase puts Christmas bucks in his pocket and maybe he can get me a really nice pair of socks or a set of strings with his massive profits.
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
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-140-show-notes.html
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
GrassTalkRadio.com - Bonus Episode 08
Christmas Songs for Mandolin
When my son Jackson was 9 years old he was really interested in music notation software (and still is) and I set him on a project to create a book. Christmas Songs For Mandolin was the result and I am very proud of him!
The downloadable PDF eBook contains 12 popular Christmas songs written out in standard notation and mandolin tablature. (Dad helped steer him into the mando-friendly keys and double checked that everything was playable.) He is now eleven years old and took over the microphone of GrassTalkRadio to encourage you to purchase his book. He explains it all very well in this bonus episode.
As he said in the episode, he explains his financial needs but I would like to mention that he is also saving up his money to make a trip with his choir --Voices of The Valley-- to perform in New York City at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Some of his funds raised will also go towards that project... after he get's the backup drive he has his heart set on. Thanks for listening and we appreciate any support you can give Jackson.
If you want to get the PDF ebook just follow this link.
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
You can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 139
Be a Good Student
Taking private lessons can be a wonderful learning experience or a complete waste of time and money. Much of it depends upon what you do as a student.
In this episode I share ten tips, gleaned from my observations with my own private lesson students over many years, that I think will help you make the best progress when taking lessons.
Don't forget that you can save a pile with the discount coupon code found in my free eBook The Ten Jammandments Discussed. Download it here.
I also mentioned Jackson's Christmas Songs for Mandolin eBook. You can get it here.
If you enjoy my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Or, you can become a GrassTalkRadio Supporter here.
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-139-show-notes.html