Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GTR-139 - Be A Good Student

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

GTR-138 - Humidity

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 138

Humidity

 

As bluegrass musicians we all deal with instruments made of wood. Humidity should be understood to keep your instrument from self-destructing. It's not that complicated really. Listen in and I will give you the low down.

 

The outro music is the tune "Laird's March" written and played by me, myself and I.

 

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-138-show-notes.html

GTR-137 - Don't Count Yer Chickens

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 137

Don't Count Yer Chickens Before They Hatch

 

We all face plans which might fall apart before our very eyes. Sometimes as a result of our own actions and some completely by chance. Sometimes a bit of both. Allow me to elaborate on my strategies for dealing with situations such as these.

 

I talk about being hired AND fired in under 4 hours as a guitar player. I talk about coming within mere inches of slamming the car into a herd of wild hogs just this morning. I talk about my dashed plans for becoming a quail farmer. I talk about Del McCoury showing up in Nashville at the same time as Bill Keith. Stuff happens and you learn to deal with it! Enjoy the show.

 

The outro music is the tune song "Swing Low" played by our band Pony Express. Patrons of this podcast can download the entire album as a bonus way of saying thank you for supporting the show.

 

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-137-show-notes.html

GTR-136 - Class Is In Session

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 136

Class Is In Session

 

Close your textbook, get out a #2 pencil. We are having a pop quiz. But before we do let's talk about the importance of the right hand and I'll explain a great way to create custom right hand exercises which will absolutely improve the very tunes and breaks you are working on! It's easy. The "textbooks" I refer to in the episode are Mandolin Master Class and The Flint Hill Scrolls.

 

The outro music is the tune I wrote called "McDonough" played live at the Red Light Cafe, Atlanta, Georgia with the band Pony Express. Patrons of this podcast can download the entire album as a bonus way of saying thank you for supporting the show.

 

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-136-show-notes.html

GTR-135 - Stewart Crawford

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 135

Guest Host: Stewart Crawford

 

This globe-spanning episode is our first listener hosted show. Stewart Crawford, banjoist in Australia, presents the story of bluegrass down under and outlines some excellent improvisation concepts.

 

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-135-show-notes.html

GTR-134 - Paradise and Paradox

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 134

Paradise and Paradox

 

This episode covers a wide range of topics beginning with my recent return visit to Picker's Paradise. I talk about fried chicken, Col. Sander's Mandolin Band, the R.Q. Jones reso guitar, jamming, some good bands I heard and then I wind up with a little paradox I want you to think about.

 

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-134-show-notes.html

GTRB-07 - Strike While The Iron Is Hot

GrassTalkRadio.com Bonus Episode 07

 

Strike While The Iron Is Hot

 

In this short bonus episode I am opening a door for you. Listen to the episode and don't wait around. You need to contact me soon.

 

Whether you are a beginning picker, an experienced performer, a teacher, or perhaps you build instruments or work at (or own) a company producing a product for the bluegrass world... this is your chance. Let's hear what you have to say.

 

You can be a "nobody" or be a really famous, big-time, hot shot. Both categories have something valuable to say. Podcasting is hot right now and this is a great chance for you to try your hand at it and the grasstalkradio.com audience will hear you.

 

Listen to this bonus episode and I'll explain and then contact me. Let's put YOU on the air. Contact me before October 15, 2019 if you want to be considered. It costs you nothing but your time and energy and you never know what doors it might open to your future. Besides that it will be fun and interesting!

 

The show notes for this episode are here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/bonus-episode-07-show-notes.html

 

If you think the show is worth listening to then I hope you will consider becoming a Patreon supporter.

www.patreon.com/bradleylaird

 

 

GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass.

GTR-133 - Your Questions

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 133

Your Questions

 

This week I answer a pile of emails I have received from listeners. We talk banjo strings, what bass fiddle to buy, mandolin barre chords, how long do strings last and a lot more! Luckily, nobody asked "Hey, who cut your hair?" But, there is always next time.

 

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-133-show-notes.html

GTR-132 - Stage Patter and Talk

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 132

Stage Patter and Talk

 

A huge chunk of your on-stage persona is created when you step up to a microphone and say something. Something pithy. Something funny. Something poignant. Make it count. Listen to this episode where I play samples of the greatest bluegrass emcees at their finest. Introducing songs. Introducing the musicians. Yakkin' it up with the little people... the fans who make it all possible!

 

I have samples here from Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt (one of the best!), Jesse McReynolds, and plenty more to get you on the right path. Samples and ten tips to sharpen your image on stage.

 

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-132-show-notes.html

 

GTR-131 - Capo Talk

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 131

Capo Talk

 

Capos have been around for a very long time and are extremely useful in playing fretted instruments. It's funny that their use is almost required in bluegrass if you play banjo or guitar. But they are heavily frowned on with the mandolin. If you don't know how to use a capo you can learn here on my website.  

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-131-show-notes.html