Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 183   First, Tune That Thang!   After a wandering diatribe I eventually get to the topic of the day and discuss tuning. Real solid tuning! I talk about how to get an instrument in tune so it will withstand a severe beating and stay in tune. I talk about beats and the importance of clean unisons. I talk about string segments and "equalization of tension". I talk about sending Tony Fauci an invoice. I talk about potatoes, growing shitake mushrooms, chestnut trees, tending donkeys, and lots of other fun stuff.  Note: You will discover as you listen to my tale of Dixon's mandolin woes that (in this episode) I never revealed what what happening with his mandolin. We cured the tuning issue and that was a big part of it. The rest was the jangling strings between the bridge and his cast tailpiece. We cured that pretty quickly. See my eBook "The Mandolin Handbook".  ------------------------------------- If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joi

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 182   That Ain't Bluegrass   In today's episode I discuss that most difficult topic of deciding just what is and what is not bluegrass. After a bit about what I think IS bluegrass, I take the easier route and play for you ten samples of what I think IS NOT bluegrass. Enjoy!   For all of you bass players or wannabee bass players, please take advantage of this 20% discount off my Complete Bluegrass Bass Learning System. Use coupon code "bass20" before March 7, 2021 and save a pile of bucks! ------------------------------------- If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to ke

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 181   Bob Knysz Interview   This episode will introduce you to one of the movers and shakers in the mandolin world. Bob Knysz is an accomplished bluegrass musician and is also a founder of the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra. We discuss his introduction to the mandolin, his experiences in the Chicago area, taking lessons from the great Jethro Burns, attending Bean Blossom, his relocation to Georgia, the beginnings of the South Eastern Bluegrass Association, the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra, The Classical Mandolin Society of America, and his involvement with a number of bluegrass groups. I know you will enjoy meeting Bob Knysz. LINKS: For information about Bob and the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra: http://www.atlantamandolins.com/ ------------------------------------ The episode also features a limited time discount on: The Mandolin Treasure Chest http://www.bradleylaird.com/treasure/index.html Use coupon code treasure20 to take 20% off through Feb. 20, 2021. This is a rem

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 180   Tony Williamson Interview   Join me on this wide-ranging conversation with Tony Williamson. We discuss mandolin world addiction, mandolin family instruments, Bill Monroe and the "power pose", Union Grove, overalls, the Bluegrass Alliance, Grisman's porch, Harry Sparks, how a mandolin brought a man back from near death. Then, the DGQ's first album, auditioning over the phone to play with Richard Greene, pie, flintknapping and archeology, and as if that were not enough, how a warehouse full of fine plastic guitars (made by Mario Maccaferri who also made Django's guitar) bankrolled Mandolin Central. This is a fun one and I know you will enjoy meeting Tony Williamson. LINKS: For Tony's website where you can get his music, watch videos, and drool over or purchase a fine, pre-war mandolin or mandolin family instrument. I encourage you to visit: http://www.mandolincentral.com/   ------------------------------------ The episode also features a limited time discount on

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 179   Megan Chowning Interview   I always enjoy swapping stories and notes with other teachers. But this is no ordinary teacher! In this episode you will meet champion fiddler, professional musician and teacher Megan Chowning. It is a long winding conversation with something for players of all levels and all instruments. A part of the discussion is about her involvement with some John Hartford print and recording projects. Use these links to find out more: LINKS: For Megan's "everything fiddle" & the John Hartford Fiddle Devices Cards: www.fiddlestar.com About Megan's music camps: www.nashvilleacousticcamps.com For John Hartford's music: www.johnhartford.com Additional information regarding the music tracks you hear in the episode can be found on my show notes page here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-179-show-notes.html You will also find an extensive explanation regarding my comparison of Lord Timothy Dexter, Esq. to John Hartford. Read and make of it

  GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 178   The Bluegrass Way of Life   After a bit of talk about starting seeds for the garden and an Amateur Radio event, I bring you Heather's (see episode 177) response to my advice regarding my Personal Feedback Solution. The String Changing Exercise I speak of is available free over on my Patreon page. Here is a link: https://www.patreon.com/bradleylaird   Also, at the start of this episode, Mr. Buck again announces a nice discount on one of my instructional courses. For all of you bass players or wannabee bass players, please take advantage of this 20% discount off my Complete Bluegrass Bass Learning System. Use coupon code "bass20" before Jan. 31, 2021 and save a pile of bucks!   And, then I get into the heart of the matter. Just what is "the bluegrass way of life"? It's a long rambling discussion of the many ways which bluegrass can bring out the best in us. I hope you enjoy it and I appreciate your support for this podcast. -------------------------------------

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 177   Personal Feedback   Teaching yourself via online lessons, books and videos can be incomplete without the feedback from a teacher. In this episode I demonstrate my Personal Feedback Solution with Heather, a beginning mandolin student. Heather was kind enough to allow us all to be a "fly on the wall" for this session. I encourage you to take advantage of this too!   Also, at the start of this episode, Mr. Buck again announces a nice discount on one of my instructional courses. For all of you bass players or wannabee bass players, please take advantage of this 20% discount off my Complete Bluegrass Bass Learning System. Use coupon code "bass20" before Jan. 31, 2021 and save a pile of bucks! ------------------------------------- If you like 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/bradleyla

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 176   In The Press Room   I am taking a bit of a break from bluegrass in this post-Christmas week. This week I present the second episode of my "other" podcast, never released, just to help you fill your time. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas!   The episode also features a big discount on: ----------------------------------- The Mandolin Treasure Chest http://www.bradleylaird.com/treasure/index.html Use coupon code treasure20 at checkout to take 20% off through Dec. 31, 2020 ------------------------------------- If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep y

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 175   In A Giving Mood   In the spirit of Christmas I am in a giving mood. I have a hoard of freebies and discounts that I am tossing from my sleigh. I also discuss a super cool little Pick Pocket sent to me by Steven Mead, a listener to the show. Help me give away $1,000,000 worth of video lessons! I even grew a Santa beard for the holidays! Merry Christmas!   The episode also features several discounts on my products: ----------------------------------- The Christmas Songs For Mandolin eBook Link for description or purchase:  https://payhip.com/b/ebgP Use coupon code save20christmas to take 20% off through Dec. 24, 2020 ------------------------------------ The Mandolin Treasure Chest http://www.bradleylaird.com/treasure/index.html Use coupon code treasure20 to take 20% off through Dec. 30, 2020 ------------------------------------ FREE Salt Creek Video Mandolin Lesson 29 Minute video lesson + PDF with tab and standard notation + 2 practice tracks. http

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 174   Make Something   This episode is meant to encourage you to try your hand at making something. Something that can be fun and useful to your bluegrass picking! I present 16 ideas to get your wheels turning.   The episode also features a 20% discount on two products if you act before Dec. 17, 2020: ----------------------------------- The Christmas Songs For Mandolin eBook Link for description or purchase:  https://payhip.com/b/ebgP Use coupon code save20christmas to take 20% off through Dec. 17, 2020 ------------------------------------ The Complete Banjo Learning System Link for description or purchase: http://www.bradleylaird.com/dojo/buy-BLS.html Use coupon code save20banjo to take 20% off through Dec. 17, 2020 ------------------------------------ If you like 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 h

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 173   The Mike Bub Interview   Mike Bub, familiar to bluegrass fans for his long stint with The Del McCoury Band, sat down for a marathon chat about how he got started, gigging in the Nashville scene, gear talk about the bass, amps, mics, monitors, and before we knew it we had clocked nearly two hours!   Mike has a a great sense of humor, a thousand stories and lots of good insights about life as a sideman. I know you will enjoy this conversation as much as I did!   Mike's extensive discography: https://www.discogs.com/artist/709369-Mike-Bub   If you like 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. If you want to be the next Mike Bub, check out my Bluegrass Bass Instruction Course and get busy practicing!   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 172   The Andy Leftwich Interview   I had the honor and pleasure of a nice long conversation with Andy Leftwich and I know you will enjoy hearing it. Andy earned his "creds" by playing for over 15 years with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. That is no small feat and one he should be rightly proud of.   Andy is a humble guy and also an amazing musician. We could all learn a few things by emulating his musical process and his way of looking at life. Enjoy!   Here are links to the various things we talked about: Andy's website: www.andyleftwich.com   If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons a

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 171   Ranger Brad's Crystal Ball   The advantage of doing a lot of teaching is that the teacher gets to observe many, many students. I have learned a lot from my students. In this episode I share some of what I have learned and I present you my theory, and an interesting method, to predict just how far you may go in your musical quest. Follow along, do a little self-analysis, and calculate your potential. The scale runs all the way from No Talent Bum all the way up to Most Exalted Master. Have fun!   If you want the PDF file that shows the chart and questions you can download it free here. Ranger Brad's Crystal Ball PDF --It certainly is helpful to have at hand as you listen to this episode.   If you like 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.   My full website is located

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 170   The Rob Ickes Interview   In this episode I share a recorded chat that I had with the masterful dobro player and musician Rob Ickes. We go from how a kid in California got into the dobro all the way to playing with... well, rather than spoil it for you... you will just have to listen to the episode.   Here are links to the various things we talked about: Rob's website: robickes.com Rob's dobro instructional site: bigmusictent.com Rob Reso Summit information: resosummit.com   Rob also mentioned: byrlguitars.com (his current favorite reso guitar)   If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video less

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 169   The Life Blood of Bluegrass   This episode is a discussion of a topic near and dear to my heart. I am talking about jam sessions! Not taking anything away from the pros and the heroes; I just want to remind you that there are more of us than there are of them. We need them and they need us. I hope this episode encourages you to go to a jam or start a jam.   For those of you who want my sweet potato pie recipe go the show notes page here. If you are looking for The Ten Jammandments Discussed, it is here.   If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to keep you busy.

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 168   Mandolin Super Heroes   This episode is an introduction to the great mandolin players. This episode took a while to formulate since, quite frankly, there are so many very good mandolinists. I couldn't possibly include every mandolin player "of note" so I decided to focus on the people who influenced me strongly.   I hope you enjoy this episode and will take my advice and purchase recordings of the players you enjoy. This episode is part of a series discussing the major players of each bluegrass instrument. I have already released similar episodes regarding pioneering Dobro and banjo players.   If you like 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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, ful

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 167   Report From The Barn   In this episode I talk about a recent jam session, two new mandolin video lessons in my store (Stealing Jazz Licks 1 and Stealing Jazz Licks 2), my son Jackson's new 6 song EP "Beacon" which you can get for free, and then I discuss the value of doing the same old thing over and over and over.   The intro music is "Prison Walls" written by Randy Godwin and played by Pony Express. The outro music is a bit of Dixon County Breakdown played by the jammers at the barn featuring Mike Estes on fiddle.   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.   My full website is located at http://www.bradleylaird.com. There you will find free lessons, free videos, jam tracks, full descriptions of all of my books, video lessons and courses... plenty to kee

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 166   Rattles, Buzzes & Twangs   It happens to everybody! You are blissfully playing along and suddenly (or slowly) your instrument begins to sound like crap! Buzzing, rattles, twangs, tinny sound! What the H.E. double hockey sticks is going on?   Listen to this episode where I walk you through the myriad of possible causes for these annoying sounds. We start with the most likely and work our way all the way through the rarest possibilities.   Don't worry. It happens. And the solution is usually very simple. You just have to find the cause.   The intro music is "Prison Walls" written by Randy Godwin and played by Pony Express. The outro music is the tail end of a long jam (not sure what tune it was) played by our band "The Pluck Tones".   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.pa

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 165   "Jason" Meets The Inquisitor   In this episode you will meet "Jason" (boo hiss!) who has been accused of multiple infractions against civil society and, in particular, reckless destruction of the good character of untold numbers of bluegrass musicians.    As the self-appointed inquisitor, I brought the guilty, I mean "the accused", before the court of public opinion. Members of the jury, listen to the proceedings and draw your own conclusions. Lest I be accused of attempting to sway the jury let me only say, respectfully, to the supposed Mr. "Jason": "May The Most High have mercy on your soul. Bailiff! Take him away! The executioner awaits!"   If you enjoy his degrading insinuations, deliberate attacks on innocent women and children, scurrilous lies regarding persons of unquestioned integrity and good character, then I encourage you to witness this vile scoundrel for yourself (If you can stomach it.) by visiting themonrover.com.   Disclaimer: The opinions expres

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 164   Western Red Interview   Think you don't like country music? Well, considering what I hear on "country" radio today, I tend to agree. But, if you dig back just a bit you will find that bluegrass is country music!   Today I present something a little different. It has long been my contention that bluegrass, honky-tonk, western swing, and old-time country are all branches of the same tree. Think: back stage at the temple. I mean The Grand Ole Opry!   You know, that alley-way where Melissa slugged Bessie Lee. That alley Jimmy Martin strutted across to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge to douse his disappointment in another PBR. All those folks were hanging out in the same place. Musically and culturally.   To discuss these concepts, I invited a fellow podcaster and radio personality, Western Red of the If That Ain't County podcast, on to the show. I trust that you will enjoy our chat.   Your interest in bluegrass will be enhanced by listening and supporting what Red is