THIS IS BLUEGRASS: Tennessee Waltz & Blue Moon of Kentucky

“This is Bluegrass” – Boom Strum Rhythm Essentials: Rhythm to songs in 3/4 time. Tennessee Waltz and Blue Moon of Kentucky. Goal: Build a solid bluegrass rhythm guitar foundation with boom-chuck, alternating bass, scale walks, and advanced upstroke variations. THIS IS BLUEGRASS is a series of tutorials based on song lessons and techniques used in Bluegrass music. Danny Smith, G4V Instructor and event coach shares his experience and knowledge of the Bluegrass genre. Learning bluegrass is like putting your guitar skills through a “strength and conditioning” program. Even if you don’t plan on wearing a cowboy hat or playing at a festival, the technical foundations of the genre are incredibly high-yield for beginners. 1. Precision Pick Control Bluegrass is famous for flatpicking. Unlike strumming where you move your whole arm, bluegrass requires a steady, controlled hand. 2. Rhythm and “The Boom-Chuck” The heart of bluegrass rhythm is the alternating bass note (the “Boom”) followed by a strum (the “Chuck”). 3. “Cowboy Chord” Mastery Bluegrass lives in “open positions”—the first three frets of the guitar. 4. Ear Training and Jam Culture Bluegrass is a social genre. It’s built on “standard” songs that everyone knows, which makes it the perfect entry point for playing with others. 5. Dexterity through “Runs” Bluegrass players use “walk-ups” and “walk-downs” to transition between chords. https://guitars4vets.org/