What is Bluegrass Music?

This editorial ran in the Summer 2005 Issue of the Bluegrass Journal

Written by Dave Russell • All Rights Reserved by the Author, July 2005
Reprint Rights Available by Contacting the Author or The Bluegrass Journal Editor

What is bluegrass music? This question continues to be debated in the bluegrass world, and the differences of opinion multiply daily. People unfamiliar with bluegrass music often stereo type it with wash boards, jews harps, washtub basses, and jugs. This is just pure ignorance, and nothing related to the bluegrass. If you ask people who grew up listening to Bill Monroe, the Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt & Scruggs youÕll get a more traditional definition of bluegrass. Younger people, while recognizing the important role of traditional bluegrass, will include the more modern sound in the definition. So, whoÕs right, and whoÕs wrong? Well, actually both are correct.

ItÕs an irrefutable fact that Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, The Stanleys, and Flatt & Scruggs laid the foundation for bluegrass music, and you can hear their influences in the more contemporary bands today. Bluegrass music, like any other musical style, is continually changing, and the musical influences in each generation can be heard. The Father of Bluegrass music himself drew upon an number of musical styles including the old fiddle tunes from the British Isles, big band music, the blues, jazz, and old country. The musicians that emerged from the baby boomers not only paid homage to the bluegrass of MonroeÕs generation, but pulled from musical styles like rock-n-roll, modern jazz, and many other genres. Thus with each generation, new sounds emerge as a result of new musical influences.

The music that Monroe, and his generation created had a deep sense of feel to it. When they sang about mom and dad, and missing the old home, it was from the heart as well as personal experience. Those of us who never experienced these kinds of things donÕt have the feel they did, yet the music can still be played with passion, and respect for the tradition. Whether we like it or not, bluegrass music is going to change, but the lonesome sound that our forefathers created needs to be at the foundation of even the newest of bluegrass music. The bluegrass musicians of today would do themselves a great service to first master the music of the founders. ItÕs safe to say that the bluegrass of today can still be called bluegrass if you can hear the echoes of Monroe, Martin, and Flatt & Scruggs in whatÕs being played.