Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 041 Dear John... - My friend John Teate allowed me to use this episode to "slice and dice" his playing. There are a lot of "Johns" out there and the advice I give him might help you! Are you improvising everything? Are you faking it when you could be "nailing it"? Food for thought. Have fun and let me know you are out there! If you enjoy the show you can support what I a...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 040 Geoff Hohwald Interview - Geoff Hohwald is one of the pioneers in banjo instructional material and an interesting character in the bluegrass world. Join me as I shoot the breeze with Geoff at my kitchen table. I close the show with a tune featuring his hard-driving banjo picking at it's finest. Have fun and let me know you are out there! If you enjoy the show you can...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 039 Let's Rehearse - After a bit of commentary on the state of the world and my theory of "over connectedness", I fully hash out what it takes to rehearse your band so you can perform at your best. Have fun and let me know you are out there! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For addit...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 038 Sink or Swim - Sometimes it is good to jump in feet first and just hope you can make it to the ladder! Sometimes it's good to think things over first. Dive right in and have fun and let me know you are out there! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For additional goodies, be sure to...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 037 Think About It - At times all bluegrass vocalists are guilty of singing lyrics without imagining what they are singing about. It's easy to concentrate on how you are singing and forget the important element of what you are singing! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For additional...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 036 The Schedule Master - The band that says yes first usually gets the gig! Get your ducks in a row and try the schedule master system. Don't be sittin' home when others are out playing and having a good time! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For additional goodies, be sure to scope...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 035 Stringology 101 - You could have a $100,000 instrument but without our lowly, mistreated and under-appreciated friend The String, you pretty much have nothing! Here's my rap on strings. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes h...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 034 Monarchy vs Democracy - This episode continues the theme of how to organize and manage your part-time or sem-pro bluegrass band. After a little mumbo-jumbo I get down to discussing the two types of band "government" and how they work in the real world. Also includes some rap on tips buckets, just what the folk is a folk and two bands with the same name. If you enjoy...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 033 Starting A Part-Time Band - Have you ever entertained thoughts about getting involved in an existing band or starting one from scratch? In this episode I try to offer up some ideas to help you make that decision. Have fun and support the show! If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 032 Instrument Horror Stories - In this episode I describe "the luthier's best friend", various entertaining and wacky instrument destruction tales, and give a bit of advice regarding care of your axe. Have fun and support the show! Please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.p...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 031 Alkafluence of Inkahol - In this episode I tell the story of one my early brushes with one of the giants of country music. We were wet behind the ears and learned a few things about reality that day way back in July of 1980. Have fun and enjoy the show! Please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my onl...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 030 Bands Versus Jams - In this episode I explore the differences between the bluegrass you hear at jam sessions versus the bluegrass you hear performed by bands. I also describe the stages of development as a bluegrass player, tell a couple of stories and give the "quick and dirty" instructions for how to start a band. Also, I feature a full tune by the Savannah, Georgi...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 029 Self-Hypnosis with Sam Brown - You might wonder what a Berklee School of Music grad, a professional drummer from the UK, hypnotic trance, and Boris the Military Pod have to do with bluegrass. Fair question! In this episode I present an unscripted chat with Sam Brown, creator of the Self-Hypnosis for Musicians audio program, and we venture down the rabbit hole of how...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 028 Bob Putnam Interview - In this episode I sit down at the kitchen table with my good friend Bob Putnam and talk bluegrass and art. Bob, as an artist, sculptor and art educator, has a knack for describing these fascinating similarities. Enjoy the show! Please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 027 Real Listening - In this episode we explore the art of listening. Learning how to focus, filter, isolate or hear "the whole" will make you a better musician. Enjoy the show! Please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . For additional goodies, be sur...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 026 Simon Mayor Interview - At least one of the roots of bluegrass extends across the pond to Europe. In this episode I sit down with English mandolinist Simon Mayor and compare notes. Enjoy the show! Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleyla...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 025 A Table Needs Three Legs - This podcast episode is about balance and stability. What are the three primary supports you need to develop to be a good musician? Discover your strengths and weaknesses and you'll progress faster and further. Enjoy the show! Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by vi...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 024 Thoughts on Improvisation - Don't say you can't improvise! You already do. You did it as a baby and continue to this day--with speech! In this episode I talk about the art of music improvisation and how it compares to speech. I try to help you make sense of "hillbilly jazz" and give you tips to become better at it. Enjoy the show! Have fun and please rate and review...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 023 Play Ball! - In this episode I talk about the connections between bluegrass and baseball, historically and "operationally." Bluegrass is a team sport. Enjoy the show! Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . The show notes for this...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 022 Luthier Todd Lunneborg Interview - In this episode I dropped by the shop of luthier Todd Lunneborg and recorded this conversation about set-up, instrument repair, and a lot of other subjects. Todd is a talented musician, instrument builder, repairman, and restorer. Enjoy the show! Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can s...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 021 Something Phishy - In this episode I recount when our band Cedar Hill opened for Phish at Lakewood in Atlanta. I had no idea who they were! I also talk about my father and why we should thank those people who might not play but who helped us along the way. This episode is a testament to how easy it is to be ignorant of so many things. Enjoy the show! Have fun and ple...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 020 Pete Martin Interview - This episode introduces you to the world of Pete Martin. Pete is an accomplished fiddler, mandolinist, teacher, and publisher of instructional materials. I think you will find some useful ideas in this interview. We talk contest fiddling, jazz, tenor guitar, transcribing and all sorts of stuff. I could have talked with Pete for hours! Have fun...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 019 Easier Said Than Done - In this episode I talk about some simple things you can do to improve your playing. Simple to say anyway. Maybe a little harder to put into practice. Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird . The show notes fo...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 018 Mike Marshall Interview - In this episode our guest is world class musician Mike Marshall. We chat about how he got started, how he learned to play, how he became plugged in to the bluegrass and "Dawg Music" scene and a lot of other things. Have fun and please rate and review the show on iTunes. If you enjoy the show you can support what I am doing by visiting my onl...

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 017 Bill Monroe and Other Tales - In this episode I finish telling the story about the semi-nightmarish, yet fun, jam session on Little Roy Lewis' back porch and then I tell about the first three times I saw Bill Monroe perform. I make my case that you cannot call yourself a bluegrasser without a working knowledge and appreciation for the man Bill Monroe, pater familias....