Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 111 The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men   Mankind, along with many other creatures, is a planner. But often these plans go awry just like the poor mouse in Robert Burns' poem. How can you devise, tweak and implement plans which actually work and bring about positive results?   Plans do work! They can also fail miserably. Come along for this discussion of "plan versus no plan" and the art of attempting to actually follow plans--all related to learning to become a better bluegrass musician.   Here are some of the plans I have customized for you: Mandolin: The Mandolin Treasure Chest Bluegrass Banjo: The Banjo Learning System Clawhammer Banjo: Clawhammer Banjo Lessons 1-6 Bluegrass Bass: Bass Instruction Course   You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.   If you enjoy the show you can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.   Additional information about the podcast

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 110 Let's Get Picky - The pick. That's where it starts. You can have a hundred grand tied up in a glorious instrument but if your pick is crummy, or if you use it in a crummy way, you might as well be playing that $99 Amazon deal-of-the day instrument.   Conversely, you could be starting out with that $99 special and take a little care with pick choice–find one that really sounds good and suits you–and make much better music!   All right. Let's talk picks...   You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.   If you enjoy the show 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-110-show-notes.html   GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who love making music with wooden boxes, strung with wire and plunked with bits of plastic or other sem

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 109 Don't Do Like I Did - When I got home from the jam session last night I had one of those forehead slapping, Homer Simpson "Doh!" moments. I hope you enjoy this little short episode describing something you should never do at a gig or a jam session.   The number of listeners to this podcast has risen over the last months (which is a great thing) but the donations, purchases or other financial support has not risen accordingly. Due to technical bandwidth limitations with my current podcast hosting plan (Yes, it costs me to put these out.) I was forced to squeeze this episode down to the bare minimum in terms of length and file size. I would really like to move up to the "unlimited plan" with my hosting service but, frankly, that all depends on you.   You can help keep this show going and growing by becoming a GrassTalkRadio Supporter.   If you enjoy the show you can also support what I am doing by visiting my online store at http://www.payhip.com/bradleylaird.   Addit

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 108 Listener Questions - By request, I begin this episode by telling the story of how I helped rob a bank! After that I clear my email inbox and answer some listener questions and comments. I decided to do this "on air" because you might have the same question. It's sort of a "kill two birds with one stone" effort. I think you will learn a few things and enjoy hearing what other people are saying and thinking. If you have written to me recently I may be replying to you! 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-108-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who have discovered bluegrass music and want to learn to play it too!

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 107 Gold Nuggets - Sometimes, if you back up and take a second look at things, you will discover some gold nuggets which you missed in your headlong rush the first time! In this episode I explain my "how to ace college" method, guaranteed to bring you up at least 2 letter grades, and the value of note taking and how to challenge your mind. That is a very important topic if you are attempting to improve your musicianship! Near the end of the episode I talk about my inspiration for a song I wrote entitled "Harvey Johnson" and close the show out with the entire song. I hope you like it and please record and perform it. And if you have any pull with Del McCoury, just once in my life, I'd love to hear him sing it! (I have a couple of other people in mind too.) 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 106 In and Out - You are either on the outside looking in or the inside looking out. Learning how to earn access to the musical circles is key to growth and personal satisfaction. In this episode I discuss the concept of "being in" and how to get "in". I conclude this episode with some sure-fire ways to be "out!" too. Enjoy 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 additional goodies, be sure to scope out the show notes here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-106-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass music--a realm of interlocking and overlapping circles!

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 105 How To Pick With Grisman - Would your wildest dreams come true if you could sit and jam with David Grisman for hours on end? Or maybe Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Jerry Garcia, or any of your musical heros? You'd be surprised at how easily this can be done. And guess what? You will become a better player at the same time. I also give a quick update on the progress of the Apricot Ale I brewed during Episode 104. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-105-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--one of the rare styles in which you can easily meet and possibly jam with the biggest "stars" in the genre!

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 104 Homebrewing a Jam Session - If you can only get lousy bread at the store, you should learn to make your own! If the local grocery store only sells crummy rot gut beer, you learn to make your own. If the jam sessions you attend do not suit you, you start your own jam session. Yes. I said you. Don't sit around hoping someone else will take the initiative. Just do it yourself. Because I was pressed for time this week, you will discover that this episode is a little different. While I discuss how to start your own jam session I am also rattling pots and brewing a 5 gallon batch of homebrewed apricot ale. You can learn a little about both subjects if you listen in. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-104-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 103 Build Something - Plenty of people in the bluegrass realm eventually try their hand at making an instrument. In this episode I discuss my own history of home-made instruments and offer up some tips and encouragement in the hope that you might try it too. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-103-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the music where old logs, brass, wire and varnish are held in high regard!

GrassTalkRadio.com Bonus Episode 04 Human Compressors - In this short bonus episode I talk a bit more about audio compressors and make an analogy regarding human behavior. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/bonus-episode-04-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the most mighty fine music in the world!

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 102 Audio Jargon - There are a lot of terms that get thrown about when describing audio. The terms have pretty specific meanings. Are you using the word echo when you really mean reverb? Have you heard the term "compression"? Do you know what it means? If you are a beginner you may think this stuff is not important, but the first time you ever step on a stage – at an open mic, a festival, or to record a demo – you are going to hear these terms. Ride along and I will try to de-mystify some of the basics. As a little addendum, near the end, I included some demonstration sound samples so you could hear echo, reverb and compression. Have fun twisting those knobs. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-102-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to pla

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 101 Keith Billik of the Picky Fingers Banjo Podcast - This episode is a conversation with a fellow podcaster. We talk about why we do this nutty thing called podcasting, how we got started, and plans for the future. The banjo is an important part of the bluegrass equation and Keith is doing a good job of creating informative and entertaining banjo-centric content. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-101-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--the music where even banjo players feel the love!

GrassTalkRadio.com Episode 100 Buddy Ashmore Interview - The friendships you make in bluegrass are often more important than the music you make. I met Buddy within a few months of starting to play bluegrass and we have knocked around the bluegrass scene for over 40 years. For this 100th episode I decided to call him and just shoot the breeze for a while. Enjoy. 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 here: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-100-show-notes.html GrassTalkRadio is a show for people who play or are learning to play bluegrass--one of the more persistent forms of music in the world!