GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 197   Chatty Light Interview Recently I was asked to be a guest on the Chatty Light Podcast. I thought you might enjoy hearing it.  Thank you, Colton, Alex and crew! It was fun. And for my son Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells! Enjoy the show. ------------------------------------- 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.  I love you all!   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.

Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

GTR-197 Chatty Light Interview

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 196   Mushrooms and Metronomes This nice cool evening I simply held the recorder in my hand and talked about how you can focus and get good at one thing and it will carry over into lots of other things you have not even tried. I also talk a bit about my mushroom project and other oddities. Enjoy the show!  And for my boy Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin. You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bells! Enjoy the show. ------------------------------------- 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.  I love you guys and gals!   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.

GTR-196 Mushrooms and Metronomes

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 195   An Early Morning Rant   One of the things in life that I cherish is to rise early, to get up before the chickens, watch the stars and think about life.   This morning I got up, jotted down a few notes on a brown paper sack, and hit record. My intended subject was "Ten Ways To Play Better Bluegrass" but, as usual, I wandered a bit.   I have included actual live cricket sounds and a bug zapper in the background just to help you imagine the scene. I also did an unpaid endorsement of The Bug-A-Salt 3.0. Enjoy the show. ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-195 - Early Morning Rant

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 194   David Mathis of Gallagher Guitar   Gallagher guitars, made in Tennessee, were first brought to the attention of guitar players when the legendary Doc Watson chose a D-50 Gallagher in the late 1960's.   David has taken of the reins to keep the Gallagher legacy alive and you too can still get your hands on one! Here is a link to the Gallagher website. Enjoy the show. ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-194 - David Mathis of Gallagher Guitar

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 193   They Said It Couldn't Be Done   Bill Monroe only made one minor mistake in the creation of Blue Grass music. That is the trying, and later elimination, of the accordion in his ensemble. Well, if you listen all the way to end of this podcast, you will hear some of the greatest music ever put on wax. Had Bill met Dominic Frontiere there is a good chance we would all have accordions in our bluegrass groups today! I challenge the whippersnapper upstart Chris Thile to play THAT!    Aside from that monstrous revelation, I also talk about whether one should joke with government employees, growing mushroooms, divine intervention, "breakthrough" miracles, patience, the sub-conscious mind, and all those other good things which turn average "pickers" into self-surprising musicians.   If you want proof of my three bullseyes go to the show notes for this episode right here. With Jackson as my witness, miracles do happen!   No! Not the chair! ------------------------------------- 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! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!   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.

GTR-193 - They Said It Couldn't Be Done

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 192   Harmony   Harmony is the interaction between two or more different tones or pitches. Bluegrass music is nothing without harmony. (So is humanity by the way.) In this episode I walk you through a short course in bluegrass harmony singing. How do you figure out what note to sing? I'll try to help. In the course of this episode I refer often to a PDF document which you can get for free over on my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/bradleylaird Just scroll down to the post entitled: Basics of Harmony Singing. There you can download a PDF which is very helpful to have in hand while listening to this episode. In addition to discussing the contents of that PDF I present various audio examples of standard bluegrass trio harmony, duets, high lead trios, and high baritone trios of some of the best in the business. And, along the way, I present a challenge that you (and two of your bluegrass picking pals) listen to the episode, study the document, and send in a recording of your trio singing the ultra-simple "Boil Them Cabbage Down"! You will be rewarded handsomely if you prove to me that at least someone found this useful. Have fun with the episode and folks, let's put a little more spit and polish into our vocal harmonies! It's worth it.  ------------------------------------- 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! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!   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.

GTR-192 - Harmony

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 191   Host a Jam   Over the years I have been to lots of jam sessions and have organized and hosted quite few too. If you are starved for bluegrass pickin' I will explain how you "take the bull by the horns" and host your own jam session.   It can be a "one time only event" or it may turn into a regular, recurring session. Either way, it is a good way to get more bluegrass in your life and provide the same for other musicians.   In this episode I mention my "10 Jammandments Discussed" eBook. You can download it free here. (By the way, the final page in that eBook has a 25% discount coupon code for ANY of my instructional videos, courses and eBooks in my online store. Take advantage of that too!)   Enjoy the episode and I hope you have a jam session soon! Invite me!   ------------------------------------- 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! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!   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.

GTR-191 - Host a Jam

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 190   Matt Hutchinson Interview   Here's a guy who loves bluegrass. So much that he is willing to create a podcast so you have someone to pick with! What's not to love? In this episode I strike up a conversation with Matt to learn about his Bluegrass Jam Along podcast and find out how a guy in the UK became interested in bluegrass and to share what he is doing with all of you.   Enjoy the episode, check out his podcast and I'll talk to you soon.   ------------------------------------- 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! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!   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.

GTR-190 - Matt Hutchinson Interview

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 189   Life Is Good   In this episode I talk about how you can dive in to your solo, play like dog squeeze, feel totally humiliated and still get a round of applause. It's one of the hidden benefits of playing live. (They aren't usually paying that much attention!)   Before I get to that, I talk about a big storm, the first post-pandemic session at Pat's Place, my "Brad's Barn Jam", and some other gobblety-gook that you might enjoy.   Enjoy the episode and talk to you soon. Better yet, I hope to pick with you soon!   ------------------------------------- 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! Without you I would have quit a long time ago!   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.

GTR-189 - Life Is Good

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 188   A Man's Entitled To His Opinion   200 episodes and over 100,000 downloads. Not bad!   This short episode is just to let you know I am still kicking. I have a taken a little, well deserved break from the GTR Podcast and in this episode I fill you in a bit.   I have completed work on the F5 mandolin which I have been building and you can hear it in this episode. School's out, a light fixture in the kitchen tried to burn the house down, bluegrass has once again assured that I am officially below the poverty line, and life is good.   Enjoy the show and I'll talk to you in the next episode. I bet you can hardly wait!    ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-188 - A Man's Entitled To His Opinion

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 187   Beach Balls & Train Wrecks In this episode I talk a bit about the "Beach Ball Effect", I get interrupted by a friendly sales call, give you a short garden update, and then dig in to the topic of Train Wrecks and how they may be avoided. Have fun!   Talk to ya next week. ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-187 Beach Balls & Train Wrecks

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 186   Edumacation Are Fun!   In this show I respond to a couple of emails I received and discuss education and how we learn.   Have fun and I trust you take this "in the spirit in which it is intended."   In the episode I referenced this episode with the Self-Analysis Worksheet PDF: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-3-show-notes.html   And this blog post concerning self-directed learning: http://www.bradleylaird.com/blog-articles/blog-36-guide.html Talk to ya next week. ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-186 - Edumacation

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 185   Cancel This!   All I am saying is listen and make up your own minds. Cancel me if you must. Or, stick with me and the bluegrass way. Enough already!   I have heard so much sub-par bluegrass singing over the years--not from the pros like IIIrd Tyme Out and Doyle Lawson--but just in general. Some pretty lame singing is often the norm with bluegrass jams and SOME bands I have heard.   All I have to say is "tighten up" and take a hint from my closing outro music by Jackson, my son, and the Voices of the Valley Choir. The takeaway "pull quote" is at exactly 34:10. Shame on those who think otherwise.   I want to quote two verses in case you have trouble understanding the lyrics in the recording:   "We are pilgrims on the journey We are travelers on the road We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load"   "I will weep when you are weeping When you laugh, I'll laugh with you I will share you joy and sorrow Till we've seen this journey through."   See ya next week.   This podcast is dedicated to my friend Bob Putnam. I love you Bob. God be with you, my friend. ------------------------------------- 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.   Nobody actually reads this stuff anyway so I am telling you that my cross-eyed sister once rode a bull moose across the Yukon Territory while playing a ukulele and singing My Old Kentucky Home. (Told ya! Nobody reads this crap!)   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. 

GTR-185 - Cancel This!

GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 184   The Art of Quitting   I have spent much airtime here discussing the starting of things. Jams, bands, lessons, etc. But there comes a time in the natural curve of things that we must give it up and say "I quit!" When and how do you do this? And why? I hope you enjoy this early morning sermon and I hope that when or if you are driven to quit that you do it in the best way possible. You may be doing everyone a favor! Yourself and others. Could be! ------------------------------------- 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.

GTR-184 - The Art of Quitting

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 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.

GTR-183 - First, Tune That Thang!

For people who play bluegrass music... or want to!

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Bradley Laird's Grass Talk Radio - Bluegrass

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