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[[nl:Bluegrass]]
'''Bluegrass music''' is a form of [[American roots music]] with its own roots in the [[Irish traditional music]] and [[Scottish traditional music]] of immigrants from the [[British Isles]] (particularly the [[Scots-Irish]] immigrants of [[Appalachia]]),as well as the music of African-American slaves.  It was this tradition that [[A.P. Carter]] used and collected for the songs played and written by the [[Carter Family]]. Bluegrass songs are played with each melody instrument switching off playing the melody each time through, while the others revert to backup; this is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together, when indeed they are playing together rather than solo.

The bluegrass style was invented in the first half of the 20th century by mandolinist [[Bill Monroe]] and named for his band, the Blue Grass Boys, formed 1939. Monroe's 1945-48 band, which featured [[banjo]] player [[Earl Scruggs]], singer/guitarist [[Lester Flatt]], fiddler Chubby Wise and bassist Cedric Rainwater, created the definitive sound and instrumental configuration that remains the model to this day. Unlike mainstream [[country music]], bluegrass continues to rely on acoustic stringed instruments. The [[Fiddle]], [[banjo]], acoustic [[guitar]] or [[folk guitar]], [[mandolin]], and [[upright bass]] are sometimes joined by the [[dobro]](also known as a resophonic guitar), and a [[bass guitar]] is occasionally substituted for the [[upright bass]].

Besides instrumentation, the distinguishing characteristics of bluegrass include vocal harmonies featuring two, three, or four parts, often featuring a [[dissonant]] or [[modal]] sound in the highest
voice; an emphasis on traditional songs, often with sentimental or religious themes; and improvised instrumental solos.

Notable artists:
* [[Bill Monroe]]
* [[Flatt and Scruggs]]
* [[Doc Watson]]
* [[John Hartford]]
* [[Lester Flatt]]
* [[The Stanley Brothers]]
* [[Ricky Skaggs]]

The following are/were also notable bluegrass artists, despite being better known for their contributions to other musical genres:
*[[B�la Fleck]]
*[[Jerry Douglas]]
*[[Jerry Garcia]] ([[Old and in the Way]])
*[[Dolly Parton]]
*[[David Grisman]]
*[[Nickel Creek]]

[[Movie]]s about bluegrass or featuring bluegrass themes:
* [[O Brother, Where Art Thou?]]
* [[That High Lonesome Sound]]
* [[Deliverance]]

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====References====
* Adapted from the [[Wikipedia]] article, "Bluegrass_music" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegrass_music http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegrass_music], used under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]]