Bluegrass Music

Bluegrass is a kind of country music with very fast playing. It started in the hills of the southern United States. Bluegrass bands use string instruments like the banjo, fiddle, and guitar. The songs are often about life in the mountains and on farms.

How It Began

Bluegrass got its name from a band called Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys. Bill Monroe is known as the Father of Bluegrass. He grew up in Kentucky, where there is a lot of blue grass. The music mixes old songs from Ireland, Scotland, and Africa. It became popular in the 1940s.

The Instruments

Bluegrass uses only acoustic instruments, which means they are not plugged in. The banjo has a bright, twangy sound and is played with fingerpicks. The fiddle is like a violin but played in a country style. Bands also use the mandolin, guitar, and upright bass. Players take turns showing off with fast solos.

Fun Facts

• A bluegrass banjo can play over 300 notes in just one minute.
• The state of Kentucky is called the Bluegrass State.
• Many bluegrass songs have been around for more than 100 years.

Did You Know?

Bluegrass musicians often stand around one microphone and take turns stepping up to play their solos.