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Calling all strings players and singers!
South Cumbria American Roots Session
A strings only session to play and sing bluegrass and old time music and songs.
Come and give your fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin or any other stringed instrument a treat! Singers welcome.
Where?
The Hope and Anchor
4 Daltongate
Ulverston
LA12 7BD
When?
Once a month on Sundays. 7:45 pm to tune up and to get the beers in for an 8:00 pm start.
NEXT DATES:
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21st December
25th January
22nd February
22nd March
Newly Added Tunes and Songs
One of the lovely features of our session is how we share and introduce new tunes and songs to each other.
As we add them to our website I'll post an update here of the latest additions.
Salt Spring - score here. Lovely video here
Westfork Gals - score here. Video here
The Spotted Pony - score here. Video here
Barlow Knife - score here. Video here
Coal Harbor Bend - score here. Video here
January Waltz - score here - banjo score here - lovely lakeside video here!
Hold On/Gospel Plow - chords here - listen to it here
The Quail is a Pretty Bird - score here - chords here - listen to it here
Coon Dog - score here - fiddle score here - chords here - listen to it here
Winder Slide - score here - chords in the book - listen to it here
Through the Gates - score here - chords in the book - listen to it here
Roscoe - score here - chords in the book - listen to it here
Beaumont Rag - score in D here - chords in D here - listen to it here (Also in F on our tune page)
Hawks and Eagles - score here - fiddle score here - chords here - listen to it here
With our next session in January on Burns Night we thought it would be fun to include some inspired Scottish tunes
Miss McLeods Reel - score here, the 32nd setting in G- chords here - video here
Scotland by Bill Monroe - score here - chords here - video here
Spootiskerry - score here, the first setting in G - chords here - video here
Why strings only?
It's the traditional grouping for bluegrass and old time music. You will find a few non string playing musicians on these scenes but the majority are string based giving the music it's recognisable sound and texture.
How it works...
Our sessions work like a band. One person leads the tune or song backed by the rest on rhythm. After that each player who wants to takes a turn to lead while the rest of us keep the rhythm with backing.
When someone is leading on the tune or improvisation it's important that we all reduce our volume so we can hear them. Some of us will just stop playing rhythm so we can hear the lead player.
When everyone who wants to has had a turn at leading, everyone joins in to play the tune together for the last time through.
You don’t have to lead the tune but let the next player know so they can play instead.
If you take a turn to lead you can play the tune or improvise around it or both.
If you would like to introduce a new song or a tune then do say.
If we have blank expressions then teach it to us, or email us the name (with a web link if possible) and we'll put it on the website so everyone can access it and learn it.
When we introduce a new tune or song we would expect us to all play it together a few times so people can learn it and get the feel.
Feel free to record the sessions but please keep the recordings away from social media (especially videos) unless everyone agrees.
Need lessons or tips? Again, just ask us. We all want each other to get better!
Tunes and Songs
We've created a page of tunes and songs.
This is just a starter list and will grow with time.
Tunes listed are hyperlinked to a page with the sheet music, songs are hyperlinked to videos.
Got an Americana tune/song you would like to play? Let us know at the session or by email and we'll get it added to the list.
Click the link below for the tune and song list.
Resources & Chord Charts
We've created an A6 booklet of chord charts that can be downloaded.
As new tunes and songs are introduced we'll add more chord charts and lyrics here.
Click below for the chord charts.
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