Bluegrass Jam Along

This episode features a short interview with Paul Kowert of Hawktail and Punch Brothers talking about his Nick Lloyd double bass.

I interviewed Nick about making the bass (episode 245) and thought it would be cool to chat to Paul about what makes the instrument special and why he wanted a copy of Edgar Meyer's bass in the first place.

You'll also get to hear a track from Hawktail's latest release 'Place of Growth' featuring Paul playing the bass we're talking about.

Hope you enjoy it!

You'll find info on Nick and his basses at the Nick Lloyd Basses website 

Check out Hawktail's website for more info on the record (and make sure you sign up to their mailing list for updates and tour info).

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

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- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Nick Lloyd of Nick Lloyd basses.

I recently interviewed Paul Kowert of Hawktail and Punch Brothers (see episode 228 if you missed that). Shortly after, I got an email from Nick saying he'd heard the interview and that he'd made the bass Paul talked about. We got chatting and I asked him if he'd be up for coming on the podcast to talk about that, as well as bass making in general. So, here he is!

I really enjoyed this one. We talked about how Nick got into bass making, how he was inspired by Edgar Meyer and how, eventually, he wound up making a copy of Edgar's bass for Paul.

There's so much cool stuff in this episode - I really hope you enjoy it. 

I've also released a companion episode to this one where I chat to Paul about the process of commissioning the bass and working with Nick (episode 246). Don't forget to check that one out too.

You'll find info on Nick and his basses at the Nick Lloyd Basses website

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Hi everyone. We're back with another two tempo jam. This week it's Whiskey Before Breakfast, again at 75 and 85, and we're in the key of D.

We're using the jam along format - that means I'm kicking off playing backup and you're on the tune, then we swap and go round 4 times. Then, after a quick pause, we do the whole thing again at 85 bpm.

Don't forget to grab a chord sheet if you need one from bluegrassjamalong.com

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Steve Nall (Nully), Collings' Head of Production, returns to the podcast to chat about tonewoods. When Nully was originally on the podcast in July we touched on this and I thought it would make for a great episode in its own right, as it's something lots of us have questions about.

We start with a look at the woods typically used in bluegrass guitars, why they're chosen and what the different bits of the instrument contribute to the sound of a guitar. We then look at alternative types of wood, what happens to wood as it ages and how wood is treated in an attempt to replicate the sound of vintage guitars.

We also look at alternative sources of wood, from 'sinker' logs to reclaimed wood, and why this is so important for the future of guitar making.

It's always a pleasure chatting to Nully and I found this conversation really interesting - I hope you do too!

For more info check out the Collings Guitars website or follow Collings Guitars on Instagram

If you want to check out the guitars made with reclaimed wood Nully mentioned, head to Collings Facebook page for some great photos of them.

If you missed the original interview I did with Nully, you'll find a link on the Bluegrass Jam Along website, as well as links to all the other interview episodes on the podcast.

Happy picking.
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

Hi everyone.

I've got another quick Food for Thought episode for you, inspired by my recent interview with Tim Stafford. Tim told me nobody could tune a guitar like Tony Rice and that he thought that was a big part of his sound.  He said we've all lost the ability to tune because we rely on electronic tuners too much, but suggests a new way to use them that will actually help improve our ears.

It's really simple, but effective (I've tried it and it's working already!)

If you missed the full interview with Tim you can find it here

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Harry Clark, a recipient of the 2022 IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year award.

Harry plays mandolin with East Nash Grass as well as in Dan Tyminski's band, both of which have new records due out in 2023.  He also played in the band for Bronwyn Keith-Hynes' fabulous record 'Fiddler's Pastime.' Both Dan and Bronwyn were full of praise for Harry's playing when I interviewed them (you'll find links to those interviews on the Bluegrass Jam Along website).

We chatted about how Harry got into mandolin, how East Nash Grass got together and how Harry got the gig with Dan Tyminski, as well as the time he ordered a new mandolin, only to have the US Mail lose it for three months!

For updates check out Harry's Instagram and the East Nash Grass website

Check out Dan Tyminski's website for updates on that record and Dan's  live shows.

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

A couple of weeks ago I released an episode where we played Wildwood Flower back to back at two different speeds  - once at 75 bpm then again at 85. It proved so popular I've decided to do the same with some more tunes! This week it's Turkey in the Straw, again at 75 and 85 and we're in the key of G.

We're using the jam along format - that means I'm kicking off playing backup and you're on the tune, then we swap and go round 4 times. Then, after a quick pause, we do the whole thing again at 85 bpm.

Don't forget to grab a chord sheet if you need one from bluegrassjamalong.com

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

I interviewed Tim Stafford for the podcast this week, which was an absolute treat. We talked about all sorts, from Blue Highway to Tony Rice, Billy Strings and Tim's songwriting.

Tim also talked about David Grier's take on what matters when it comes to guitars, strings and picks, which is great. Tim also does a killer David Grier impersonation, which is worth hearing in its own right!

Here's the Tim Stafford interview, in case you missed it.

And here's David Grier's website, for no reason other than David's brilliant.

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

My guest this week is Tim Stafford.

Tim is a multi award winning guitarist, songwriter, singer, producer and author.

We covered a lot of ground, including the recent Blue Highway Fest, Tim's songwriting partnerships,  how bluegrass has changed in the last 15 years, why he has no time for people moaning about Billy Strings and, of course, plenty of Tony Rice chat (including the wonderful biography of Tony Tim co-wrote and the CD box set he's currently working on!)

For news and updates go to Tim's website and Facebook page

Find out more about Tim's book on Tony Rice (and order your copy)

You should also check out Tim's recent collaboration with Thomm Jutz

Enjoy (and happy picking!)
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts

This week we've got a bonus episode!

As we've been playing Wildwood Flower for the past two weeks, I thought it would be fun to have a run through at 75 bpm, then, when we're warmed up, go through it again slightly quicker at 85 bpm. It's a bit of an experiment.

We're using the jam along format - that means I'm kicking off playing backup and you're on the tune, then we swap and go round 4 times. Then, after a quick pause, we do the whole thing again at 85 bpm.

Have a go and see what you think. If you like it, let me know and I'll do more of these for other tunes too. Don't forget to grab a chord sheet if you need one from bluegrassjamalong.com

Happy picking!
Matt

Support the show

===

Thanks to Bryan Sutton for his wonderful theme tune to Bluegrass Jam Along (and to Justin Moses for playing the fiddle!)

Bluegrass Jam Along is proud to be sponsored by Collings Guitars and Mandolins and Token premium guitar picks

- Sign up to get updates on new episodes

- Free fiddle tune chord sheets

- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews

- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates:

• Instagram
• Facebook

- Review us on Apple Podcasts