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Bluegrass is a subgenre of country music that originated in the Appalachian region of the United States in the 1940s. It is characterized by its fast tempo, complex harmonies, and use of acoustic instruments, such as the banjo, fiddle, and mandolin.

Bluegrass music has its roots in traditional folk music, as well as in blues and jazz. It was first popularized by Bill Monroe and his band, the Bluegrass Boys, who are considered to be the pioneers of the genre. Monroe's band featured a high-energy, fast-paced sound that was driven by the virtuosity of the musicians and their intricate instrumental arrangements.

Since its inception, bluegrass has evolved and grown to encompass a wide range of styles and influences.

Bluegrass music is often used for synchronization licensing in film, television, and other media. Its fast tempo and lively sound make it well-suited for use in action scenes or for adding energy to a scene. In terms of the emotions that bluegrass evokes, it can range from feelings of excitement and joy to more introspective and reflective moods. No matter what the mood, bluegrass has the ability to connect with listeners and create a sense of excitement and energy.

Overall, bluegrass is a vibrant and energetic subgenre of country music that has a rich history and a diverse range of sounds and influences. Its complex harmonies and virtuosic instrumentals have made it a popular choice for many listeners around the world, and its influence can be heard in many other musical styles.

The term bluegrass initially refers to the blue-green leaves of meadow grass. The music style was later named after it by the media.

Bluegrass is a US-American folk music style and belongs to the broad genre of country music. Today the instrumentation typically consists of banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, resonator guitar and double bass. The mandolin and guitar have the function to produce the percussive chop beats on the offbeat, replacing the drums. The vocals are usually conducted in close third and fifth harmonies. Vocals and solo instruments usually alternate. Often the fiddle or the banjo takes over the task of chop beating when the mandolin plays a solo.

Beginnings

Bluegrass originated in the 1930s in Kentucky and Tennessee. The mandolin player Bill Monroe formed a form of country music with swing and blues elements from hillbilly and fiddle pieces, Anglo-American ballads, African-American dance music and traditional gospel harmony singing.

In the mid-1940s, banjo player Earl Scruggs joined the band. He nearly perfected the three-finger style with high speed and precision and thus considerably strengthened the sound of the meanwhile founded band "Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys". The band was named after the "Bluegrass State" Kentucky.

The band became known through live performances on the weekly radio show "Grand Ole Opry" broadcast from Nashville. Earl Scruggs founded the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948. A special feature was the use of the Dobro as lead instrument, which led to great popularity among the audience.

Contemporary Bluegrass

At the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s, bluegrass bands increasingly appeared at universities and folk festivals. Through these contacts of the more commercial and southern Hillbillys with a cultural music scene that had until then been carried by Alan Lomax, Charles Seeger or his sons Mike and Pete Seeger, the Bluegrass not only gained a nationwide market base, but also an influx of innovative younger musicians such as Byron Berline, Bill Keith, Peter Rowan, Clarence White, Tony Rice and David Grisman.

Since the late 1960s, other musicians such as Grateful Dead have also taken up bluegrass. New styles like Newgrass and Jazzgrass emerged. Country rock bands like the Eagles also used bluegrass stylistic devices in their songs. At the beginning of the 1980s, Bluegrass was once again more popular in commercial country music in a more poppy version and partly also with drum accompaniment, when so-called neo-traditionalism gained influence.

At the beginning of the 1990s Bluegrass became popular again. The International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame has existed since 1991. It is run by the International Bluegrass Music Association and annually awards the recording to artists who have shaped their style. In recent years new Bluegrass bands such as the "Infamous Stringdusters" have emerged. Internet radio stations such as Bluegrasscountry.org are now used to listen to music from all over the world.

In the playlist above you will find music titles from our music catalogue for royalty-free production music or stock music with the keyword "Hard Rock", which can be licensed directly online via the Proud Music Library as background music for commercials, ads, TV, films and videos. It is also possible to download mp3 files in reduced quality for free and present them internally. Use is only permitted after the purchase of a license. If you have any questions regarding licensing, please contact us by phone at ++49 (0)6132 43 088 30 or by e-mail at [email protected].

The songs on this page may NOT be used without a license. Please buy a license according to the intended use!