TOPIC: Drop the Swing

FM was right last class...bluegrass is not supposed to be played with a swing feel. Speaking for myself, I am guilty of that. When I play songs slower I tend to give them that feel. It's going to take an effort to play it straight. Bluegrass's appeal is it's "dryness" of rythmn sort of (in a way of saying) or, just play'n it straight. I think I'm starting to "get it" though it's gonna take time.

Sounds like metronome time...

I think Flatt and Scruggs put a lot of swing/syncopation in their music!

Yeah, but they couldn't call it that and still show their faces around the decent people of Nashville If I recall correctly, blues jazz and swing were frowned upon in the old time music. But there were a few folks that had the clout to innovate...

But for our purposes, I agree that the straighter we play it, the more the group benefits from the timing of everyone being on the beat.