Sam Bush to do new Homespun DVD lesson - your input?

**Happy Traum** · Apr-02-2010, 12:08am

Hi to all our friends on Mandolin Cafe!

Next week Sam Bush will be coming to Woodstock to record a new instructional DVD for Homespun. We have lots of ideas for this new course, but I'm wondering whether there are any specific requests/suggestions from our loyal Cafe posters. I've never asked a group like this for input before, so this is a first, but I thought it might be a good way to interact with you mandolin players and knowledge seekers, and find out what you'd like to learn from this master player.

We're hoping to get this new DVD finished and released by late spring. It will be available both on DVD and via download on Homespun Instant Access.

I'm excited to be working with my old friend Sam again. We made our first instructional series - on audio cassettes - back in the late '70s, and it will be fun to continue the process in 2010. I'm sure we'll be doing at least a couple of tunes from Sam's exceptional new CD, "Circles Around Me." Let us hear what else you'd like to learn from the man. Thanks.

Best regards,

Happy

Happy Traum
Homespun Tapes
www.homespun.com

**Fretbear** · Apr-02-2010, 5:04am

Hey Happy:
A welcome section would be on some examples of his outrageous and unique rhythm playing, showing right and left hands, and slowed down to humanoid speed...

**Steve Gorman** · Apr-02-2010, 5:52am

I have seen so many Mandolin method DVD's where artists teach scales and songs but none speak to the player in term of practice. More specifically how much. Could you talk to Sam about doing a segment on setting up a formal practice schedule. I would like something that doesn't just teach but instead coaches. If I want to be a monster mandolin player how do I become one. What should my practice look like in terms of schedule and techniques and minutes of practice per technique? I would guess 15 minutes or more could easily be filled explaining just what a practice schedule and session really it.

Oh yeah, Happy you're so great. I got your guitar video years ago and still use it.

sg

**tree** · Apr-02-2010, 7:31am

Blue Mountain, Junior Heywood. Maybe a fiddle tune like Gray Eagle or his breaks on Bringin' In The Georgia Mail.

A section on playing backup: on the beat (2 and 4), off the beat (1 and 3), odd meters (7/4, 5/4, etc.), when to let yourself go with what you feel, when to rein yourself in to the arrangement.

A section on arranging - I'd love to hear his thoughts and tricks on that!

Any insight on how to think like he does when improvising - he can make almost anything sound like a fiddle tune - I love the twists and turns like that.

**AlanN** · Apr-02-2010, 7:48am

Bound to be lots of suggestions, all over the map, on what the video should contain. My own feeling is that Sam is one of a kind, and is blessed with an innate talent. Maybe most pickers want to hear him talk about a practice regimen. I, for one, would not. I'd rather see him dissect some of his awesome playing techniques on tunes such as Reach, Mar West, Me & My Guitar, Sapporo, Broadway, etc.

**MandoNicity** · Apr-02-2010, 8:14am

Originally Posted by Fretbear

Hey Happy:
A welcome section would be on some examples of his outrageous and unique rhythm playing, showing right and left hands, and slowed down to humanoid speed...

I'm with Frebear, Sam is the consummate king of rhythm so I would love his insight on that, along with input on chord building/voicing, especially accidental jazz chords. If the whole book/dvd was on this subject alone, I would be first in line to buy it.

**chasray** · Apr-02-2010, 8:26am

It will be a challenge to make a new teaching series that will be different from Bluegrass Mandolin and The Sam Bush Method. Sapporo has already been covered, so has some of his rhythm techniques. Besides new songs, I think more could be said on how to back up a singer or embellish a tune. What a studio musician he is as well.

**GRW3** · Apr-02-2010, 8:29am

As a variation on the rhythm theme, how about some emphasis on vocal backup. Sam is a great singer and he uses the mandolin effectively to back his songs. I'm guessing it's not an accident or spontaneous so I'd like to hear him expond on the subject and demonstrate.

**Bigtuna** · Apr-02-2010, 8:34am

I second the rhythm theme, with "Sailing Shoes" as a song/example.

**coletrickle** · Apr-02-2010, 8:39am

Sorry if this is covered in other Homespun videos...but on the Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza Sam talks about "the way to play fiddle tunes on the mandolin." Some insite into taking fiddle techniques and applying them to the mandolin would be great. Like I said...not sure if this is his other videos or not.

**Santiago** · Apr-02-2010, 8:40am

I don't have any great insights, but I do really appreciate you taking the time to ask the Cafe for our input. There are some sharp cookies here -- I've never stumped them with a question. I guess I would like to see a segment on getting more tone out of your instrument.

**Rex Hart** · Apr-02-2010, 8:40am

I, for one, would like to see him explain his syncopated phrasing. Like has been said before, he can take any tune and turn it into a fiddle tune by his phrasing. Also would like for him to show us his version of Girl From the North Country. Also, would like to know why he uses such light gauge strings on his A and E. Thank you Happy for all that you do !

**Trey Young** · Apr-02-2010, 8:53am

another vote for insight into his rythm playing/back up and his approach to fiddle tunes, thanks!

**MandoNicity** · Apr-02-2010, 9:18am

Originally Posted by Bigtuna

I second the rhythm theme, with "Sailing Shoes" as a song/example.

I'd like an in depth on "Sailin' Shoes" also, especially his solo version delving into his chord/melody technique.

**MandoNicity** · Apr-02-2010, 9:19am

Originally Posted by Rex Hart

I, for one, would like to see him explain his syncopated phrasing. Like has been said before, he can take any tune and turn it into a fiddle tune by his phrasing. Also would like for him to show us his version of Girl From the North Country. Also, would like to know why he uses such light gauge strings on his A and E. Thank you Happy for all that you do !

I second "Girl From the North Country".

**Bob Gray** · Apr-02-2010, 9:29am

Sam does it all superbly well, but one of my favorite aspects of his playing is his blues stylings. I would love to see him impart some of his knowledge on bluesy bluegrass playing.

**Jason Kindall** · Apr-02-2010, 9:50am

I got no input. I'm must very excited.

**ald** · Apr-02-2010, 9:55am

I agree with a lot of you, it would be great if Sam were to show some of the techniques for backing up his songs (Girl from the north country, for example), blues, jazz voicings, chord/melody technique. Items for us intermediary players, for a change.

**chip** · Apr-02-2010, 10:12am

I would like to see an instructional DVD that focuses on the intermediate/advanced player rather than the beginner'advanced beginner. There's plenty of those all ready available, Youtube, etc. Handspeed excercises, blazing triplet runs from the first position to the 5th, etc. Thanks

**SternART** · Apr-02-2010, 10:24am

That one finger double stop on the G & D strings.....A chop still eludes me........could he slow that down & describe what the heck he is doing?

**Schlegel** · Apr-02-2010, 10:31am

Sailing shoes and Girl from the North Country would be fantastic picks! These and some rythym work would make some great stuff.

**wadeyankey** · Apr-02-2010, 10:47am

I'm definitely on board with seeing his version "Girl of the North Country". Lots of other good ideas too!

**Adam Tracksler** · Apr-02-2010, 11:22am

I'd love to hear him brak down a jazz tune like "broadway".

**Newtdude** · Apr-02-2010, 11:38am

First of all, thank you Happy for asking! I own a huge number of Homespun DVD's, and find most of them to be extremely useful.

I think (as many people have said) that a more detailed and focused discussion on rhythm playing would be wonderful. In past tapes SB has thrown out a few pointers, but working out in detail the rhythm and accompaniment for couple songs would be helpful. Girl from the North County seems a popular choice, for example, but perhaps also on a more bluegrassy number as well. Also, tips on improvisation and working up breaks for songs would be useful.

Thanks again!

**MnRoss** · Apr-02-2010, 12:01pm

Another angle might be this. Sam has so many great mando breaks on other peoples albums ie. fiddle tune or bluegrass standard breaks. Coming to my mind would be his Mando breaks on standard fiddle tunes some of these albums by Blain Sprouse, Abruy Haney, Bobby Hicks, Alan Munde Mark O'Conner, Butch Robbins the list is to vast. His version of Turkey in the Straw, ArkTraveler, Sally Johnson and many others are always outstanding breaks and over the years have taught me a lot about Sams style for fiddle tune mando breaks. Opening up my playing and jamming skills like no other player has done for me. Sam just plays the best fiddle tune mando breaks of anyone out there..