which Monroe tunes to learn?

[Martian]

I am not a builder, like the others here, but, have built 1, A model and 2, F's. I am by and large a banjo player, who decided he wanted a mando, and chose to make it. I have been playing maybe a year, but would like some suggestions on Monroe songs to learn,that may be considered " essential" to Bill's style. I do Wheel Hoss, and a couple others, and have worked through some Baldassari vids. It would be especially helpful, if the songs you suggest can be found in our tab library, thanks Mike

[sgarrity]

Bluegrass Stomp, Jerusalem Ridge, Bluegrass Breakdown, Old Dangerfield

[MediumMando5722]

Only one of his I know is Jerusalem Ridge.

[Andy B]

Monroe’s 1960s recording of “Paddy on the Turnpike” in G is a good one because it has a lot of classic Monroe techniques in it. It’s a good follow-up to “Wheel Hoss.” The 1950s recording of “Pike County Breakdown” is also a good A tune to learn, with lots of variations.

[doc holiday]

East Tennessee Blues, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Kentucky Mandolin from the Monroe/Watson sessions. Old Dangerfield, as mentioned. Big Mon. Paddy on the Turnpike is a great one.

[Mark Wilson]

Bluegrass Stomp, Jerusalem Ridge, Bluegrass Breakdown, Old Dangerfield

Good ones! Bluegrass Stomp and Jerusalem Ridge are my favorites.

Along with Southern Flavor, Gold Rush, Big Sciota, Watson's Blues and East Tennessee Blues

ETB is the BM tune I like to play most

Not sure if in MC tab library but all pretty accessible re tab on the internet.

[doc holiday]

Big Sciota is not a Monroe tune :-)

[Timbofood]

Big Mon, Monroe’s Hornpipe, Southern Flavor, Heavy Traffic Ahead...
Start anywhere! Learn the style, learn phrasing, learn right hand!
Don’t just learn to parrot a tune, learn the mechanics too. You will not be sorry you figured out how the right hand mechanics work for his sound, then it becomes built into your muscle memory a little and when you “dig for it” the hands know where to go.
I think my first one was “Monroe’s Hornpipe” (well, after Gold Rush) and I learned it in “G” only to find out that he did it in “A” to get the right lick in the b part!
I guess my point is to learn to hear, not read, how he did tunes even if you don’t do them note for note, you will start to understand how he does what he did.
Listen to the old stuff.
Bill didn’t use no tab, he heard it and felt it!

[ralph johansson]

The ones I play are Watson Blues (very freely), Crossing the Cumberlands (very freely), Jerusalem Ridge, and the Gold Rush.

[doc holiday]

Ashland Breakdown, Roanoke, Stoney Lonesome...

[Timbofood]

I LOVE Ashland breakdown! Never played it though! Better work on that!
Wheel Hoss is another seriously fun tune to play!!!
I like playing Roanoke but, for whatever reason, I never think of it when my band does a gig. Another thing to work on!

[Pittsburgh Bill]

The only Monroe tune I do is BLUE MOON OF KENTUCKY. I have not yet seen it mentioned by anyone.
Is this one of his iconic tunes or does it indicate that I am not a Grasser?
Serious question, I don't know.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hi - Maybe you could do what i've done - listen to as many as you can & choose the ones that appeal to you !. It's ok to have a list of ''must play'' Bill Monroe tunes,but if they don't appeal to you,than there's not much enjoyment in playing them.

Although i'm anything but a Monroe 'stylist',certain tunes really appeal to me - Northern White Clouds / Old Ebenezer Scrooge / Old Daingerfield / Goldrush / Southern Flavour - along with many of the solos that he played in an instrumental - 'Wheel Hoss' / 'Big Sandy River' just to name two.

The only one that i've steered clear of is '' Rawhide'' - it's been played so often,by so many mandolin players that,i don't think it needs my personal contribution,
Ivan

[AlanN]

Try some of these, in your style

[Denny Gies]

For me, Rawhide is the quintessential Monroe song. Only problem, for me, is it is a bear to play. Also, why not just learn the ones you like the most. Good luck.

[Timbofood]

Rawhide isn’t that hard to play but, playing it so it’s recognizable is a different animal!

[tmsweeney]

Jerusalem ridge, Road to Columbus, Old Dangerfield, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, Wheel Hoss

"Baker Plays Monroe" is a good place to start

working on "Northern White Clouds" - not recorded but some live recordings
"Monroe's Farewell to Long Hollow" - also not recorded but fairly easy

"East Tennessee Blues"is one I want to learn as well as "Ashland Breakdown"
I think I was asked to learn "Roanoke" so I have homework

Singing material is abundant, I mostly concentrate on instrumentals

[ralph johansson]

To my list I should add Kentucky Waltz (although some say it was written by Clyde Moody). I play it as part of a medley:Tennessee Waltz in F, Missouri Waltz in D, and Kentucky Waltz in Eb.

[T.D.Nydn]

Kentucky mandolin,,a great bluegrass tune...

[Mark Wilson]

Kentucky mandolin,,a great bluegrass tune...

It is! Fun tune to play. None of my guitar buddies want to learn it - I guess they think it's just for mandolin.
I get them back by not learning Wildwood Flower

[T.D.Nydn]

It is! Fun tune to play. None of my guitar buddies want to learn it - I guess they think it's just for mandolin.
I get them back by not learning Wildwood Flower

You know what Mark? I got the same problem!..what's with this tune and guitar players?

[UsuallyPickin]

Well …. start by learning all the tunes on Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe. You can listen to the different treatments K.B. and B.M. give the tunes and steal from both of them. Then take some time to learn as many of the less played tunes as you are able..... Old Daingerfield tops that list. R/

[Martian]

thank you so much everybody, I had forgotten I put this up, then deer season happened, and thought I had put in in another area. I am going to star by writing down all the songs, then see how many showed up on multi threads, ( old dangerfield was one) then look to our tab section, I so appreciate it.

[Timbofood]

So, did you get your first deer (Bow, I’m guessing) this season or is it muzzle load season first. I don’t hunt but do enjoy cooking venison from time to time.

[Martian]

So, did you get your first deer (Bow, I’m guessing) this season or is it muzzle load season first. I don’t hunt but do enjoy cooking venison from time to time.

yes I did, got 2 in one weekend and having slow cocked shanks tonight, thanks for asking