Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

"grassing alternative songs"

I’m interested in a few songs that are out of the bluegrass genre, that i’d like to “grass up” is there a formula for this?

regards Ron

When changing the genre of a song the possibilities and methods are wide open…use your imagination and create the sound you want.

There are about a million examples of this type of conversion on Youtube, so you might poke around there to get some ideas.

Just changing the instrumentation to bluegrass instruments goes a long way toward changing the sound. Speeding up to typical bluegrass tempos also helps, but ultimatley I think the chord progression determines how “bluegrassy” a song can sound.

I suggest these for inspiration:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzPPmuFUicc&feature=related[/video]
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOmqpkbaYAE&feature=related[/video]

Where’s the dang “like” button at? :smiley:

I wasn’t expecting too much on the Metallica vids, but that was really well done. I didn’t think that was possible.

Good find Mike!

Metallica! Better than the original! I love it!

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

— Begin quote from "mreisz"

I suggest these for inspiration:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzPPmuFUicc&feature=related[/video]
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOmqpkbaYAE&feature=related[/video]

— End quote

Don’t forget these…

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPbhoMEwpDA[/video]
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrFnILfaPo4&feature=related[/video]

Good stuff, impresario! Really like the Green Day one.

Hmmm… I wonder how Blackfoots “Highway Song” would sound?

When I come around is awesome! Iris is good too.

“Hayseed Dixie” is likewise another popular one that converted some songs to “bluegrass”, check out Hayseed’s version of “Roses”, weirdest one I ever heard.

Now for one of my personal favorites from Iron Horse that I do with my daughter as she liked the original by “Modest Mouse”, name of the song is “Trailer Trash”.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZYgsMXHY_w[/video]

My daughter and I actually done this next one in front of a crowd of maybe 120 folks and the rest of the band members liked it so much that we decided to make it a part of our “normal songs”. Look up the original version from “Bjorn” to get the idea of what it sounded like before. Luckily we had a female that played with us and would sing the female part when we would play for a crowd.

Oldhat

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh_8j8k39y0[/video]

How are they doing that Green Day song? Is it F, C, G and D.

Then the little bridge “No time to search the world around, 'cause you know where I’ll be found”, are they just riding the “G” 'till right at the end where they play a “D”. I think they’re slipping a “C” in there on me. :smiley:

— Begin quote from "TNTaylor414"

How are they doing that Green Day song? Is it F, C, G and D.

Then the little bridge “No time to search the world around, 'cause you know where I’ll be found”, are they just riding the “G” 'till right at the end where they play a “D”. I think they’re slipping a “C” in there on me. :smiley:

— End quote

Should go F-C-Dmin-Bb on the bridge use the Dmin also.

I suggest you Capo 3 and play it out of D and you will get the same triad inversions as they are/sounds as they are…so if you look at it once you capo 3 you will play: D- A - Bmin - G

Man, I need some of those ear hair trimmers. :confused: I wasn’t even close. How was I hearing a G for a Dmin? That’s bad.

Thanks Oldhat!

Let me know when y’all are ready for my solo on your next song. It might not be to the right chords, in the right place, or heck, even the same song! :laughing:

haha, that was funny Tntaylor!

Hey when you hear something that sounds like a mix of chords, always go and check out the “relative minor of your major” and check it out as it typically sounds a lot like a mixture of chords.

Remember your theory we discussed?.. is part of it. In G major as the Key your relative minor = Emin, In D the relative minor = Bmin, and in F it is Dmin, C is Amin.

Those relative minors to me can be explained as “twins” but not identical twins. A lot of songs may switch in the “relative minor” sometimes and if you do not play music (audience) they might not even notice to their ear that there is a different chord being played.

And back on the relative minor - it is always the “6th” of your major.

You were confusing the G with the Bb (b flat) and the D with the Dminor.

I will Pm ya my address so you can send me a check! :laughing:

The check is in the mail! :smiley:

I’m pretty sure I undersand what you’re saying. I really need to dig into some theory.

Easier = drop chord 3 frets and play minor = same as above.