Hi I have a friend who plays the mandolin. He plays bluegrass most of the time and I have listened to some of the CDs he has and quite liked it. The thing is he has invited me to go along to some of his impro sessions but I wonder if it would be difficult for me to play Bluegrass when Ive been "classically"( I hate saying that) trained.
Has anyone ever played bluegrass?
xxx

Yeah, I like bluegrass music. In the teacher's forum, I posted a new topic about good books with country, folk and bluegrass music, so you could have a look on there.

Around the country and in most folk clubs, country, folk and blue grass is largely regarded as an aural tradition. If you find it hard to pick up tunes 'by ear' and i think this likely if you are classically trained can i suggest one of the standards in 'Traditional Dance Music'.

'The Fiddler's Tune Book' by Peter Kennedy.
(Containing 200 traditional Airs,hornpipes,reels,schottisches,polkas,waltzes and jigs.)

This book is a good source of the more common tunes played in folk clubs around the country. Published by Dave Mallinson Publications. ISBN 1899512144

When i went to my first folk club many years ago, fiddle in hand i found this book really useful in helping me play some of the faster reels and jigs that i could'nt hear due to the speed at which they were being played by the regulars.