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The PineCone Beginners Bluegrass Jam is open to all musicians and participants of all ages and abilities, not only beginners! It is a learning jam, though, to help those who are still learning the basics of bluegrass music and playing with other musicians.This is a great opportunity for participants to learn basic jam etiquette before jumping into a traditional jam, and for more experienced musicians to welcome newer players into the bluegrass jam scene. As always, jammers have the option of breaking off into smaller groups to practice what you’ve been learning. 

Standard bluegrass instruments are acoustic fiddle (violin), mandolin, guitar, 5-string banjo, upright bass, and Dobro (or resophonic slide guitar); string players who play other instruments such as viola, cello, ukulele, bass guitar, dulcimer and more are also welcome. Even if you don’t play an instrument, you can always come sing along! Everyone is always welcome, and the more people come, the more fun every jam is. Jams are made up of the people who come, and each person always has something different to contribute. Even for participants who don’t know much about bluegrass, it’s a great way to dip a toe in collaborating by ear!

Participants can also review past songs and ask questions about any songs that you want to improve. And for our longtime participants, we hope this year you’ll also try playing at some of PineCone’s other jams, like the PineCone Bluegrass Jam at Imurj in Raleigh or the Americana/Bluegrass/Old-Time Jam at The Blue Note Grill in Durham, both of which welcome musicians of all skill levels and have breakout space for different players. The jam facilitator and some of the regulars look forward to seeing new faces at these jams – and you’ll probably surprise yourself!

Have a new song to suggest, or looking for copies of past handouts? Contact Jef! And check out the newly compiled chord & lyric handouts from 2016-2019!

Participants are also welcome to bring a song or two that you might be able to lead or share with the group, but this is not required.

Here is a sample list of songs played at past learning jams:

• Salty Dog Blues
• I’m On My Way Back to the Old Home
• Big Sciota
• White Dove
• Blue Ridge Cabin Home
• Turkey in the Straw
• Banks of the Ohio
• How Mountain Girls Can Love
• Gold Rush
• Love of the Mountains
• Shady Grove
• All the Good Times are Past and Gone
• Letter from My Darling
• The Clinch Mountain Backstep
• Little Cabin Home on the Hill
• Little Maggie
• Love Please Come Home
• The Old Home Place
• Tennessee Waltz
• Devil’s Dream
• Wagon Wheel
• Old Joe Clark
• Nine Pound Hammer
• My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
• In the Pines
• Amazing Grace
• Whiskey Before Breakfast
• Ashokan Farewell
• Salt Creek
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken
• Soldier’s Joy
• Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms
• I’ll Fly Away
• Angeline the Baker
• Blue Moon of Kentucky
• Big Sandy River
• Down the Road
• St. Anne’s Reel
• Auld Lang Syne
• Jingle Bells

Facilitator Jef Walter is a local musician who plays with Hank Smith & the Beer & Banjos All-Stars (every Tuesday at The Raleigh Times Bar) and other groups; he also mentors The Carolina PineCones youth bluegrass band. Sam Stage plays fiddle and sings with The Carolina PineCones.