Instruments
Long ago in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the fiddle and banjo were the go-to instruments for dances and at-home music making. In time, the guitar joined the fiddle and banjo in what became, and still is, the basic old-time string band configuration. In bluegrass music the mandolin joins the band, sometimes in place of the fiddle. In some settings, other instruments like the dulcimer, piano, and steel guitar play their own distinctive
Jam Session Etiquette
Mountain music jams can be found throughout the Blue Ridge, at coffeehouses, pubs, stores, festival grounds, and many other venues. Be sure to search our events calendar for jam sessions in your area.
Learning to Play
Traditional musicians in the North Carolina mountains and foothills often say that they learned “knee to knee” with their musical mentors. Rather than relying on sheet music, scales, and other methods of formal instruction, they learn by ear—by listening and watching, usually in a one-on-one setting with a more experienced musician. That method of learning is also found in group settings throughout the mountains. Whether you
Traditional Artist Directory
By visiting the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s Traditional Artist Directory, you can learn more about the lives and careers of many of the remarkable musicians mentioned on this site. The Traditional Artist Directory is also the place to learn about the region’s outstanding craftspeople—quilters, carvers, potters, blacksmiths, and many others—and the men and women who are carrying on mountain heritage in such
