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SESSION 7, Part 1: Thomas Goldsmith Interview

This lesson is part of the course Earl Scruggs: A Player's Guide with Bill Evans.
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Earl Scruggs: A Player’s Guide picks up where Earl’s renowned instruction book Earl Scruggs and the Five-String Banjo leaves off, teaching tunes and techniques that will help each student become a more complete Scruggs-style player.
 
 
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SESSION 7: Special Guest Thomas Goldsmith, Earl’s fiddle tune backup, and “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”
 

After his interview with Thomas Goldsmith, Bill turns to Earl’s banjo-and-fiddle duet accompaniment style, analyzing “Grey Eagle” from a 1950s radio broadcast with fiddler Benny Martin and “Fiddle and Banjo (Stoney Point)” with fiddler Paul Warren, from Flatt and Scruggs’s December 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Bill also takes a look at “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” (also known as “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”) from Flatt and Scruggs’s 1963 Vanderbilt University concert in Nashville, discussing Earl’s solo and analyzing the different backup approaches Earl uses throughout the song.

 
 
 
The Earl Scruggs: A Player's Guide Subscription Includes:
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  • Analysis and instruction for many classic Earl Scruggs tunes
  • Complete tunes as well as lessons on licks for lead and backup
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SESSION 7: Special Guest Thomas Goldsmith, Earl’s fiddle tune backup, and “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”  
 
SESSION 7: Special Guest Thomas Goldsmith, Earl’s fiddle tune backup, and “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”  
 
SESSION 7, Part 1: Thomas Goldsmith Interview
SESSION 7, Part 1: Thomas Goldsmith Interview
 

In this session, Bill is joined live by Thomas Goldsmith, the author of Earl Scruggs and Foggy Mountain Breakdown: The Making of an American Icon. Bill explores with Thomas his research for the book, his relationship with Earl and the Scruggs family, Earl’s early life and influences, and much more.

 

After his interview with Thomas Goldsmith, Bill turns to Earl’s banjo-and-fiddle duet accompaniment style, analyzing “Grey Eagle” from a 1950s radio broadcast with fiddler Benny Martin and “Fiddle and Banjo (Stoney Point)” with fiddler Paul Warren, from Flatt and Scruggs’s December 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Bill also takes a look at “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” (also known as “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains”) from Flatt and Scruggs’s 1963 Vanderbilt University concert in Nashville, discussing Earl’s solo and analyzing the different backup approaches Earl uses throughout the song.

 

Listening Assignment:

“Grey Eagle,” WSM Martha White radio show, 1953 

“Fiddle & Banjo (Stoney Point),” December 8, 1962 live at Carnegie Hall

“Across The Blue Ridge Mountains,” July  1, 1964 live at Vanderbilt University

Listen to how Earl’s backup changes throughout the song in relationship to the other musicians and to what’s happening in the performance.


  “Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” Tab (Available to subscribers)
 
  “Fiddle and Banjo (Stoney Point)” Tab (Available to subscribers)
 
  “Grey Eagle” Tab (Available to subscribers)
 
 
 
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    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
 
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