Product Details

• Actors: Pete Wernick
• Directors: Happy Traum
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hal Leonard
• DVD Release Date: November 1, 2002
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007EMTA
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,057 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Instructional
  #21 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Other Music > Folk
  #79 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Independently Distributed

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great practice tool, May 20, 2006

By	Matthew F. Merta "Matt Merta" (Hamtramck, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This video is fantastic to say the least. For any bluegrass picker who wants to practice his chops before getting together with some "real" musicians, this is the video to get.

Hosted by former Hot Rize banjoist and International Bluegrass Music Association president Pete Wernick, he is joined by a number of well-respected musicians in the bluegrass field, each performing on one of the common bluegrass instruments, including guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, dobro, and fiddle. The ensemble performs 16 bluegrass standards in a "jam session" setting, with most of the performers taking a solo on a few of the songs. All of the songs also have parts that allow the viewer to solo while the band backs him/her up. Wernick also takes the time to explain jam session etiquette (something perhaps that should be covered a lot more with both introverted and self-righteous musicians), informing the viewer what is expected as far as tuning, solos and backing up, basic vocal harmonies (this writer believes that this cannot be covered enough), and the Number System.

If possible, secure the DVD version of this video, as there are a number of benefits. Varying the ANGLE function on the DVD player allows for two different views of the performances: the first being the ensemble performing, and the second being a close-up of the guitarist's fretting hand for easy visibility of the chord of the song that is currently being played. The menu of the DVD also allows for easier jumping around to the practice tunes and the instructions from Wernick.

A booklet is included that has the chord progressions and lyrics to all of the songs. Bluegrass jams are great ways for musicians to polish up on their skills, but a band is not always available at any given time. For the next best thing to having an actual band to practice with, this video comes highly recommended. It would also be great to see a follow-up to this video, be it more songs to jam with or a movement to more skilled jamming. (Matt Merta, The Bluegrass Journal)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good tool for those without live practice partners., January 5, 2005

By	Curtis N. Thetford "cthetford" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This video will take you through a good number of bluegrass standards at a reasonable pace to allow you to play along. There is some discussion of chord progressions, harmonization and things like that, but the intent of the video is really more to just give you something to play along with than to instruct. I am a beginning banjo player and need some other instructional materials before I'll really be able to play along with the video but I can at least work on listening for chord changes and things like that in the mean time.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really good basic Instruction, June 14, 2007

By	Al "Wildcat" (Kissimmee, Florida) - See all my reviews

This was a good instructional video for group playing. They included a pamplet with the songs/words/and cords, sure made it easy for me. The group is very easy to play with and a lot of fun. I have enjoyed the video and I feel it has really helped my timing and self confidence.