By Jon Peik

February’s first-Tuesday facilitated Beginner Bluegrass Jam will meet Tuesday, 3/2/10 from 7:30-9:00pm at:

The Germania parlor area (youth friendly) of The Up North Bar, 514 E Wilson St. Madison, near the Essen Haus at the corner of Blair and Wilson streets. There’s plenty of free parking behind the Essen Haus.

Formal instruction and facilitation will run from approximately 7:30-8:30pm (as soon as I get there after my lessons at Spruce Tree Music)

The Jam is sponsored by the Southern Wisconsin Bluegrass Music Association. A $5 donation is requested, but not required. Check out www.swbmai.org for all things bluegrass in Wisconsin!

This month we will focus on the key of A. So bring your capo if you’d like. We’ll work from the following list to get us started and probably also go around the circle with song suggestions from you (in any key).

Take Me Back to Tulsa, key of A, (2 chords, A, E)
My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mts, key of A, (2 chords, A, E)
You are My Sunshine, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
Foggy Mountain Top, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
Crawdad Song, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
Long Journey Home, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
Nine lb Hammer, key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)
Cripple Creek, key of A, instrumental (3 chords, A, D, E)
Amazing Grace -key of A (3 chords, A, D, & E)

The jam exists to encourage beginning bluegrass players and to help each other learn. The goal is to enjoy playing music together.