Dicho-That's a good basic definition but I think more is needed.Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley have done some great unaccompanied hymn tunes like "Daniel Prayed" which is a bluegrass gospel standard. Since they didn't used instruments does it mean that Doc's version wasn't bluegrass?
Going back to the high harmony part mentioned earlier in this thread. All the shape note books from William Walker's "Southern Harmony" in the early 1800's (1835) have melody sung below the high part called the counter part. I feel that these early hymn book are one source for the high tenor part in bluegrass. It has been sung this way for almost 200 years. Perhaps the Bluegrass style of singing really isn't anything new.
Since electric bass is still allowed in most bluegrass bands and competitions doesn't that go against webster's definition?
Or is it the music itself that is bluegrass? Flatt and Scruggs and others have done alot of cross-over stuff. There's even a bluegrass group that does covers of AC/DC.
Comments anyone?