Genres: Bluegrass

Bluegrass is a genre of country music that emerged from Appalachia in the 1940s as a faster, more complex take on traditional string band music. Listen to the songs that have helped define this rich, and surprisingly diverse, musical tradition.

The bluegrass tradition is full of the hardest, fastest, most foot-stomping tunes ever to emerge from an acoustic axe. From the old-school icons to the newgrass torch-carriers, these bluegrass shredders let their fingers do the talking.

Some of the heaviest hitters ever to hoist a bluegrass axe, from the old school (Bill Monroe) to the new crew (Chris Thile).

What's the difference between a fiddler and a violinist? Fiddlers have more fun! Savor the sawin' and choppin' sounds of these virtuosic and legendary bluegrass fiddle masters.

Bluegrass has a romantic streak a mile wide, with songs of heartbreak, infatuation, or any state in between. Listen to bluegrass's finest pour out their hearts.

When a new generation of bluegrass players started tweaking the traditional template, incorporating folk, rock, jazz, world music and more, Newgrass was born. Enjoy the evolution of this rule-breaking sound through the decades.

If you're looking for the perfect pick-me-up to rouse you from your slumber, you can't do better than a bluegrass wake-up call. From the old-school legends to the Newgrass hotshots, these perky tunes'll give your morning a speedy start.

Strictly adhering to its heritage, traditional bluegrass is music performed in the style of the genre's founding father Bill Monroe -- that is, fast tempos, tight harmonies, and virtuosic banjo, mandolin, and fiddle playing.

This four-day festival in Telluride, CO brings together popular and upcoming bluegrass acts as well as some crossover artists. This playlist should prepare you for "acoustic adventures at 8,750 feet," whether you're headed to the Rockies or not.