Fresh Air Grand Ole Opry At 100: Earl Scruggs & Loretta Lynn
Nov 28, 2025
Earl Scruggs, the legendary bluegrass banjo player, shares how he unexpectedly discovered his iconic three-finger picking style. He also reflects on touring with Bill Monroe and the formation of his own band, Flatt and Scruggs. Loretta Lynn, the celebrated country music star, discusses her songwriting journey, including the inspiration behind hits like 'The Pill' and her mentorship from Patsy Cline. Their heartfelt stories illuminate the rich history of the Grand Ole Opry as it celebrates its centenary.
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Three-Finger Roll As Musical Phrase
- Scruggs explains the three-finger roll as a repeating thumb-index-middle pattern that creates flow and fits syllables of the tune.
- He emphasizes alternating rolls to make melodies sing and suit both slow and up-tempo tunes.
Sudden Discovery Of A Signature Style
- Earl Scruggs discovered his three-finger banjo style while absent-mindedly picking in a front room and suddenly realized he was playing the pattern he uses today.
- He describes it like waking from a dream and finding the technique fully formed.
Breakthrough With Bill Monroe
- Joining Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys gave Scruggs immediate exposure because no one had heard his banjo style before.
- The novelty of his playing quickly caught the public's attention and helped define bluegrass sound.
