If you want to become a picker, this is invaluable.

It’s a 36-page paperback called “Backpocket Bluegrass Song Book,” published recently by Wayne Erbsen, local musician, music historian, radio host and businessman.

“Backpocket Bluegrass” contains music, lyrics and anecdotal information of 27 songs, including time-honored standards such as “Wildwood Flower” and “Rolling in my Sweet Baby’s Arms.”

Included also is “Long Lonesome Road,” the first tune recorded by Bill Monroe, regarded by many as father of the genre. Another standout is “East Virginia,” a ballad covered by many, including Joan Baez.

Erbsen, a California native who moved to Western North Carolina in the late 1970s out of love for original mountain music, hosts the “Country Roots” radio show at 7 p.m. Sundays on WCQS-FM (88.1).

Recently, he noted — on-air — that to become a full-fledged troubadour what’s needed in the repertoire is at least one murder ballad. In “Backpocket Bluegrass” is a classic, “The Banks of the Ohio.” It’s the saga of a jilted lover who hurls his antagonist into the wide river then watches her as she floats down.

Adorning many of the pages are photos of the artist or artists that Ersbsen acquired through various sources the Library of Congress included and above each song are motivating adjectives such as “lively,” “dismally” and “flat-out.”

Included in the book is a fundamental guitar chord chart and Erbsen, who taught American History for two years, offers lessons in not only on guitar but in manddolin, fiddle and banjo through Native Ground Music, the small bluegrass business he heads.

Available there  (Nativeground.org) is “Backpocket Bluegrass” along with the other dozen or so books he’s published, one consisting solely of Civil War ballads while one of the others is all gospel.

He’s hosted his WCQS show as a volunteer the past 31 years. It is billed as the radio station’s longest-running show. On the show, occasionally Erbsen — or Erbsen and a friend, or Erbsen and several friends — will play live in the studio Several weeks ago, a friend of his came by with vintage recordings of the famed “Bristol Sessions” the 1927 recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, regarded by many as the birth of country music.

Generally the music for the show comes from Erbsen, who is reachable at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . He takes requests.