Every Tuesday night, the melodic sounds of bluegrass float through a north Abilene neighborhood as the members of Salt Kreek practice at Jimmie Taylor's home.

Sitting in on a rehearsal is like hanging out with the family after Sunday dinner. Everyone picks up his or her favorite instrument and starts playing, right there in the dining room.

Salt Kreek recently released a recording titled ''Iberis Cemetery Road'' and has three upcoming shows in Abilene. The band frequently performs in eastern Texas and near Dallas-Fort Worth, so the Abilene shows give local bluegrass fans a chance to hear the group's music live.

Three of the songs on ''Iberis,'' including the title track, were written by lead singer Roxanne Smith, with help from the rest of the band.

The rest of the songs are a mix of classic and traditional bluegrass songs, such as ''Lorena'' and ''Mr. Man in the Moon.''

During rehearsal, Smith, the only woman in the five-member group, starts the group off singing a song she wrote about her grandfather.

The lyrics draw an immediate picture of an old West Texas farmer: ''He had sweat stains on his Stetson, a worn-out Bible in his hand, he worked so hard to raise a family, a gift from God was my granddad.''

Taylor accompanies her on the mandolin, and Roxanne's husband, Floyd Smith, plays bass guitar. Joe Frazier on resonator guitar and Bill Burns on the fiddle complete the ensemble.

As they play, their fingers (and bow) fly over the strings as they pluck the sweet sound from each instrument. The fiddle almost weeps under the experienced hand of Burns.

''I think I first played bluegrass in 1946, 60 years ago, when I was 14 years old,'' he said.

Taylor took another road to Salt Kreek - he began playing rock 'n' roll on a bass guitar as a young man. Roxanne tried Southern gospel at first, but that didn't work.

''My voice never sounded right,'' she said. ''I was a little too bluegrass for them.''

Frazier builds his own guitars, using unusual wood to create a piece of art as much as a musical instrument. Floyd recently invested in a 5-string bass that he's still working on mastering.

But as varied as their backgrounds, the five come together to create a sound so sad at times, it could make a person weep.

''Most bluegrass songs sound sad - a sad song sounds downright pitiful,'' Burns said.

Salt Kreek (bluegrass)

Upcoming performances:

• 2 p.m. Saturday at Rose Park, South 7th Street and Mockingbird Lane

• 7-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson Park, Highway 36 and Loop 322

• 7 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Safari at the Abilene Zoo in Nelson Park

Of note: Salt Kreek's album ''Iberis Cemetery Road'' may be purchased at Hastings Books Music & Videos, 4654 S. 14th St.