Back to Forum
Oldest First
Newest First
are there any of you out there? i picked it up about 5 or 6 years ago, it's good fun. the difference from learning guitar was that i really didn't have anyone to talk to or bounce ideas off of.. still don't. who else picks? let's shoot the shit. i have a Fender FM62SE, it's not great, but it gets the job done and the action is great.
Score: 0
I started picking it up last year. I got an A-style Kentucky KM160 with the honey amber finish and f-sound holes. It's a respectable beginner's mando. Sounds great to me, but I'm no expert. Wasn't too hard for me to make the transition from guitar because I use a lot of alternate tunings anyways, so I was able to just start jamming by ear on the first day. From there I learned the basic open chords and got my head around the modes and scales by simply thinking of it as an upside down guitar neck. Probably also helped that my first instrument was a violin.
One thing I've learned: it's a delicate instrument and it feels like it's going to break, but it sounds a lot better when you WAIL on it!
The action on my Kentucky feels alright, it's currently about as low as it can get without buzzing. I am amazed at how my L. hand seems to get tired faster when playing mando vs guitar. Probably because of the smaller fretboard and the fact that each finger has to fret 2 strings instead of one.
On the other hand, it's a lot more convenient to carry around lots and campgrounds than a dreadnought!
Sooner or later I will have to get a pickup system so I can play along with a drummer, and use some guitar fx.
Score: 0
Just got one for Christmas, I've been playing guitar for 19 years so it's been fairly easy to play some things but I'm a LONG way from being good at it. Found a lot of good lessons on YouTube. Learning the mando classic Salt Creek now. It's definitely a lot of fun.
Score: 0
Have you heard the Chris Thile / Michael Daves album? It's ridiculous how good those guys are.. And yeah, the harder you play the better, I just wish stores around here sold single strings...
Score: 0
Have not heard, but will check out. It's humbling to hear how blazingly fast and precise some mando players are.
Score: 0
If Sam Bush plays near you, GO! I saw him last year and it was a top ten concert experience.
Score: 1
I must started playing a few years back. Landed a Washburn a style for 60 bucks and it sounds great. Have most of the chords down and now trying to play Jeff Austin quick.....it's not easy!
Score: 0
@rich0504 he cheats a lot with hammer-ons / pull-offs, but he's still pretty damn quick...and he's a HUGE phish fan, so... if you're reading this Jeff, no offense intended, still really dig your playing. (and thanks for the Green Day cover at Penn's Peak)
Score: 0
The author has chosen to remove all text from this comment.
Score: 0
I play a ill bit! It is a LOT of fun and while I'm still a very novice player, I really enjoy it. Grass is my shizz.
Score: 0
Good morning .net pickers, I'm going to try to learn a song or two on my mandolin today. I'm thinking Uncle Pen (the orig. Bill Monroe version, not the phish version with the increased tempo and extra bits, I'll work up to that). Found 3 tabs for it and all are different. I'm going to work on my own transcription using these as a starting point.What other bluegrass songs would you suggest that are fun to play on a mando, and not TOO hard? (Intermediate is OK I guess). Are there any that you would consider mandatory for any bluegrass player?
thanks
Score: 1
I have been playing about 6 years and recently upgraded to a Gibson A style. I mostly play traditional fiddle tunes but I'm currently working on improving my rhythm playing and improvisation. In case any new players haven't heard of these, here are some links to some great resources for mandolin. An amazing library of tab at Mandozine Mandolin cafe
Score: 0
@feralchild, are we talking solo mandolin? that's a tough order, mando's are much better with other accompaniment (my opinion)..either way, Long Journey Home and Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms are real easy once you get the chuck-picking down...
Score: 0
@goatsticks, yeah I've noticed that too, a lot of bluegrass songs, when I hone in on the mandolin part, the guy is hitting chords on the downbeat or just mute strumming rhythm (until the solo comes up). Seems like the mando player helps keep time in string-only bluegrass, since there's no drummer. But yeah, I'm looking for songs where the mandolin takes the lead melody... Really, anything that will exercise my fingers and force me to get better acquainted with the fretboard, would be helpful. But it has to be fun, or I likely won't have the discipline to take the time to learn it. (i rack disciprine).
Bill Monroe's version of Uncle Pen has a fiddle playing the melody, but I'm already starting to get it on mandolin. Since the strings are tuned the same, I think just about any fiddle part could be translated to mandolin. Maybe I should start looking at fiddle parts...?
Score: 0
there's a piece that Chris Thile plays with this 9-year old girl (who I believe wrote the music) at some coffeeshop in Austin, can't embed, but here's the urlwww.youtube.com/watch?v=3St1CoH1rKU
Score: 1
good god... this supports my theory that all the great bluegrass players have been doing it since before they could walk. inspiring, and humbling. nice melody, I think I'll give it a shot! thanks for the link. always helps to have video of the left hand.
Score: 0
some inspiration to keep picking. It picks up a little past the 2 min mark.
