"If you want to play fast, you've got to learn how to play slow!!" -- How true, how true, dear boromir!

Thanks mooman, for the relaxation emphasis -- I've got it pretty much down in my right hand, now that I've found a pic that I'm comfortable with. And my left hand is pretty relaxed, except when I try to go 'full speed' on Aidan's hornpipe. Obviously, I'm not ready for 'full' yet; so I'm going to bring it down a notch or two, and work on my technique and dynamics. It's just that I got so excited about being able to (a) memorize a whole song on my mando, and (b) play something faster than a slow waltz *BG*.

Willie-O -- I am blessed by being married to the son of a bluegrass playing family. My father-in-law chose my mandolin for me, buying it (for a really good price) from his brother, Dear Hubby's Uncle Bobby Joe, who is a mandolin player par excellence and mandolin collector. Needless to say, Uncle Bobby Joe made sure that my mando has great action and great strings, and all the bits and pieces are in perfect working order.

It's a Fender FM-52E acoustic/electric with a teardrop shape and F-style soundholes. I've been learning bluegrass and irish tunes on it, and it works great for both styles. Eventually, maybe in a year or two, I would like to get a Davey Stuart (strictly acoustic) mandolin to play my irish tunes on.

I sure hope that the other beginner mando-idiots are putting a tracer on this thread, 'cuz you all are giving us such wonderful advice and helpful hints!

Thanks to you all from all us 'newbies' *BG*, Áine