Folk String Quartet

Subject: RE: Folk String Quartet
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 09:12 AM

I have to say the re-stringing with fat strings was basically my mistake. When I tuned it A D G C (top down) the strings were so tight I couldn't play it. So I tuned it down until the strings were slack enough to allow me to fret clearly. This mornong I settled on D G C F. This means I play most tunes in C. I could capo to D.

I probably wont stick with this and will some sensible gage strings again and go back to A D G C.

In the meantime I really like the big bassy notes and as I tend to play alone or with a guitarist and sometimes a Bodran player the keys don't matter. I guess it would be nice to have 2 Mandolas and play in a range of pitches and keys.

Subject: RE: Folk String Quartet
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 10:03 PM

Les - I started off playing Jazz before I found Folk so I can improvise round a melody line fairly easily. but for sessions its a
lot easier if you can learn the standard tunes first. If your mandola
is FIVE semitones low you have a serious problem with playing in normal session keys ( D and G for most tunes) Do you capo it up at all ?? I am intrigued !!

Subject: RE: Folk String Quartet
From: GUEST,Les in Chorlton
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 01:24 PM

I think I have seen such South American bands in France doing those kinds of things, they sound great.

I don't want to knock people in sessions mostly all playing the tune. That's quite difficult and I only wish I could do it. But, I have this suspician that a bit more variety in terms of pitch and bits of tunes and a bit slower might sound ok. Brass bands etc. do it all the time.

The question is do you need to be a sight reader or do you need to be an ace improviser in order to contibute?

Subject: RE: Folk String Quartet
From: Leadfingers
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 12:14 PM

Les, back in the good old days the trio I was in at the time was booked to a festival at which one of the South American Pan Pipe bands was also booked. At one of the venues they played walking ROUND
us as we stood in the middle of the tent. I was intrigued to notice that NONE of them actually played the whole tune but all seemed to be playing short phrases, the over all effect being a continuous melody.
So its been done before, but could be a bit of a sod to rehearse.

Subject: Folk String Quartet
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 31 Dec 03 - 07:58 AM

Some of the responses to my thread about the accoustic bass guitar (ABG) have awakened another thought.

A number of people have welcomed the idea in general, but also pointed to the possibility of people playing together and not all playing the same tune. Whilst this is hardly new, and most sight readers could do it any time, most of us buskers would find it bit difficult.

I recently fitted very fat strings to my Mandola. As a result I had to tune it down 5 semitones. This makes quite a different instrument. Good low notes but not as quick and bright. Hopw effective is it to mplay half the notes in a tune whilst letting somebody with a higher pitched instrument play the whole tune?

I called this thread Folk String Quartet, I have no raeson to suggest exclusivity, reeds and whatever could fit the bill?