Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: cooperman
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 08:35 AM

Detergents will take the hard skin off the finger ends. That has got me out of the washing up for years!
Resisted marigolds by saying it might turn me into a rubber fetishist

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 06:36 AM

Yes RB... it is lovely little mando. I was asking for spare fingers to rest the burning tips of my current fingers. Still sore this morning.

Melissa - Really I can't wash dishes any more? Cool!

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 05:59 PM

VT - the thing about that mandolin is that it is tiny with a very short scale and narrow neck so you do not have to stress your damaged wrist.

Nick - many double bass players tape up their right hand fingers with surgical tape or endless elastoplast.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Nick
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 04:07 PM

Sorry to be clear as mud - thank you Richard.

Your fingers will get harder.

Now I don't recommend this to anyone...

I play bass in a rock band occasionally and play with my fingers rather than a pick usually. Probably because I don't play it that much in anger my right hand fingertips are not that hard as they are used to just fingerpicking a steel string. An evening of going for it on bass inevitably results in getting rid of most of the growth of nails of my index. middle and (slightly) ring fingers of right hand which I grow to fingerpick with (bummer!) and normally results in drawing blood on the middle finger tip (which I don't usually regret until the next day). But the resulting lump of scar tissue is still hard some weeks later.

As I said - NOT recommended.

And the urine thing is a myth apparently.

My son uses the excuse for not helping with the washing up as 'Joe Satriani and Steve Vai both say...' So we bought him a pair of Marigolds

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 01:38 PM

Got it.... Now that does make sense. I did not know it was counting.

Have to stop now as fingers are on fire. Besides Listen Against is on Radio 4.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 12:58 PM

Look, it's easy if you can count to 7.

Just count up to the fret.

Bottom course open (=0) G
First fret (=1) G#
And so on

Next string similarly

So the unresolved A chord I am using
(second fret on G string, second fret on D string, open A, open E - ie the chord is AEAE) is depicted by the fret number of the note on each string

Hence 2200

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 12:47 PM

Arrrghhhh

You are losing me. I am numerically challenged.

Just fret numbers from lowest to highest strings (so 2002 is a D chord and 0523 is a G chord etc)....

A   6200 or 9745   or 2245

A5 (power chord) 2200

A7   6500   or 6540 or 2540

Am   5200 or 2235


Somebody draw me a picture please or point me to website with diagrams that explain the numbering system.

I am practising G and A scales (lower and upper). Can now do the fiddler's shuffle pattern.

Richard Bridge... you got any spare fingers to loan me that fit this mandolin of yours?

I am afraid to stop practising for fear I will forget what I have learned.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 12:10 PM

I'm with Wesley - 2200 - so the mandolin is used to that and I like the ambiguity that it is neither a major nor minor.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Cluin
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 12:09 PM

A   6200 or 9745   or 2245

A5 (power chord) 2200

A7   6500   or 6540 or 2540

Am   5200 or 2235

Lots of possibilities going up and down the neck. All are reacheable with a bit of practice. That's the nice thing about a mandolin. Learn the scales, where the notes are and what notes make up what chords. Then experiment and come up with your own arrangements for improvisation.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Melissa
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:50 AM

if you keep from doing wet-hand tasks (like washing dishes, bathing, etc) for a spell before and after playing, they'll get tougher faster/easier.

You've probably already learned that, but it's something I've never seen mentioned as a 'tip' anywhere so I thought I'd throw it in here.

There's an online set of midi at a site called Hetzler Homestead (it's the fakebook section, I think) and the player they recommend is very good for helping get tunes into your fingers..it has a slow-down button and a key-change thingy.

Hammers and slides sure can give fingers split ends!

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:41 AM

wesley is right,its actually a modal [it will work for both major and minor] and its easy.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:34 AM

learning hammers and slides on Boil That Cabbage Down

fingers are killing me

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Melissa
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:26 AM

If you fret with your fingertips (not bar) your callouses will be where you want them when you're ready to take off and play like a wildcat.

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Nick
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:21 AM

Sorry it wasn't clear. That was 6th fret on G string and 7th fret on D string

Just fret numbers from lowest to highest strings (so 2002 is a D chord and 0523 is a G chord etc)

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:10 AM

Woot! Found it at the Mandolin Cafe..

Thanks Melissa

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Zen
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:09 AM

That's index finger on the lowest (G) string, second fret, and second finger on the second lowest (D) string, also second fret.

As Wesley says, serves as both A and Aminor.

Zen

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Melissa
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:07 AM

Virginia,
There are two-finger chord charts online. I think I found them by searching 'two-finger mandolin chord chart'

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Zen
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:06 AM

I usually play it like Wesley and that version has served me well for 40 years now. It's probably best to stick with the easier options while learning.

Zen

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 11:04 AM

Thanks Richie that is easier though still a bit of a stretch.

Nick what is 6700 and 6740?

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Nick
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 10:49 AM

Try 6700 or 6740 both sound ok and are easier

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Richie
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 10:41 AM

The other easy way (not a bar) that sounds better than the playing the 3rd and 4th string at the 2nd fret is:

1st finger on E (2nd fret 3rd string)
3rd finger on c# (6th fret 4th string)

At least you can tell it's an A chord. The reach really isn't hard.

Richie

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 10:40 AM

ouch... that is too technical for me. I'm only just learning.

Guy on the video shows it as 1st finger on D and G 2nd fret, ring finger on A 4th fret, and little finger on E at 5th fret. Very difficult.

So where /how do I place fingers for the 2 fingered G thing?

Subject: RE: Mandolin A chord / is there an easier wa
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 10:30 AM

How are you doing it now? The easiest for me is to fret the two lowest sets of strings { the D and G strings } on the second fret. It can be used for a minor chord too sine the only two notes are A and E. The second easiest is to play a two fingered G chord and play it as a barr chord on the second fret.

Subject: Mandolin A chord / is there easier way
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 10:22 AM

Can't get my finger into comfortable position to do A chord on the mandolin. Is there a cheat chord fingering that isn't such a killer?