Gonna get a Mandolin

Subject: Gonna get a Mandolin
From:
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 04:06 PM

I've finially decided: I'VE GOTTA LEARN TO PLAY SOMETHING! Anyway, I called up a music store (homestead pickn pallor for those in MN) and scheduled a lesson.

My idea is that I'll go in about an hour before the lesson, and select an insterment, and buy it. A first lesson would then teach me to string and tune it (well, this is up to the instructor I guess)

So, fellow mudcatters, is that a workable plan? And what other advice would you give a rank beginner?

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 04:17 PM

Whoa, Hank...

1. Is the mando what you want to play? Teeny fingerboard, need agility.

2. Do you want to play in a group? Mando not that great by itself.

3. Music store will loan (rent) you instruments to learn on.

4. A good music store will let you play everthing they've got - to your heart's content.

5. What kind of music do you like - want to play?

There are many other considerations - perhaps you've thought it out already and decided. Don't pay a lot for a new instrument, though, until you're convinced that's what's best for you. Some say it takes years to find the right instrument. I don't agree, but I do think it's better to go slow, find out what sounds good (and why), discuss options with your friends. A good music will be a great help and will not pressure you.

Well, there's my $0.02. I'm sure the Mudcat mavens will all chime in too.

Good lock.....Tiger

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Hank
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 04:56 PM

Good points. I pick the mandolin cause everyone seems to play the guitar (following the crowd is fine once in a while, but I know too many guitar players), I heard someone playing it in a group and I could listen to that sound for a long time. Finially, I want something to sign along with, which might not be a strong point.

As for what I want to play, I love bluegrass, celtic, and other tarditional. I don't want to play jazz or blues or rock.

I have very small fingers for a guy. (smaller then many girls.) I'm hoping I can learn the agility.

Once I'm compitent on one insterment I'll consider learning something else. I consider the mando a jumping off point, and they aren't that expensive new, on the cheeper models.

And thanks for the luck, I'll need some. This is a leap, but I've realised that I can't stand around knowing where the edge is, and what is at the bottom without going there.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Bill Cameron
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 04:59 PM

Hank, mandolin is an excellent choice for a first instrument. And I like your decisive strategy. Only thing I'd suggest you do differently is, pick a likely-looking pork chop --bluegrass nickname for mandolin--(in your price range--I'd suggest $200-300, probably not less) ask to borrow it seeing as you're staying on the premises, and ask your teacher's opinion of it before you buy. (Out of earshot of the sales floor.) It's quite possible to get a good playable one inexpensively, but there is also a lot of unplayable, untunable junk in the lower price ranges. I've been playing an $85 mandolin as my main 8-string since 1989, and its done me great service. Not that I don't covet a Gibson...

Mandos have a lot of advantages: highly portable & durable, not too difficult to learn, excellent for fiddle tunes in many different styles--Celtic, bluegrass, old-time--there's rarely too many of them at a session or jam, and nobody makes jokes about them. The small fingerboard flummoxes many people, but it means lots of notes within your reach.

Tuning them is a bit tricky, but not too bad. I have a theory which I intend to try sometime that a 4-string mando (removing one of each pair) would be an ideal kids starter instrument, easier to finger and tune than the standard 8.

Plus, once you learn mandolin fingering, you can try picking up fiddle, or larger members of the mandolin family, to get a different sound without starting from zero. Go For It!

Bill Plunking Away in the North Woods Despite an Uncertain Future.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 05:06 PM

Not much to add to the above but hearing what you say Hank, you could think about a Irish bouzouki or a mandola. It would give you the advantage of being able to play chords and sing plus being able to play the tunes.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Bill Cameron
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 05:20 PM

Well my _other_ (functional) 8 string is a mandola and I love it dearly, but it's difficult to play in sessions, since being tuned a fifth low, I have to play everything in unaccustomed fingerings...and there's a tendency to run out of fingerboard.

It is great fun to play solo, or as an accompanying instrument when the key suits. (Yes, you can capo them, I just don't like the sound of this one when capoed.)

An octave mandolin would give you the best of both worlds.

Bill Still poking the keyboard even though I should be making supper before my better half gets home....

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Jon W.
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 05:22 PM

I attempted for a week or two to self teach on mandolin. When I got to the chords, I found them more difficult to reach than guitar chords. On guitar, the fingers usually cover just 2 or 3 frets for the common chords, but on mandolin, they have to stretch over five frets if I remember right. So even though the neck is short, the reach is still quite a bit. Plus those double strings are going to hurt your fingers for a while. Don't let me discourage you though, go for it. The world needs more mandolin players.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 05:38 PM

Hank this may help as it can be a confusing subject. HERE

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From:
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 07:36 PM

Hank, I think that the fact that you like the sound of it is very important. The physical problems are there to be overcome; but you are going to put a lot of slogging into learning to play, and it is hard to keep up if you are indifferent to the instrument.

Murray

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Snookums
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 07:55 PM

Hank-

Good luck- Since I am primarily a mando player, I think you are making an excellent choice. Key thing is don't give up. It takes a while to become good at anything. I agree with trying out several different mandos. Epiphone and Montanna make cheap, good sounding mandolins with adjustable bridges. I am also impressed with the Tacoma mando that's out now. Don't let the chording scare you off. You can play alot of songs with 2-3 finger chords and sound not too bad. The nice thing about the mando, is it's easy to transpose. If you want to play in a different key, just go up or down 1 set of strings and you're there.

Again, good luck Snookums

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Einnor
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 07:57 PM

I am by far the most fortunate mandolin owner/picker in the world today barring none. I found a 1956 EM150 Gibson while visiting family in PA. I founnd a great book with tabs and pick an hour a day and another hour before bed. While sleeping I think of tunes to figure out the next day. Yes I have a bad case of mandolin fever and I hope it's terminal. I'm up here in the tall timber of the frozen north too Bill. Einnor.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: DonMeixner
Date: 09 Nov 98 - 11:27 PM

In my experience there are no Student Prince model mandolins. That is to say nothing of any quality is gonna be very inexpensive. Try out Elderly instruments fo good used and affordable instruments. Try a FlatIron "A" Model. Kentucky makes a good looking but harder to play "F" model if you are the Bill Monroe type. There are other good brands around I'm sure. Flat Iron is the one that comes to mind that is a little more affordable and still very playable..

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Frank in the swamps
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 02:12 AM

Well Hank, if you're standing on the edge, and for some incomprehensible reason you wanna hit rock bottom, playing music definately can get you there.

Won't offer any advice, just relate an anecdote...

I heard some old jazz musician being interviewed on the radio one time talking about Joe Venuti,of the great jazz duet of Joe Venuti(violin) and Eddie DeLang(guitar). Venuti supposedly told him that he and Eddie decided (as young boys) to become musicians, and furthermore, that they would form a duet of violin/guitar. They both saved up enough to buy the two instruments, went to the music store, got 'em, and then flipped a coin to see who would play what!

I don't know if it's the truth, but I think it's a great story.

Frank i.t.s.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: FIDDLER MIKE
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 09:08 AM

Hank

I just bought a new Fender Mando ($285.00) it will play with the best, good sound and lots of volume. I think fender only makes two modles one electric one acoustic and I don't know if they're all good or I just got lucky with this one.

In addition to all the other good advice, I would suggest that a couple months after you buy an instrument, take it to a professional and have it setup properly. Even an inexpensive instrument can be a joy to play if it plays easy.

Good luck Mike T.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: takeo
Date: 10 Nov 98 - 09:59 PM

last week i bought my own flat mandolin branded as kentucky, the maker is saga instruments CA. and i loved it very much. though i can play few chords now but the unique clear sound of mandolin make me feel so exiting. lets start practicing together, hank! this week i heared many time of bill monroe's 'bluegrass instrumental' album from mca records. if you dont have i recommend this. -takeo

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Hank
Date: 11 Nov 98 - 10:00 AM

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'll do the right thing now, and I I'm at least not on the wrong track.

And takeo, practicing togather sounds like a good idea. It is often hard to practice as much as you want unless you keep a schedual. ("Sorry I can't go to the store, I got practice" gets respect whereas "but I need to practice" doesn't. The difference is the latter is seen as something you can do anytime but now, whereas the former is a commitment.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Snookums
Date: 11 Nov 98 - 07:09 PM

Hank, Practice with a Mando is an obsession- it starts out slowly. You're sitting there watching TV, it's a commercial break, the Mando is just sitting there. It's so easy to just pick it up and play with it, just for a couple of minutes, you try to play softly so as not to alienate your family. It just grows and grows. Pretty soon, you're attempting to play along with all of the background music, you play a little louder so you can hear yourself.

I actually had an aquaintance who's girlfriend left him because of his chronic practicing the mando. Snookums

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: BSeed
Date: 12 Nov 98 - 12:19 AM

Takeo, I've got a new mandolin--it should be in my hands by the end of the week--and I'm just starting on it too (or will be, when it comes and when I decide on a good book/CD method). By the way, I've wanted to email you on an idea I have, but I've lost your address. --seed (charles)

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Dan Keding
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 12:27 AM

Saw and heard a truly great low to mid priced mandolin by the Missouri Mandolin Comapny out of Columbia MO.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: Chet W.
Date: 13 Nov 98 - 08:40 PM

For what it's worth, my advice to young musicians, including those choosing which instrument to play, is that I recommend starting on guitar even if your intended destination is a mandolin or banjo or whatever. It teaches rythm easier than most instruments; It is considerably more difficult to learn to play it well than is the mandolin, but quick success is very easy and encouraging. Plus everybody needs a backup instrument and it should probably be a guitar. Don't spend a lot for it, put it down later if you like, but I think it is an important stepping stone to the other instruments.

May not work for everybody,

Chet W.

Subject: RE: Gonna get a Mandolin
From: takeo
Date: 15 Nov 98 - 08:19 PM

bseed, nice to hear from you again. my add is [e-mail] and welcome your secret (?!) messages. i just learned how to fret f chord on my mando. and im searching a good tablature book to play bluegrass or classic jazz (or any 3 chord music) "solo" on mandolin. -takeo