Rolls

Mickey Cochran is a talented mandolinist, guitarist and author of the Crosspicking Technique book from Mel Bay Publications.

I invited Mickey to introduce Mandolin Cafe readers to his crosspicking technique. Out of our correspondence we agreed to develop a series of lessons packed with his crosspicking techniques and tips. The following information is based on excerpts from his Mel Bay book. I think you'll find his ideas, writing and teaching method an inspiration.

---------------

In this lesson, we are going to apply some of the rolls we've been studying to an original piece. Be careful to pay close attention to the Down and Up strokes. Notice how we will switch from Down/Up to Down/Up/Up from one measure to the next. This can be very challenging to learn yet well worth the effort. It will contribute to gaining independence in the right hand (or picking hand if you're left handed). This independence will add fluidity to your playing within all types of styles.

Stay tuned at the Mandolin Cafe for Mandolin Crosspicking Lesson IV. Our next lesson will involve fiddle tunes and mandolin chromatic style playing.

Blue Mt. Rag - by Mickey Cochran

    Lead In:
 ===================================
E|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
D|----------------7-------9--------|
G|---------------------------------|
    1  &   2  &   3   &   4   &
                  D       D
START
    A                                 D
 ================================== =================================
E|------0-----------0--------------|----------0-----------0----------]
A|----------9-----------9----------|------5-----------5--------------]
D|--11----------11----------11-----|--9-----------7-----------9------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   U   D   U   U   D         D   U   D   U   D   U   D



    A                                 D
 ================================== =================================
E|------0-----------0--------------|----------0-----------0----------]
A|----------9-----------9----------|------5-----------5--------------]
D|--11----------11----------11-----|--9-----------7-----------9------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   U   D   U   U   D         D   U   D   U   D   U   D


    A                                 E
 ================================== =================================
E|------0-----------0--------------|----------0-----------0-------0--]
A|----------9-----------9----------|------2-----------2--------------]
D|--11----------11----------11-----|--6-----------2-----------6------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   U   D   U   U   D         D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U


    A                                                    BACK TO START
 ================================== =================================
E|------0-----------0--------------|---------------------------------]
A|----------4-----------4-------4--|---------------------------------]
D|--7-----------7-----------7------|--7---------------7-------9------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   U   D   U   U   D   U     D               D       D


PART II

    A
 ================================== =================================
E|----------0-----------0----------|----------0-----------0----------]
A|------7-----------7-----------7--|------7-----------7--------------]
D|--12----------7-----------11-----|--7-----------9-----------11-----]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D   U   D



    D
 ================================== =================================
E|------0-----------0-----------0--|----------0-----------0----------]
A|----------9-----------9----------|------12----------10----------9--]
D|--12----------12----------12-----|--16----------14----------12-----]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   U   D   U   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U


    A
 ================================== =================================
E|----------0-----------0----------|----------0----------------------]
A|------7-----------7-----------7--|------7---------------7----------]
D|--12----------7-----------9------|--7-----------------------7------]
G|---------------------------------|--------------9-H-11-------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U       U   D


    E
 ================================== =================================
E|--------------0-----------0------|--------------0-----------0------]
A|--11------11------11----------11-|--14------14------14-------------]
D|------9---------------9----------|------12--------------12---------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   U   D   U   U   D


    A
 ================================== =================================
E|------------------0---5---4---2--|--0---2---0-------0--------------]
A|--0-------0---4------------------|--------------4-------4---2---0--]
D|------6--------------------------|---------------------------------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U


    D
 ================================== =================================
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
A|------------------0---5---4---2--|--0---2---0-------0--------------]
D|--0-------0---4------------------|--------------4-------4---2---0--]
G|------6--------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U


    E
 ================================== =================================
E|--7---5---4---5---4---2---4---2--|--0---2---0-------0--------------]
A|---------------------------------|--------------5-------5---4---2--]
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D   U   D   U


                    A
 ================================== =================================
E|---H-P---------------------------|----------0---0---0--------------]]
A|--2-4-2-------2---0--------------|--2-H-4---0---0---0-------0---0--]]
D|----------6----------------------|---------------------------------]]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------]]
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
    D       D   U   D   U   D   U     D   U   D   U   D       D   U

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