Singing with mando

[mingusb1]

Hello, I have been singing while playing the bass for a number of years now, and am finally starting to think about singing with the mando.

Here is a question: as in for bluegrass, do you wait to hit the mando on the 2nd beat of the measure even when you are picking up the vocal line on the 1st beat?

It seems bass is easier to sing with in that the vocal and bass beat would start on the 1st.

It has been a brain teaser for me to go from bass to mando. One seems like a tank, one a toy, the scales are like mirror-images of one another, AND you go from the 1-3 to the 2-4!

Whew!

Z

[Adam Tracksler]

I played bass for many years and have recently benn mando-ing exclusively. I just finished an electric upright that I was playing and I was laughing to myself that I now play the biggest and the smallest instruments in the string band!
Last week at a jam, I didnt bring a guitar (which I normally switch to when I sing) I played the mando a bit differently than I would when playng rythym. I started out with all 4 beats for a few measures until everyone kicked in, and then i backed off and payed on the 2 and 4. It sounded great. probably wont be lugging that big guitar around again.....


[I]

[Michael H Geimer]

I use a combination of sorts. If the groove needs it, I'm chopping the 2's and 4's. But say the song goes to quick IV and back, then I might break the chop and play that IV on the downbeat (1), and maybe even let it ring for a momement before returning to the backbeat chops.

That way I never feel like I'm leaving the melody line unsupported. As long as the chop isn't gone for too long, no one will notice.

Also, if I'm playing a chord for melodic reasons, I'm more likely to play an open position fingering. A ringing open chord placed at thr right time can sound sweet, and can really grab attention.

BTW - I liked your comparison between Bass and Mandolin.

- Benig

[mingusb1]

Hey, thanks for the posts guys. #It seems you can play the mando a little like the guitar, with the open chords ringing out and it works pretty well. #Although I think the mando player in my band mostly plays the chop or closed forms while singing. #

Regarding the bass and mando, people seem to find a lot of humor in it. #I have a weekend gig (the "will play for food" kind) that I play both mando and bass at. #It's actually my first "gig" with mando. #I baited the band, saying "I'll play bass if I can play some mando too". #They called me on it, saying "you can play some mando after you play some bass", so it works out well.

Besides loving the sound of the mando, I honestly got into it because I am getting tired of lugging the bass around. #You have to "plan" for gigs with the bass (vehicles, parking, etc.). #But you can just pull the mando out of the glovebox in a second!

Z