Hello from a new guy

[GotDemBlues]

Just thought I'd check in and say hi. I'm an intermediate guitar player. I've always loved acoustic music, especially bluegrass. Suddenly, a few days ago, listening to a Fred Eaglesmith CD I was seized with an irresistable desire to own a mandolin. Usually I think about these things forever (instrument purchase), but not this. I now own a Eastman 515, just delivered about 3 hours ago. So far I love it, I've been kind of fakin' it through some of my guitar songs, most majors and minor chords are pretty easy, except for that F chord which is killing me. And those tiny litte frets are going to take some getting used to. Sure is pretty to listen to though.

GDB

[Dale Ludewig]

Hey GotDemBlues-
Welcome! And welcome to the mando world. That F chord? which one? The stretch on a mando is not that bad, really, especially if you're used to guitar stretches. One thing that will help with that idea of those "little frets"- you don't have to necessarily land between them, just behind the one in question. Dive in. To quote Louis Armstrong (and probably someone before him", it's a wonderful world.

[ira]

welcome to your new obsession.
based on your screenname, you should come and check out da bluesmandomen a few sections below!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[ShaneJ]

Welcome GDB! If you're talking about the 1-3-3-5 F-chord, it's easy if you use the index finger on the E-string (1), let the middle finger cover BOTH the D- and A-strings (3-3), and the ring finger on the G-string (5). Playing F that way is very similar to the feel of the C-chord on guitar. Those narrow string spacings and frets can be used to your advantage in covering two with one finger, etc.... Hope that helps! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[357mag]

Welcome and congrats on the Eastman. They have a great reputation with alot of folks on here. I have a 514 on the way. Matter of fact, just got done running the tracking # with Fedex. Supposed to be delivered 10-8-05. Thats Saturday. Yuk! Prolly have to wait til Monday.
Enjoy yours! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[glauber]

Welcome GDB! If you're talking about the 1-3-3-5 F-chord, it's easy if you use the index finger on the E-string (1), let the middle finger cover BOTH the D- and A-strings (3-3), and the ring finger on the G-string (5). Playing F that way is very similar to the feel of the C-chord on guitar. Those narrow string spacings and frets can be used to your advantage in covering two with one finger, etc.... Hope that helps! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Yes, that, and also it's very common to play 3-string chords, especially in jazz. In the case of the F, i play it as x-3-3-2 (notes: C, F, A). That works well for G too (moving 2 frets up). Using 3 fingers for the chord leaves the remaining finger (usually the pinky) free to add dissonances or melody notes. (But i do play the C and F notes in that cord with one finger, usually.)

Another way to think of this variation of the F chord is: the first finger does the A note on the 2nd fret, and the 2nd finger does a short "barre" on the 3rd fret, for the 2nd and third strings.

[walshb]

Geez, I thought I was catching on fast. But 3 hours after mine arrived, it was still a foreign object in my hands! Glad to hear you're figuring it out so quickly! (I'm also a guitar player, it helped with fingering, but chording took me awhile to decipher.) I also have an Eastman, welcome to the forum!