Elvis costello?

[jeffyork]

So I'm in this cover band that wants to do "Allison" by Elvis Costello, from the My Aim is True record. How do you get that tone that the fills have - kind of bluesy jazzy thing? Pentatonic and blues scale fills ain't getting it. It seems like playing out of C pentatonics start to get there, but not quite....We're doing the tune in G for what it's worth.

Any help would be much appreciated. Rock and Roll is way tougher than bluegrass (for the likes of me anyhoo).

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[swampstomper]

Buy the Amazing Slow Downer or Transcribe or various other transcription software (do a search to find lots of advice on this). Transcribe it out yourself. Then figure out the fingering. It will be different on the mando than the original anyway.

[jmcgann]

Neck pickup, single coil.

[mandopete]

Are you playing it on the mandolin or guitar?

[jeffyork]

I'm playing a mandolin, non-electric oval hole. So, the suggestion of a single coil is interesting, but not too helpful....

[Spruce]

So, the suggestion of a single coil is interesting, but not too helpful....
Well, you did ask "how do you get that tone?"...

[mandopete]

I'm listening to it right now and you're right - the fills are pretty jazzy, melodic. #There are a lot of slides and things too. #This song might make a good case study for tasty fills.

I'm not sure I can help you other than to say just listen to the music as small melodies and learn them that way. #I think that's the real secret to great back-up.

From a harmonic perspective it's pretty much diatonic stuff, not really too bluesy.

[jeffyork]

Yep, I did ask that. Didn't mean to come across as unappreciative; #I was just trying to clarify what I'm tryin to figure out. I realized that the tune was on electric guitar, and I knew I couldn't make my mandolin sound like an electric guitar, but what Mandopete offered was pretty helpful. I guess I asked the question poorly..

I'm out of my depth and knowing that it's diatonic and not blues is helpful. Is it perhaps that the fills are in a minor key while the main melody is in a major?

After hearing Niles play rock on the mandoin, I know that anything is possible...but I didn't even know where to start with this stuff. I tried transcribing it, and I think I've got the notes, but it just doesn't sound "right". It is a great song...

[jmcgann]

Try the key of E major for starters. Forget that your band is playing it in G. You need to learn it like it's played first before you move everything up 3 frets to play in the new key. Learn the E scale first. All the chords in the tune are from #the key of E except the D chord. The E scale works over all the chords including the G#m and C#m. You just have to bump the D# to D to fit the D chord.

Do you know the right chords? That'll be your first clue as to what note choices will be likely.

Then reread what Mandopete says:


just listen to the music as small melodies and learn them that way.

Don't try to learn every fill at once. Pick one and don't give up until you have it. It'll take awhile. It's good to do this kind of work.

[MountainMan]

Can't answer your question but I'm a big Elvis fan and your post made me think of something. I was listening to this tribute album (http://www.amazon.com/Almost-You-Songs-Elvis-Costello/dp/B00007GZN8) the other day and the version of (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes just blew me away. A closer listen revealed some pretty tasty mando pickin' which I missed the first time around. You can hear some of it in the sample. I remember thinking I need to learn this song.

[jeffyork]

Thanks very much to everyone. I appreciate the advice, and I'll let you know how it goes. Feel free to offer anything more....if we get it down I'll post a sound clip.

[mandopete]

All the chords in the tune are from #the key of E except the D chord. The E scale works over all the chords including the G#m and C#m. You just have to bump the D# to D to fit the D chord.
That's what I mean by the term "diatonic". #Not a lot of sharps or flats (sometimes callled accidentals on purpose at Berklee).

Point being is that the fills are not part of any modality or blues scale. #I think John's comments sum it up pretty well.

Good luck, Alison is one of my all-time favorite Elvis Costello songs!

[delsbrother]

It's good to do this kind of work.
Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say!

[jmcgann]

I think somebody better put out the red light... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[James P]

Another fun Elvis song to play is:

"Once upon a time I had a little money. Government burglars took it all before I could mail it to you. Still, you are the only one."

(He says sitting here amid a pile of print outs...)
But it is a fun one!

[mandopete]

I think somebody better put out the red light... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Not for nothing John, but isn't the line "I think somebody better put out the big light"?

Kinda changes the meaning of the song. Maybe you're thinking of Roxanne by The Police.

[jmcgann]

you don't have to put out the big light...sell your momma to the night...where's my geritol? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[mandopete]

L.O.L.!