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Kevin Briggs
Feb-12-2008, 12:18pm
Folks,

I added two new clips on my YouTube site:

1. "Goin' to See Slimfit"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUU76PsKRVI

2. "Ode to a Butterfly," played by my buddy Jared
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3LvsDOh_OE

Check it out!

Kevin Briggs
Feb-12-2008, 8:25pm
Heck, I just added two more:

1. An outline of how we do Nellie Cane:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZG5TAMhQlUY

2. A Basic Flop-Eared Mule:
~ still uploading ~

Once again... enjoy!

Kevin Briggs
Feb-12-2008, 8:32pm
In keeping with the theme of talking to myself in this thread, here's what's on deck. I will hopefully have them up by next week. I'm busy polishing up some songs for a gig we have this weekend.

On deck:
1. "Whitewater" - the first track on Bela Fleck's "Drive." It's a tough one to play up to speed. I can't garauntee that it will be by next week, but I'll at least have it up to a slower speed. I'll hit the key licks, and will get what I can make out from the CD. Some of Sam's notes get muffled at the end of his runs, so I just end the runs my own way. It's usually a matter of a measure or two, and it's only when the purpose is either to end the run outright, or to get to the next run smoothly.

2. "Tom and Jerry" - I learned this from Sam Bush's "Repertoire" Instructional CD. It's not too tough, but the B part if boogy-woogying on my brain. I keep forgetting a note or two, and then I'm all messed up. It's amazing how much easier "Tom and Jerry" was to learn than "Cotton Patch Rag," at least for me anyway. I think some of that's due to the song not being a Rag, as Rags give me fits, but I think some of it's also due to some well-earned progress on the mandolin. Heck, I practice enough... sheesh.

Mike Bunting
Feb-12-2008, 8:38pm
I got Colleen Malone not Nellie Kane when I followed your link, sounds nice though.

Kevin Briggs
Feb-12-2008, 8:46pm
You are so right, and I am so dumbbbbbb. We are working up Nellie Cane, and already play Colleen Malone.

Thanks for the compliment though. It's a work in progress.

BPV
Feb-12-2008, 9:04pm
Very Nice....Thanks for sharing them,,,Looking forward to Flop Eared Mule!

Kevin Briggs
Feb-12-2008, 9:05pm
It's up now. I put it on the front page. Don't expect much though. It's just a basic version.

Thanks for the feedback!

birdman98
Feb-13-2008, 1:55am
Kevin,

You're a world-wide superstar...as I've been checking out your stuff from over here in Hokkaido, Japan. Not too many pickers 'round these parts, so it's good to see someone making that Weber sound so good.

Thanks for sharing...keep em comin'!

Kevin Briggs
Feb-13-2008, 9:08pm
I added "June Apple" tonight.

I tried "Nine Pound Hammer," but the video part got all screwed up. My break was pretty bad too.

Kevin Briggs
Feb-15-2008, 10:05pm
I added "Cripple Creek" and "Sweet georgia Brown" tonight.

"Cripple Creek":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-fUsHT9BM

"Sweet Georgia Brown":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s9hNRlKPpHI

Kevin Briggs
Feb-18-2008, 9:41am
Hello, me. It's me!

I added the following songs recently:

"Whitewater" (I'm working on this, so it's slow)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xYVsXbm-bCQ

"Honky Tonk Swing" (learning it...)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fBrcGgyNL6Y

"Tom and Jerry" (Thanks, Sam Bush!)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rQTMV0vNSK0

Enjoy!

mandopluker
Feb-18-2008, 10:43am
Kevin,

Some fine tunes......... Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing them with us.

Steve Cantrell
Feb-18-2008, 10:45am
Absolutely. Honky-Tonk Swing is one my favorites.

Kevin Briggs
Feb-18-2008, 2:23pm
Glad you enjoy them!

Let me know requests. I need some new tunes to learn, as I'm near the end of my repertoire, aside from songs I sing.

Thanks,

CollingsPicker
Feb-18-2008, 2:33pm
nice job ode to a butterfly is a great tune to learn one of my favorites to play

Rick Lindstrom
Feb-18-2008, 7:03pm
Great job Kevin- keep 'em coming.

Here's one for you- do you have a rendition of "Panhandle Rag"? Great tune; love to hear you do it!

Rick

Kevin Briggs
Feb-18-2008, 7:44pm
Thanks, folks. I've been putting off "Ode to a Butterfly" due to extreme axiety! I'll bite the bullet though and get to work.

I definitely am somewhat familiar with "Panhandle Rag," and will start pursuing it.

Kevin Briggs
Feb-24-2008, 8:47pm
Just added...:

"Cryin' Holy Unto My Lord"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0HV5w0fjM3E

stinsc
Feb-25-2008, 10:45pm
Kevin,

I really appreciate the clips on your Youtube website. #They have really helped me grasp that "bluesy" feel that I have been missing. #Sometimes I get too mechanical and while it can be fast and fairly clean, it still misses the mark. #Please keep adding clips!

Scott

wglide
Feb-27-2008, 7:27pm
Kevin,
Just a note to say thanks for your videos. Many nights I tune them in to pick up some ideas from your pickin.On your Sittin On Top video , that is an easy way to catch the VI minor .Keep it up & thanks again.

Kevin Briggs
Feb-28-2008, 9:53am
Thanks, stinsc and wglide....

I'll be back at it soon enough. I've been under the weather as of late. I'm also polishing up a few songs at the moment, and hope to have them up soon.

Next up:
1. "Old Dangerfield"
2. "Banjolin"
3. "Blackberry Rag"

Kevin Briggs
Mar-01-2008, 9:04am
In the meantime...:

"Hesitation Blues"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjF-CwBwKw#GU5U2spHI_4

Kevin Briggs
Mar-02-2008, 9:03pm
I'm happy to introduce...:

"Banjolin"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J-3msXDfWWE

Kevin Briggs
Mar-03-2008, 8:26pm
Here's a demo of how I learn the basic melodies to a lot of fiddle tunes. It's Steve Kauffman's Two Hour Bluegrass Workout (me playing "Cripple Creek"):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixn9yG0ny8w

Kevin Briggs
Mar-04-2008, 8:34pm
Here's "The Big Ship," a Celtic tune I learned form "Steve Kauffman's 50 Celtic Reel's:"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N3W9O5-F4E

Kevin Briggs
Mar-04-2008, 8:36pm
I'll add that the wonder of my new Fern's strum is in good form at about 1:04.

Ken Olmstead
Mar-07-2008, 1:53am
I was admiring that strum before you pointed it out! Sounds good as usual man!

Kevin Briggs
Mar-11-2008, 9:11pm
I just added a setup video in response to a request:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8JWXkuW2VE

It is just a general explanation for a fella who was wondering about my setup. I don't know half of what makes a setup good, but I do know that the Brekke traditional bridge makes it easy for someone ignorant like me who only knows how to fool around with bridge height. I can adjust that thing any way I want, whenever i want, and it's just like truning a doorknob. It's a great bridge and the height of my bridge is never an issue.

Kevin Briggs
Mar-18-2008, 8:30pm
Two new videos for your mandolin enjoyment:

"Blackberry Rag" instructional:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qk5Qp2fLkds

"Road To Columbus" learning method (slowing down windows media player):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rRGwp-6EAIA

The "Blackberry Rag" is from Steve Kauffman's 4-Hour Bluegrass Workout, which is getting pretty stale after using it for a year and a half. I'm thirsting for more great instructional stuff, and for stuff that will take me to the next level. The Kauffman stuff is great for basic melodies and hand strength, ala the workout, but there's not much flavor once you get comfortable with the level at which he is presenting the songs. I also have his 50 Celtic Reels instructional CD, but I'm going to shelve it for a while because I need something other than Kauffman for a while.

"Road to Columbus" is my first step towards some different learning methods. Aside from learning from our fiddler in Mighty Fine, I really haven't used anything other than the Kauffman stuff to learn how to play the mandolin... no teachers, no nothing. My plan now is to learn all of the songs on the following:
1. Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe (all of Baker's breaks and all of Monroe's)
2. Vassar Clements - 20 Fiddle tunes and Waltz Favorites (All of Vassars first solos)
3. Sam Bush's Repertoire and Technique (I've learned 3 out of 8 songs so far).

After those two, I have some DVDs to watch:
1. Adam Steffy from Homespun
2. Chris Thile from Homespun

I'm also going to try to attend a cool local jam more regularly, to get more experience playing off the cuff, and will of course keep working hard in Mighty Fine to polish up our songs.

This thread is funny because it has turned into a journal of sorts. I'm being really egocentric in this thread, but I mean for my thoughts to be an addition to the discussions regarding how to become a better player.

Songs to come in the near future:
1. A full-speed "Road to Columbus"
2. A polished "Old Dangerfield" (from "Stealing Home")

I've been playing songs like "Old Dangerfield," "Fireball Mail," and "Clinch Mountain Backstep" for a while, but I haven't devoted a lot of time to them, and I just jam on the melodies when we play them at gigs. Obviously for "Old Dangerfiel" I work to stay on the melody pretty closely, since it's a mandolin tune. It's just a hard one for my fingers to get a hold of.

I'll be adding all of the following sooner rather than later:
1. "Old Dangerfield"
2. "Clinch Mountain Backstep"
3. "Fireball Mail"
4. "Bluegrass Breadown"
5. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"

Thanks for reading. Please let me know any constructive suggestions you may have. I've changed the lighting due to responses, and I've tried to mix up my repertoire a bit due to some comments regarding the polarity of my first few songs. I'd like my YouTube page to be a resource for anyone who is tryign to increase their repertoire or learn about something with which I can help.

If you have a specific mando-related thing you'd like addressed, lemme know. I love sharing what little bit I know about the instrument we love.

Kevin Briggs
Mar-18-2008, 8:42pm
Kevin,
Just a note to say thanks for your videos. Many nights I tune them in to pick up some ideas from your pickin.On your Sittin On Top video , that is an easy way to catch the VI minor .Keep it up & thanks again.
wglide,

I just reread your post from a few weeks ago. Yes, I find that the little move to Em is easy to pull off.

In Mighty Fine, we play the song fast, so it comes down to me need to providing what in heavy metal woudl be called a power chord. I make sure to get the root of the choird and the next lowest note to provide some color, but most importantly I hit on the right beat and provide the drum for the band.

I used to want to play rhythm like David Grisman, but in bluegrass I think Sam Bush's approach is more appropriate. His goal is provide a really percussive chop, and he doesn't try to get the tones of the notes through as much, on his chop. When playign fast bluegrass, that's the most logical approach, as it doesn't make you fumble with getting beautofully clean chorded tones while playing at 150 bpms!

Steve Cantrell
Mar-18-2008, 9:49pm
I enjoy these a lot too, Kevin. Good picking on a great-sounding mandolin.

Ken Olmstead
Mar-19-2008, 11:11am
Nothing wrong with a journal thread! I think it mirrors thoughts that all of us have. It is certainly inspiring to get on learning something new and trying to advance. You are helping us with that motivation! I am just putting the finishing touches on an arrangement of Michelle. I used the book "Finger Picking the Beatles." It is a great way to learn some harmony and arranging ideas. No tab so it forces me to read more.

Certainly nothing wrong with the videos! I think we all enjoy them. Thanks again!!

Kevin Briggs
Mar-25-2008, 7:13pm
Here's a video by request:

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpVgSRpEBAI

Emjoy!

dumontf
Apr-11-2008, 3:35pm
Thanks so much for putting up all those videos. You'ev inspired me and helped me to get out of a rut. Maybe some time you could post some rythm tips. I seems to be stuck in a BOOM-CHUCK BOOM-CHUCK world. You're right hand seems so relaxed and adds little extras to that basic rythm. Also how do you keep you pick from slipping out of your fingers? If I get too aggressive with my rythm the pick starts to slip and messes me up.

woodwizard
May-10-2008, 11:25pm
Good job Kevin. Makes me want to pick up my mando & do some pickin' Thanks for sharing. My wife got a new digital camera that can record video's. So as soon as I figure it out I think I'm gonna try recording a few video tunes. You and the tenorbanjoguy have got me fired up with all your great pickin video's. Pretty cool. Thanks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Ken Olmstead
May-11-2008, 9:51am
Good job Kevin. Makes me want to pick up my mando & do some pickin' Thanks for sharing. My wife got a new digital camera that can record video's. So as soon as I figure it out I think I'm gonna try recording a few video tunes. You and the tenorbanjoguy have got me fired up with all your great pickin video's. Pretty cool. Thanks. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif I'm waiting..... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif