a ginga do Mane

[Amy Burcham]

In “a ginga do Mane” Jacob goes down to the D below G in the intro and F in part A. Is it a mandola piece? Awww shucks! On mandolin I’ve been playing the open D instead of the F. How do you guys handle that?

[Doug Hoople]

Hey Amy!

I'd go even further. I just listened to the cut, and I'd guess that Jacob is actually playing a tenor guitar. I haven't peeled it apart to substantiate that guess, but it seems like a reasonable stretch. He's definitely not playing mandolin, and I'm pretty sure that he's playing a single-course instrument.

Later on in the cut, he fills in some of the lower chord tones, and they sound pretty low to me.

What do you think?

[Doug Hoople]

Well, nothing like checking with the source.

I just ran out to the car to check in my copy of 'Tocando com Jacob,' and it's right there, buried in the track notes... Jacob is playing the violinha (described as a "smaller tenor guitar").

So then, I guess the next question is "How do we play this on the mandolin?"

And the answer to that is "What would Danilo do?"

I've heard Danilo launch into "A Ginga do Mane" at least 3 or 4 times, mostly at Symposium jams. So if there's a recording of one of those times, we could figure out what key he plays it in and how he covers the "missing" notes.

[Amy Burcham]

Good ear Doug!!! A tenor guitar.
I'll look through my recordings tonight. Think I might have some of those sessions.

[Will Patton]

I've been working on this tune for the last few months... I noticed it in an older Mandolin Magazine transcribed by Marilyn Mair. She notes the low F in the B part and suggests a rest here - it goes by so fast that you hardly notice it, and I kinda like the rhythmic hiccup it produces.
-Will

[Doug Hoople]

...and I kinda like the rhythmic hiccup it produces.
-Will
Puts a smile on my face just thinking about it, Will.

Nice touch!

[Amy Burcham]

Thanks Will. I'll have to work on making it go by that (hic) fast !

[Jesse Appelman]

I've been working on this tune for the last few months... I noticed it in an older Mandolin Magazine transcribed by Marilyn Mair. She notes the low F in the B part and suggests a rest here - it goes by so fast that you hardly notice it, and I kinda like the rhythmic hiccup it produces.
-Will

That seems like a good solution. I've always played a low A (on the G string) in place of that F. You're right that it goes by so fast that nobody notices either way.

The intro to the tune also dips below mandolin range for more than just a single note - I've worked out a fudged version of it. If anyone's particularly curious, let me know and I'll notate it when I get the chance.

While I'm at it, here's a great version of this tune featuring the great Eduardo Neves on flute, Rogerio Caetano on 7-string guitar, and Amoy Ribas on pandeiro. No mandolin, but check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bPdaUMekJw

[Amy Burcham]

Jesse, you are right, that is fabulous.
I would love to see your alternative whenever you get it notated.
Hope you guys have been getting the feedback that your super CD deserves!