Lead vs. rhythm playing--volume difference

[james blackburn-lynch]

Hi. My fiddle player today said something out loud that has been bugging me for awhile. When we are playing (just the two of us) and I switch from playing the melody with him to playing rhythm and then back again, there is a huge dynamic change. Because I can play rhythm so much louder than lead, when I go back to lead, all the energy just disappears.

Now, I'm not sure this is really a big problem with a third person playing piano or guitar or something (but surely there is still some dynamic difference), but I'm not sure what to do. Can I learn to play lead louder? It seems like I'm pretty much maxed out. Should I play quieter while playing rhythm? That really takes away a lot of the drama that is missing when I go back to lead.

Advice?

[Wando]

Yup, it's good to play quieter when playing rhythm. I always remind myself that the mando is much louder in front than behind, where I am. It's easy to be too loud with rhythm. Also, when I try to play leads louder, I lose speed and smoothness (well, everything being relative). Enjoy!

[John Flynn]

Another thing you can do is stay out of the fiddle's range and rhythm. Then the volume doesn't make as much of a difference. However, since you are tuned the same, that can be a challenge. On old-time mando instructor instructor I had taught me to concentrate on the lower two courses (G and D strings) 80% when backing a fiddle. Also, you should use open chords with as low a notes as possible. Furthermore, you want to do your strums sparingly. You do the "boom-chuck" strum, down stroking the G strings on the down beat and then down strumming mostly jsut the G and D strings on on the next beat, letting them ring until the next downbeat. Either miss the A and E strings entirely or just brush them lightly on those strums. Only do full chords and upstrokes during pauses in the melody or for special emphasis.