Guitarist adding Mandolin?

[Jakester]

I've been playing guitar for many years and all of a sudden I have this bug to take up the mandolin as well. I heard this can help my guitar playing and help to develope my ear for melodies. I am looking for opinions on the pro's and con's of a mulitintrumental approach to playing.

Jim in Richmond, VA

[fatt-dad]

fatt-dad in richmond, virginia says, "go for it". I'll even sell you a mandolin - ha. email fatt-dad@richmond.com.

[John Flynn]

I took up the mandolin 12 years ago, after having played guitar for 20 years. I was in a church music group with four six string guitars. We obviously needed some variety and I had always been attracted to the mandolin. I bought a cheap instrument and I was hooked almost right away. Within about a year, it became my main instrument and I upgraded to a better mando.

The mandolin is really well laid out in terms of scales and chords, much more so than the guitar. I do find it very much easier to figure out melodies on the mando than on the guitar, although I still find the guitar better for figuring out chords. The mando is also very versatile. It can be a melody instrument, it can be a rhythm instrument, it can be both at the same time or it can switch between one or the other instantly. Certainly, the guitar can do all that also, but not like the mandolin can, IMHO.

On the emotional side: Beware these little instruments! They are highly addictive! Instead of being a "guitarist adding mandolin," you may find yourself as a "mandolinist that used to play guitar" regardless of your intentions.

[MartinD_GibsonA]

Jakester,

Pros:
Adds variety to your repertoire/sound
Makes you more "in demand" for jams/bands
Makes jamming more enjoyable when you can switch off
A certain pride in being able to handle more than one

Cons:

Don Smith

[Unseen122]

Jakester,

Pros:
Adds variety to your repertoire/sound
Makes you more "in demand" for jams/bands
Makes jamming more enjoyable when you can switch off
A certain pride in being able to handle more than one

Cons:

Don Smith
So true I was a Bass player but as soon as I got my mando I was hooked. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[JiminRussia]

Playing more than one instrument gives you a better understanding and feeling for the music on a larger plane. It is very different looking at a song from a mandolin perspective than it is from a guitar or, God forbid, a banjo point of view. Even playing the rhythem on the off beat gives you a whole nre perspective. So go or it big guy, and good luck.

[steve in tampa]

I agree with what everyone has said! Learning a new instrument opens up many new doors and it a great gift to give yourself.....

[Dave Schimming]

I played guitar for about 35 years before getting a mandolin. I was pleasantly surprised that I could pick out beginning to intermediate lead runs on the mando easier than guitar. Don't know if someting clicked in my brain, but the guitar playing improved also. Still consider guitar my main instrument. Not sure I will ever get beyond the intermediate level but glad I got the mando. It helps to play different instruments at Winfield. And heaven forbid, I did recently get a banjo!

[deaner]

The only bad thing about a guitar player taking up the mandolin is that your guitar may start to collect dust hahahha. Really, I loved the guitar but when I got my mandolin a few months back it really took over my playing time on the guitar. There is just something about that little mandolin that makes me not want to put it down. Heck, I cannot even play the thing yet. Just wait till I can hahaha.

[Jeffers]

I played the bagpipes before mandolin and can agree with everybody that it is completely addictive - all the more so when there's a heap of other stuff I should[I] be doing.

Bagpipe practice is out the window, although when I do pick them up from time to time I find there's a fluency and musicality (is that a word?) that I never had before, and I can play tunes that I always stuggled with before much more easily. Spooky huh?

[otterly2k]

I was a guitarist for years before picking up mandolin... I have since also dabbled in bass, tenor banjo, 'zouk, percussion, pennywhistles, etc.

I don't claim proficiency at all of them, but I agree with some of the comments above that each learning journey has had its benefits, and provided lessons that rubbed off and were transferrable to other instruments.

It has been scientifically established that continuing to learn new things is good for longevity, health, mental health, etc. It's good brain exercise, ear exercise, and brings you in contact with new musical genres and styles, not to mention new circles of players and listeners.

An expansive thing to do... go for it!
KE

I would say you should take up the mandolin too. If you play guitar mandolin will be really easy for you. Dont wait get a mandolin and start playing quick. It is a great instrument!