Another "Newbie" question

[Zgreer]

Hello Mandolin Cafe people!

For the past few months I have been very intrigued by this instrument and its amazing tones. I have made the decision (about 90% sure) to purchase the Kentucky KM805 artist Mandolin. I have spoken with a local studio about lessons and what not and it all seems like it's going to be a lot of fun!

I have asked this question to the studio and they seem fine with it but I would like to get others opinions as well.

My situation is that I have studied music for over 13 years and even have a degree in composition and I consider myself proficient with piano and many other instruments in the horn area. So I believe that I do know, love and understand music. However, I have NEVER played any guitar/string based instrument other than the basic chords and very basic stuff. I don't really have any interest to begin on guitar or a bass, I just have a big attraction to the mandolin. My question is if you guys would think that this is not a realistic thing to accomplish because of the characteristics of the mandolin. The studio seems to think it will be just fine and even mentioned the idea of taking it down to only 4 strings for learning purposes. Any additional input would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully I will be able to get into this with in the next few weeks!

Thanks,
Z

[tictac]

Z

let me offer my two cents as someone who also went to school for music-

I studied piano for many years, but changed gears and took up the harpsichord, so much so that I went all the way through graduate school playing it (and now I have more useless music degrees than I know what to do with). Yes, I love stuffy baroque music. Unless you're familiar with the instrument you might think "oh, it's just like the piano only the key colors are reversed." Wrong. I had to learn entirely different fingering systems, the concept of proper touch, and among other things unequal temperaments. It took a great deal of time and discipline. I wake up every morning thankful that I no longer spend 5+ hours locked away in a practice room.

I grew up in "the hills" of West Virginia listening to bluegrass. Mandolin is my "fun" instrument, therefore I don't give it the same level of dedication.

-the point is-

I'm guessing you're already familiar with what's required to learn an instrument, so it would apply to mandolin no different. It all just comes down to what level of playing you wish to achieve.

It's a ton of fun for what it's worth!

[Tracy Tucker]

Just because you have a music degee doesn't mean that you're any different than the rest of us who started out never having played a stringed instrument (or ANY instrument, in my case): you don't have any experience, just like us! We're all at varying degrees of success, so I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't be able to play. Jump in with both feet - the water's fine! :cool:

[Tim2723]

Hi Z, and welcome!

Yes, just jump in with both feet and have a blast! Your musical experience will come in handy, but you'll be developing a whole new skill set with stringed instruments just as you did with keys and horns. Take things one step at a time and enjoy the process.

The Kentucky is a fine instrument. As many will tell you, you'll benefit from having it properly set up to play. Without any string experience you may want a competent technician to do that. I would not remove any of the strings unless your instructor has a very compelling reason for it. You'll be learning new skills, and you may as well learn them from the begining. The eight strings are an intregal part of the mandolin's sound and playing characteristics, and a great deal of the technique centers around them.

[JEStanek]

Welcome to the Mandolin Café Z,
I agree with what Tim said. Get your mandolin, your choice is a good one, leave all 8 strings on and within a couple weeks you'll become accustomed to their feel. Your other skills will certainly aid your learning curve. Good luck and have a blast.

Jamie

[Steve Ostrander]

I think you will be starting out with a decided advantage over those of us who didn't study music formally.

And the km805 is a nice choice. I had a km855, which is essentially the same mando, and I liked it a lot.

[abuteague]

Good choice.
You will appreciate that the mandolin is tuned in fifths.
Your practiced ears will make progress come easier.
The ends of the fingers on your left hand will not be pleased initially, but they will get over it.
Enjoy.

[pickloser]

IMO your knowledge will serve you well on mandolin. It will give you an enormous headstart. The music is in your head. You already know the theory. All you need is technique. You are already aware that good technique, while possibly harder in the short run, will pay off in the long run, so you won't resist instruction. Also, you already know that practice is required. Some things are going to feel very odd for you hands. They feel odd for almost everybody at first. You WILL get it. Again IMO, mandolin proficiency can be more quickly attained than proficiency on the piano. You can only play four notes at a time, and usually not that many.

The mandolin is a GREAT instrument. Plus, it's so much more portable than a piano. I predict you will love the mandolin and learn to play it well.

[Mandojulie]

I did two years as a music major, dropped out, joined the Navy.

I'd never played a stringed instrument until I was 45 when I started mandolin.

I agree with all everyone has said so far and I will add; don't be frustrated not reading notation right away. Learn to read tab, then one day you'll want to play something that's not available in tab and reading notation will come naturally. Tab tells you where to put your fingers while you're consciously/subconcsiously learning the notes.

Have fun! Beware the death grip! :mandosmiley:

Julie

[abuteague]

For the mandolin, the staff IS tab.

All open string notes do not have staff lines through them.
The staff line above an open string note is first finger.
The open space above that staff line is second finger.
The staff line above that is third finger.
The open space above that is an open string.

The choice of first or second fret for the first finger and third or fourth fret for the second finger and fifth or sixth fret for the third finger depends on the key. So you might want to run through a scale or two first.

Finding your way in first position on the mando fretboard couldn't be easier.

[Capt. E]

The mandolin is the first string instrument I have seriously attempted to learn and I find it quite wonderful. Guitar never grabbed me. I do find the tuning in 5th's to be much easier than the 4th's of a guitar.

To get an idea of the range of the Mandolin, take a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSZ40V0teGM

Now this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSHzgaCqM-o&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emandolincafe%2Ecom%2Fforum %2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D50515&feature=player_embedded

[JeffD]

The studio seems to think it will be just fine and even mentioned the idea of taking it down to only 4 strings for learning purposes.

Yikes! :disbelief:

Its those doubled courses that make the mandolin so mandolinny. Its what makes the mandolin more (so much more) than just a picked fiddle or a soprano guitar tuned in fifths.

And the double strings never seemed to me to be the hard part of learning the mandolin.

[EdHanrahan]

I don't really have any interest to begin on guitar or a bass...

... and there's no reason you should, even if many of us did!

Now that I've been on mando for a while, I realize that in size, tuning, and especially fingering, it's much closer to violin (or uhm, fiddle!) than it is to guitar. And I don't recall anybody suggesting that fiddlers should learn guitar first!

As a 12-string guitar player, I've always felt that a double course of strings is gentler on the fingertips than a single string is. You'll callous-up quickly enough, or maybe try tuning down a step early on. (I keep a beater mando at work, tuned down a whole step just so it'll hold together. Funny how it looks, feels, and sounds exactly like a manodlin!)

As is repeated here often, good setup is key. Reasonably low string height at the nut is especially important for playing comfort.

So: Go for it!

[Zgreer]

Thank you guys VERY much for your responses they were all very helpful and gave me a bit more confidence in the purchase. The take it down to 4 strings comment came from the "guitar" instructor who admitted he wasn't that much of a mandolin player so when I have a bit of time to talk to the dedicated mandolin instructor that idea could change more than likely. Thanks again for all your responses and Hopefully I can get this mandolin ordered with in the next few weeks! Looking forward to joining the community
Z

[Youda]

I agree with the rest of the posters. I wanted to emphasize NOT to take off half the strings. Whoever said that has never played a mandolin...the double courses ARE what a mandolin IS.

I, also, had extensive piano and keyboards, and teach piano. The only "edge" this gave me on mandolin is that I could already read music...but I still had to learn where the notes are on a mandolin! I still had to learn to play the mandolin "from scratch." With a piano, you can get sustain from a pedal; you can get fullness and richness from two-hands and chords, etc. With a mandolin, the techniques for doing this are considerably different.

Anyway, if the mandolin is calling to you, and she certainly hooks into a person's mind and heart, then you should follow where this leads you. I'll look forward to some original compositions for mandolin!

[Tim2723]

Hi again Z,

I didn't want to say it out loud, but from your first post it was fairly obvious that the instructor in question is a guitarist. :) I'm sure when you talk to the mandolin teacher the advice will fall quite in line with ours. The mandolin is not simply a small guitar; it's a unique instrument with its own history, literature, and most importantly, techniques. Do try to choose a teacher with a least some actual mandolin background.

Welcome again, and keep us abreast of your progress.

[mandroid]

If anything the double course of strings is easier on the fingertips than a singled one .

particularly at the higher tensions that are required to reach mandolin concert pitch.

the tremolo, does seem easier having 2 strings to go between than doing it on a single one too..

an octave up .. that high E, they are like half as long as guitar strings too.

[Santiago]

I think you're going to enjoy this.

[Zgreer]

I think you're going to enjoy this.

I am really looking forward to it and am very excited about the support on this forum! Cant wait :mandosmiley:
Z