question about straps

[jim_n_virginia]

I am curious. I have seen many mandolin players with the strap just over one shoulder. It looks like this is the traditional way to hold your mandolin but I have started noticing that some people who pick up guitar first (like me) usually sling the whole strap over their head like a guitar strap.

Is this uncommon? Does it have any effect on playing one way or another? I tried both ways and I guess I am just used to having the strap around my neck.

Big Mon just slung his mandolin around one shoulder. Have I been carrying my mando wrong all this time?

Anybody else here on the Cafe do the "around the neck" method of holding their mandolin?

[JeffS]

I did the one shoulder thing and it felt really uncomfortable, but then I have a wide strap so that might be why. I'd do whatever feels the most comfortable and gives you the greater feeling of security.

[Tom C]

The shoulder thing started with Bill Monroe. He didn't wwant to take his hat off to put his mando over his head. I find more stability with over my head than shoulder.

[sbarnes]

i tried the over the shoulder thing too and likewise it did not feel comfortable....
i do the over the head thing...no problem w/the hat thing....i don't wear one.....
i don't have very broad shoulders and it just feels better over the head.....
whatever works best for you is the right way

[ericwall]

For what it's worth, Roland White's instructional book recommends the strap over the neck- not the one-shoulder approach. I've not seen any insturctional material recommend the one shoulder. Some people think it's cool and the only way to go. I agree, what is comfortable is what's best.
Best,
Eric

[ronlane3]

Having done both, I have to say that it is what you get used to. I prefer the shoulder, my uncles who taught me prefer over the head.

There is no right or wrong, just that you keep playin'.

[John Flynn]

There are other modes besides "over the shoulder," and "over the head." David Grisman has a custom strap that goes around his neck and does not touch either shoulder, like a classical guitar strap. Curtis Buckhannon plays his A-4 with no strap at all, even standing. He just sort of cradles the mando.

[Scotti Adams]

..its funny that this topic is coming up now. Ive played off the shoulder for years and a with a fairly low hang too...Just in the last year or so Ive switched to over the head with a higher hang. Its forced me to attack the mando with a different approach. It just feels more natural to me...feels like Ive got better control. Mind you..these areas have never really been a problem....I think its more natural for me.....just my opinion on whats going on with me...could have something to do with the bigger belly ive got now then when I was younger.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[jim simpson]

I find that over the shoulder keeps the instrument from hugging your chest whereas the over the neck seems to bring the back of the instrument against your chest. I guess that's when you buy the tone guard!

[Bluegrasstjej]

I've always kept the strap over my neck and find that very comfortable. I thought, when I tried the one-shoulder method, that I lost control over the mandolin.

[jim_n_virginia]

The shoulder thing started with Bill Monroe. He didn't wwant to take his hat off to put his mando over his head. I find more stability with over my head than shoulder.
Makes sense now. Big Mon was very professional on stage (from what I could see) and I could definitely see him not wanting to take his hat off everytime he put his mandolin on or off.

I forgot Grisman just puts his aroud his neck and not on a should. That is wild! Does anyone know who makes his strap? Was it custom or can you buy one?

i use a normal guitar strap right now. Of course i have to tie the sting at the top where the tuners are. Its comfortable and its easy. I will probably just pick up a normal mandolin strap though!

[Yellowmandolin]

I have tried the one shoulder thing but always feel that it is about to fall off as I am not very large. I do agree that over the neck tends to smother some of the tone and volume, but I can't afford to drop my F5-G on the ground!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[jim simpson]

I have a little piece of leather cord with a clasp on the end of it. This is attached near the end of my strap where it attaches to the endpin. I then take the clasp (similar to an alligator clip but stronger) and attach it to my pant waist above my left pocket. Since I put my strap over one shoulder, this prevents the mandolin from rotating headstock down and seems to remove the fear of the instrument dropping or coming off. It's still a good idea to keep your hands on your instrument but there are times where you might need both to adjust a mic, etc. It works for me. This helpful hint was passed on to me from a friend who observed Dawn Watson using it. I have both mandos with straps setup this way. The other thing I find really useful is using a fastex buckle as an interface where my strap attaches to the scroll. I can unclip my strap and leave the loop with half the buckle attached. It fits in the case easily and I don't have to wrestle with the strap around the scroll.

[Emmiemando]

I like having my mando over my neck. I've tried the over the shoulder thing and I felt like it was going to fall off. I don't think it matters which way you do it-which ever way is comfortable...

[John Flynn]

The shoulder thing started with Bill Monroe. He didn't wwant to take his hat off to put his mando over his head.
Interesting. I heard a different story from a former mando instructor who is a bit of a bluegrass and old time historian as well as fine player. The story goes that Monroe's right shoulder strap thing came from the days of using one mike for the whole band, which of course is back in vouge now. Bill figured out that with a right shoulder strap, if he stood where the mike was to his right, it was very easy to swing the mando into close proximity of the mike for his solos, without any undue moving around or turing away from the audience. By the time multiple mikes came into vogue, he had been doing that way for a while and it was ingrained. We many never know the definitive reason!

i wear my mando strap over one shoulder, it keeps the back free to vibrate and the tone difference is definatly noticeable, at least when i play, i played guitar before mando and it just never seemed right to wear a mando around my neck. its nice and mobile, especialy if you gotta share a vocal mic, or just need to lean in with your voice and out with your mando, or bring the mando right up to the mic. but above all it just seems weird to put such a big strap on a lil insturment. i also wear my mando up a little high, infact over the years i progressivly increased the hight to where its at now when im playing. either way, mandolins are wonderous beautiful creations.:)

[steve in tampa]

I simply watched what the majority of other mando players were doing and adopted that. One shoulder w/ the little skinny strap.

[solerydr]

I wear mine over my head, but Ive been wanting one of those big foam cowboy hats. I might have some problems with that.