floating technique

[jwalsh]

can anybody tell me more about the technique that's called floating. like what exactly it refers to, or a sample passage. or even a well known recording where it occurs. thanks, joe

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

To the best of my knowledge, this refers to the playing of notes on adjacent strings much like a meoldic style banjo technique. Perhaps the notes could be played in a normal linear fashion (on the same string), but to alternate from one string to another on each note lets each note ring out and sustain longer. I hear more of this technique on flatpick guitar, ex: Tim Stafford of Blue Highway, than mandolin, but perhaps I don't listen to the right players. Jesse McReynolds used this technique occasionally in conjunction with his crosspicking. I always marveled at his ability to move that right hand around!