Hi! New member here

[Space Pup]

Hi all!

I'm new here and hope to learn a lot from you guys (and gals) as well as participate. I've only been playing mandolin for about a year and a half but I've been playing guitar and bass for over 20 years so I have a little musical knowledge. (not that I ever use it. :grin:) Right now I mostly play Blues, Classical, and Bluegrass on the mandolin but hope to expand into Jazz and maybe Celtic later.

[pickloser]

Hi Space Pup!
Guitar to bass to mandolin--me too. A year and half for you on the mando, a year and 9 months for me. You're gonna love the Cafe. I've gotten loads of useful info from here. I look forward to reading your contributions.

[dazzajl]

Hey Spacepup,

Another newbie here. Bass to guitar to mandolin for me and 4 weeks in.

This place has been great and I've lost a heap of time to ~o) and mooching here. Loads to see, hear and try out.

[JEStanek]

Welcome to the Café. Hope you enjoy your stay.

Jamie

[Space Pup]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Gald to see I'm not alone in being a beginner on the mandolin or playing multiple instruments.

Do you try and scedule the same amount of practice time for each instrument? Like say one hour for each instrument, three times a week or do you just play which ever you are in the mood for?

I try to give them each equal time but sometimes if I find myself in more of a bass or mandolin playing mood than giutar. I also find that if I'm having problems getting a chord progression down, changing instruments for while and then coming back helps. The down side of course is that you can end up with several instruments lying around the room.

[BPV]

Hey Spacepup...welcome aboard!
This is a great place to hang out...you will learn alot and be greatly entertained as well.:)

[CES]

I (try to) play mando, guitar, and banjo, and I used to rotate practice with 2 a day, letting whatever instrument I was most into at the time get everyday work and alternating the other 2. It actually worked OK, and it was useful to try to figure out the same songs on multiple instruments. Lately I've fallen out of the habit and tend to just play what I'm in the mood for (mostly mando and guitar of late).

My main practice problem is lack of focus. I've got a huge stack of songs I've started but haven't perfected. I've got tons of books/cds I've done most but not all of. It's not so much musical ADHD as I just like learning new songs and will hear something on the radio or something one of my playing buddies suggests and off I go...I think I'm actually going to start a practice schedule/log that will include some "free play," if you will, but will have some structured actual practice as well.
Welcome!

[dazzajl]

Do you try and scedule the same amount of practice time for each instrument? Like say one hour for each instrument, three times a week or do you just play which ever you are in the mood for?

Since whatever I play is just for the pleasure of it and there is no pressure, I really only play what and when I feel like it. Which for the last couple of weeks has been 90% mandolin with a little guitar thrown in.

I am like a kiddie in a sweet shop with what I work on when I do play. I'll find a little something to work on but if I find something that takes my fancy, I'm off like a butterfly. Still, that's the beauty of not needing to worry about it.

In my work life I'm a snapper and often get a little jealous of the folks that can shoot just for fun all the time and never have to lift a camera when they might not feel like it. I love my job and enjoy just about 99% of it but it's lovely to have something else creative that's always just for me.:grin:

[EdHanrahan]

Welcome indeed!

Having been here for several months, I suspect that 98% of mandolin players, started on another instrument, usually guitar - just like us!

Personally, I practice most where it's needed most: on mando, that I took up fairly recently. After 4+ decades, guitar is like riding a bicycle: happens whenever it's needed.

Bass guitar is "relatively" new for me, but a lot less new than mando. With notes similar to guitar, the challenge, every few months, is re-adapting to strings that are bigger diameter than a pair of mando strings, INCLUDING the space between them. Keeps it fun!

Just read CES' response above and identify strongly, with a lot of "I just play what I'm in the mood for." But I also feel that "lack of focus" is a problem only if you consider it a problem! It's probably hindered my progress over the years, but rarely hindered the fun. For example...
Just returned from Brazil and, for some strange reason, chose to get the "Girl From Ipanema" jazz chords down on guitar rather than mando (I'm not at all a jazz kinda guy). But converting it OVER TO mando will be a fun challenge!

[allenhopkins]

Jack -- for a "beginner," you've got some nice mandos there...

[catmandu2]

Just returned from Brazil and, for some strange reason, chose to get the "Girl From Ipanema" jazz chords down on guitar rather than mando (I'm not at all a jazz kinda guy). But converting it OVER TO mando will be a fun challenge!

May seem strange to you but, I would say, "nice choice." :cool: (and...won't sound nearly as good on mando ;))

Welcome, Jack.

[Space Pup]

Bass guitar is "relatively" new for me, but a lot less new than mando. With notes similar to guitar, the challenge, every few months, is re-adapting to strings that are bigger diameter than a pair of mando strings, INCLUDING the space between them. Keeps it fun!



I have found that when I'm going to be playing one instrument after another it is easier on my fingers to go from largest string guage to smallest. (bass,guitar, mandolin) I also tried going from smallest fretboard to largest, but that didn't work as well.

[Space Pup]

Jack -- for a "beginner," you've got some nice mandos there...

Thanks! I got lucky with them, they are all a joy to play.