I've reached my first mando-goal!

[squeally dan]

I finally got my first mandolin off e-bay. Its a Michael Kelly FS Legacy. It looks nice, and plays ok to me. I took it to a friend who already plays mando, in order to get his opinon (I have 72 hours to try it out). Anyways, he said it sounded good, good chop, good set up. I was afraid he was just being nice. Anyways it seems to work well.

Just a few comments. After playing guitar all these years, these mando frets fell so small. And whats up with some of these chords? I'm stretching my hand all over the place.

One more thing. How high should my action be?

[madog99]

congrats on the purchase ! At the risk of ruining your mandolin playing forever you might want to check out the 2 finger chord chart in the download section on the main page.
have fun !

[JeffS]

Congratulations. Glad you got a good one to start with. I've recently become a convert to 2 and 3 finger chords. I can't get the bluegrass chop with those but I can play along with more of my favorite songs and I'm getting about 3 times the enjoyment out of the mandolin now.

[Jonathan Reinhardt]

There is nothing wrong with using 2 or 3 finger chords. They give wide variety of voicings in tunes. Often the choppers are just not right in a tight spot or sound like they came in from outer space.

rasa

[Phantoj]

Your action should probably be LOW. If you're used to guitar, a good mandolin action is a lot lower than a good guitar action.

I'd think around 1/8" at the twelfth fret. Anyway, to get started, you probably want to drop it down until you just get some buzzing, then raise it a smidge.

[Phantoj]

Be sure to check the intonation at the 12th fret and scoot the bridge around accordingly so that the instrument will play in tune with itself.

[squeally dan]

Thanks for the info! My fingers sure feel big now!

[madog99]

Congratulations. #Glad you got a good one to start with. #I've recently become a convert to 2 and 3 finger chords. #I can't get the bluegrass chop with those but I can play along with more of my favorite songs and I'm getting about 3 times the enjoyment out of the mandolin now.
that's me ! 2 and the odd 3 finger one . I'm not much of a "player" but using those chords you can play along with almost anything! My only concern is that I have not tried very hard to expand to the more complex chord patterns .

[squeally dan]

I think I'm going to start out trying to get used to the hard ones. I think it will also help my guitar playing.

[250sc]

Squeally Dan,

Congrats on the new mando. You would think that with the shorter scale length on mando you wouldn't have to stretch your fingers as far as you do on guitar but I havn't found that to be the case. You are doing the right thing by working on the chop positons and you are also correct that working on the mando will most likely improve your guitar playing. You will need to be able to stretch your left hand when you start playing scales.

You might want to pay attention to new stresses in your left hand since you are making them do new things. When you start to feel stress, stop and allow the tension to go away, then go back to it trying to relax.

Best of luck.

[Mandodoc]

Put you right hand between the fingers of the left hand and stretch the fingers sideways, this will help your hand be able to get to those four finger monsters, but I agree with others that two finger chords let me sing and play more than four finger ones do, they all have their place. Congrats on the mando, play nice.
jon

[squeally dan]

Squeally Dan,

Congrats on the new mando. You would think that with the shorter scale length on mando you wouldn't have to stretch your fingers as far as you do on guitar but I havn't found that to be the case. You are doing the right thing by working on the chop positons and you are also correct that working on the mando will most likely improve your guitar playing. You will need to be able to stretch your left hand when you start playing scales.

You might want to pay attention to new stresses in your left hand since you are making them do new things. When you start to feel stress, stop and allow the tension to go away, then go back to it trying to relax.

Best of luck.
Thanks to all for the advice! I have been playing a lot of clawhammer banjo, and it seems it doesn't help much with my guitar playing. I actually find that the more banjo I play, I get a little sloppier when I have to play my weekend guitar gigs. I think mando will be different.

[TommyK]

Welcome to the light side of the force!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[squeally dan]

I get the impression mandolin players don't like banjos. Is this correct? Do I have to burn my banjos to be a true mandolinist? Did I just make up a word?

[250sc]

I don't want to get involve in slamming banjos but I think the fact that the mando's scale length is so short makes you have to concentrate on your technique to a point that you will probably see an improvment in your guitar playing.

[acousticphd]

squeally dan
Posted: Oct. 15 2004, 14:23
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I get the impression mandolin players don't like banjos. #Is this correct? Do I have to burn my banjos to be a true mandolinist? Did I just make up a word?


Squeally Dan - You only are required to burn your resonator/bluegrass banjos. The old-time banjos are welcome to stay.

[squeally dan]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll build the fire tonight.

[Greenmando]

I get the impression mandolin players don't like banjos. #Is this correct? Do I have to burn my banjos to be a true mandolinist? Did I just make up a word?
Do not burn your b**jo, go HERE (http://doodoowah.com/BanjoPlayersAnon.htm) for instructions on safe b**jo removal.
Seriously I broke most my teeth on the b**jo, still have the b**jo and my teeth. Of course the b**jo is in a new hard case and my teeth are in a zip lock baggie in the gun safe.

My best advice is to start saving up your spare change. A MK will only tease your sensibilities. A good MK player will quickly outgrow the limited capabilities of the foreign made mando. Seriously, when you play a Gibson or a comparable American made mandolin you will be addicted.

[Greenmando]

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll build the fire tonight.
I have a bunch (truck loads) of Teak, oak and cherry just screaming for a good bonfire.

Does anyone have any marshmallows? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[peterbc]

As for action, that's personal preference. Bluegrassers seem to like it higher. I don't like mine too low, it feels weird to me.

[mandolooter]

I'll second Peter on that...everytime I play someone else's mando I realize my action is set high but when I lower it it just doesn't feel right either.

Hi Peter, how ya been? I hope to see ya again at wintergrass this year...I think Im ready to join the pickers in the hall's with ya. I've dropped the tab/notation completely and Im playing soly by ear now and its working out way better for me but the fiddle tunes are hard to get right. I've picked up some of your right-hand technique from watching ya last year...thanks for the freebie... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Jon Hall]

JeffS

You're right, those 4 finger chop chords are pretty tough to begin with but you can still play a great rhythmic chop with 3 or even 2 finger chords on the lower strings but be sure to avoid hitting the open E's and A's. It's the"chuck" sound you want.

Even if you can't play a break good, solid rhythm is appreciated in every jam.

[mmukav]

And no, mandolinist is a word! Good luck!

[squeally dan]

So I did make up a word. Do I get a free set of strings for that? Somebody let Scott know.

[mmukav]

no--I meant that mandolinist IS a word---you did not make it up---sorry!