mandolin position

[Cary Fagan]

Once again I turn to you all out there for advice.

Until recently I had my strap adjusted so that standing my mandolin was pretty low. The bottom curve was maybe a couple of inches below my belt. Seeing some players keeping it much higher, I've decided to try and see if it improves my picking. So I've raised it an inch or two above my waist, bringing my picking arm close to parrallel with the instrument. It feels very different in every way. I expected an initial deterioration in my picking since my brain has to unlearn the old position, but I'm wondering if I'll get better results. My picking does seem louder and tremelo is better for sure, but not speed, at least not yet, and I've got more of a tendency to twist the pick. It even feels very different against my body.

I wonder if people have an opinion about what position works best. I'm sure some will say that it is a personal thing, but is there any general consensus?

[Oliver]

I like my mandolin to hang in a position so that my left elbow is at a 90 degree angle when playing. I also switched some time ago to having the strap come around my neck and over my left shoulder ala Sam Bush. I find that I spend much less time fussing with my strap position and it also frees my right arm for some funkyier rythems. I'd say find what really works for you and don't worry too much about looking like anyone else in particular.

Oliver

[onlyagibsonisgoodenuff]

If the mandolin is in the same position that it was when I was sitting down, that's good for me. That way, you don't have to adjust for standing or sitting.

Just a different observation; I find that this position is slightly higher than some people like, but I can hear it better than if it's down low.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[mandroid]

I generally have my elbow in a line as if a continuation of the strings, resting #just above the tailpiece. maturity and #malted barley beverages provide a suitable locaton on my person, instrument angled upward a bit.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[bjc]

I like mine high, but I think that comes from classical guitar.All that talk about position wore me down...tee hee. I wear my guitars high as well...just kinda feels right, but I've seen players do the Johnny Ramone (i.e. axe to their knees) and play wonderfully...so mess around with it...but it is a good question and I'd like to see how this thread turns out.

[Brandolin Tucker12]

My mandolin position fluctuates with the size of my belly.:D

[glauber]

I set the strap so it's about the same height that it would be if i were playing sitting down. I wear the strap on my right shoulder only (cowboy style). Mandolin swings about 45 degrees outward from my body, allowing my left arm to be uncramped.

[John Flynn]

I try for consistency between sitting and standing, since I have to perform both ways at different times. Sitting, I have the lower side of the mando, right at about halfway between the rear strap button and the rearmost end of the treble F hole, resting on the inside top of my thigh, with the neck pointing up at about a 45 degree angle. Also, the mando is away from my body about 30 degrees. This allows me to play comfortably with straight wrists. I strap over my right shoulder, Monroe-style and set my strap length so that when I am standing, I duplicate that sitting position as much as possible.

[fatt-dad]

What I noticed when I saw Sam Bush last summer in concert was how low he had his mandolin. So, I figured if it was good enough for Sam Bush, it may be good enough for me! Wasn't. I just didn't like it. Now, I mostly play on the front porch (o.k. in winter I'm on the sofa), so I don't play standing up that often. That said, I have my strap set for sitting down and when I stand up, it's the same as I'm used to.

f-d

[Chip Booth]

Dang Hi. My neck is past the 45 degree mark when sitting down, and elbow is at closer to 100 degress. This may be a bit extreme compared to what most people have mentioned, but it feels really comfortable to me. I think this comes from my strap (right shoulder), a handmade gift from a friend that was maybe a tad bit shorter than I wanted but I felt obligated to go with it and have just gotten used to it. Recently had him make me another with the same length for another mando of mine.

[Cary Fagan]

An update: I didn't last long with the strap that short. I've gone to somewhere in between; now the bottom of the mando is just at the top of my belt. I've got a bit more control with it higher, but seem to still have the sense of freedom I had before. We'll see how it holds up at the jam this week.

[fatt-dad]

So, I'm working on the Tim O'Brian arpeggios and the jazz mando drills. Well to get the pinky working and all the other reaches, it turns out, I had the neck up there in the 45 degree range (sitting down). Something about having the neck higher made the reaches easier (i.e., A flat scale, reaching from the first to the sixth frets).

f-d