Mandolin Cafe Message Board - Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/ en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:52:21 GMT vBulletin 1 http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg Mandolin Cafe Message Board - Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/ Moving Chords! http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56756&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:06:17 GMT Well this is a question that poped into my head based on a reply in another thread. A few responses where there but I think it best to tackle it in a... Well this is a question that poped into my head based on a reply in another thread. A few responses where there but I think it best to tackle it in a new thread.

So Here is what prompted my question. What are moving chords.


Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by EarlG
I wonder what would happen if I just kept playing rhythm thru the break?
reply by StearnART That's when one of those Jethro Burns walking chord melody rhythms would come in handy......or, I really liked the way Todd Phillips used to do great chord breaks when he soloed as 2nd mandolin in the DGQ. Fancy rhythm patterns and moving chords are part of what is cool about playing mandolin.
]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks John Bertotti http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56756 More expensive = harder to play? http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56741&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:38:23 GMT I've been playing for about a year using a very cheap little Johnson mandolin. Recently I invested in a nicer mandolin and I've been playing it for about a month now. However, the new one feels much harder to play - I have to press down more with my fingers, the strings are more likely to buzz, and it's more difficult to get a clear sound.

The action seems about the same on both mandolins. It's possible the new mandolin has heavier gauge strings but it's hard for me to tell. Does this seem normal? Any theories about what might be different?

Many thanks! ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks Slownsure http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56741 Playing Blues, What Scales Work http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56739&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:41:47 GMT I think when you play a blues break you are supposed to use a minor pentatonic with the root of the key you are playing. In other words, in G play a... I think when you play a blues break you are supposed to use a minor pentatonic with the root of the key you are playing. In other words, in G play a G root minor pentatonic not a major.

I found out tonight my harmonica friends use a harp in the 4th of the key you are playing blues in. In other words they use a C harp if we play G blues.

I'm talking straight 12 bar blues.

Could you use a major C pentatonic scale to play G blues on mandolin?

What's the theory here? I think I might be missing something. ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks EarlG http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56739 <![CDATA[Advice I Wish I'd Taken Earlier]]> http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56737&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:54:25 GMT The great thing about a community such as this is the opportunity for mentoring. The older more experienced players can help the newer beginner types... The great thing about a community such as this is the opportunity for mentoring. The older more experienced players can help the newer beginner types and usually that is the case. If someone gave me this advice years ago, I wasnt listening and now I see the wisdom. Now as part of my learning a new tune or practicing, I play the lead parts as usual, AA BB or whatever but now after the lead break, I chop out the rythm chords for the whole thing just as if someone else was taking thier break. Since I have started doing this, I have found that my rythm playing is better, I understand and "Know" the song better wich is also helping me with improvisation. When playing with others I can transition in and out of lead and rythm smoother cuz thats how I practice every song. Am I just late in learning or does everyone do this? ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks pickinpete http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56737 Down Up Dilemma http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56699&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:28 GMT When reading another message yesterday I realised I still have not got down up straight in my head. I understand when you talking about straight... When reading another message yesterday I realised I still have not got down up straight in my head. I understand when you talking about straight quarter notes, eighth notes,etc but what is the proper way to pick say the following two bars of the jazz waltz The Way You Look Tonight?

Bar 3. A quarter note, two eight notes, an eight note rest and an eighth note?

Bar 7. A quarter note, an eighth note, a quarter note and eighth note.

What is the "proper" way to play this? Thanks. ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks mandrian http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56699 Alfie Duo style http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56656&goto=newpost Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:02:26 GMT I have long wished to play Alfie (Bacharach) on the mandolin. I have now acquired the piano score and I fancy doing it in duo style (Evan Marshall).... I have long wished to play Alfie (Bacharach) on the mandolin. I have now acquired the piano score and I fancy doing it in duo style (Evan Marshall). Any ideas how I should set about it? The score is in C so I first of all thought of moving into G (one string higher) so as to give me more chordal opportunities. I suppose I should base my bass notes on the ones in the piano score (tremeloing the melody) or should I try to work out a pattern myself (based on thirds, sixths, 10ths)? Any ideas, suggestions, pointers, welcome. ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks ald http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56656 hammer on....help! http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56639&goto=newpost Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:36:55 GMT I'm a beginner! Bravely trying to teach myself, as I'm currently living in small town ontario, and no mandolin teachers can be found.

I am starting from the very basics with theory and scales, and learning the fretboard, and I can read notation already from playing the piano, but I admit that i'm jumping the gun once in a while and trying to learn songs way beyond my expertise level...but I find it fun when all of the simple stuff starts to bore me. i figure it can't be bad for my dexterity.

I am learning salty dog blues right now, and i use telfview to slow it way down.....but seriously....am i really supposed to hammer on the 9th fret on the E string?? is that even possible? i have been changing my pressure, timing, everything i can think of and i can't get one single peep of sound out. it sure sounds like a hammer on in the tune though.

would it make a difference that i'm learning on a tater bug? or that my baby finger is depressingly small and feeble?? ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks fairyphaedra http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56639 How Much Do You Want to Think? Little Wing particularly http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56586&goto=newpost Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:03:24 GMT I played music for a long time more or less not thinking at all, trying things and if I liked how they sounded I did them again. But, over the years... I played music for a long time more or less not thinking at all, trying things and if I liked how they sounded I did them again. But, over the years I gradually started thinking more. I hope this is a good thing. Maybe not, I love to listen to Joseph Spence and I don't think he agonizes over music theory.

Anyway, every once in a while I think about songs like Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing. What is going on there? It goes like this:

Em/G/Am/Em
Bm/Am/G/F/C/D

Is that song in Em or G? Should anyone care?

Oh, but it seems they do. Look at what some scholarly academic type has to say in his doctoral-dissertation-thingy here (Try Matthew Brown Little Wing in Google books if that doesn't work.)

Rather than read all that stuff and all the other people that talk about that stuff, I'd rather hear what people who play that song think about while playing it, if anything.

By the way, I think Mr. Musical Scholar got the last chord wrong. It's D not Dm. ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks PineGrove99 http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56586 Tips for speeding up? http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56530&goto=newpost Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:59:14 GMT I know, "Slow down first"!!!

So that of the way. I have a few songs that are particularly tought, I start out setting the metonome to slow, then after awhile at good dexterity and precision I speed up, and so on until bam - there's a few spots I either have a brain malfunction or what? So I back it down. The interesting thing is after I speed up I'm good for about a minute or two before the bam hits me. So not sure it's a mental block or what. I've been doing the slow down for a LONG time on some of the problem areas - and the areas I have problems are on string changes, usually like A2 to D5 or so. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Patrick ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks pbouldin http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56530 The mandolin gold standard (Thile) http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56404&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:50:35 GMT I was listening to the Chris Thile / David Grier concert that was recorded at the Prism in Charlottesville, Virginia again this morning. For some... I was listening to the Chris Thile / David Grier concert that was recorded at the Prism in Charlottesville, Virginia again this morning. For some reason I just want to yell to someone, "WOW! Is there anything greater than this!" I just worship their musicianship.

Thanks for letting me yell. ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks Steve Gorman http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56404 Capo Question http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56398&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:07:51 GMT I just bought a capo today and I've been tooling around with it. I was wondering if someone could tell me how chording with a capo works (like I'm technically playing a C chord, but my mando, with the capo is technically tuned Bb-F-C-G).

Thanks!

:mandosmiley: ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks Mandoviol http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56398 Scales, modes, and chord progressions??? http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56396&goto=newpost Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:31:18 GMT I'm spending time learning scales, working on D now, and chords. Yes this question is beyond my knowledge and current ability but I would still like to know.

That said, scales have modes but how do chord get constructed in different modes, how do you know what chords to use? ]]> Theory, Technique, Tips and Tricks John Bertotti http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56396