Hey Chris welcome. Sounds good to me too. You picked it nice and clean. I actually learned this tune yesterday. I've been trying to learn the old standards I've missed while I've been learning. I ditto everything O.S. says. I would also say your left hand also looks a bit tense. Scroll up to Roland Whites video and watch his left hand. Where his thumb sits and where the neck rests in his hand. This allows his fingers to just hover over the strings and minimize the amount of movement. I know, it sounds like a lot. But, with practise it gets easier every day. So, keep on working and have fun. You've already given yourself a good start. Gary
OS and GK, thanks for the feedback. I wasn't sure anyone would notice a post on such and old thread. I need to get a different strap that fits better under the scroll. The one I have is too long, so when looped around the scroll the neck hangs very low and at a flat angle. The feedback about tension in both hands is spot on, the blisters and white knuckles are proof...I'm hoping some was due to camera shyness. A friend suggested I put a set of light strings (J62s or similar) on to help with the left-hand pressing issues while learning. Thoughts on this? Will using light strings now just leave me having to adjust pressure later on when I move back up to something like the J74s? Thanks again for helping a beginner figure things out. Your videos have been inspiring and a great resource.
You'll struggle with left-hand tension until you find a way for the neck of the mandolin to stay in the proper place without your hand supporting it. Different strap, different instrument position, whatever it takes. It takes extra control and coordination to play with a relaxed hand while also gripping the neck to keep it from moving around. Best to eliminate that extra requirement altogether.
This arrangement is from Mickey Cochran's crosspicking book. I have had this book well over a year and I'm only just beginning to master some of his pieces.
Impressive cross picking!
Here is my version of Soldiers Joy on my Herb Taylor tenor guitar.
This is only a couple of hundred weeks late- I hope I'm not in too much trouble....... Theres so many great settings of this on this page- It's great to listen to so many different takes on the 'same' tune!! This is a 'traditional' Shetland version of it Things are still abit 'echoey' but I've just realised we've got laminate flooring through the whole house so nothing to deaden the sound. Sorry! Jim
Sounds good to me Nj. Just a little reverb. I got lucky last week. I was looking at a Tenor to buy, but someone else grabbed it. Pheew. But I have thought if I do break down and buy one I'd probably get a Gold Tone. So, it's nice to see and hear one in action. Keep having fun. Gary
