Search:

Dan, I just PM'ed you.

It's that and the metronomic effect of always knowing where you are on the string. But again, it's easier said than done, in my case.

I've asked myself that question many times, and the answer is always 'yes' it does matter. I haven't heard a player worth listening to (other than myself) who doesn't have his/her pick direction...

I couldn't agree more. However, part of the fun is playing all sorts of instruments in order to find out what everything sounds like and how they all feel. In the mean time, you have a great sounding...

Hey there! If you're in New Hampshire, you'd do yourself well by paying Max and Lauri Girouard a visit. They're great builders and really nice people.

The mandola is surely on the rise as an instrument. It's featured in a few tunes on the new john Reichman album as well.

I bet she'd do it.

That's exactly where I am right now. I play with an circle/ensemble with three guitars, two banjos, mandolin, bass, and your's truly on mandola. It's great so far. The solos I take start just below...

That is the 'dilemma'...transposing fiddle tunes so that the mandola can become a session instrument. I don't have much problem transposing singing songs, but the quick and dirty fix is to play the...

I've recently acquired a Girouard mandola (spruce top, maple back and sides) which suits me well. It has a big, rich voice and less sustain, which makes it a perfect fit for what I play. I plan on...

A few years ago, we went to the Brazen Head (though not really a Temple Bar pub) in Dublin for a good pub experience, and it was just that. However, the band playing there were playing for the crowd;...

Great looking finish. I bet it sounds fantastic.

Beautiful! Congrats!!

Here's "Folding Down the Sheets" suggested by C Tone, who played a version of this on the '50' just before it got sent out to me. It seemed only fitting that I learn it and play it now. Thanks for...

OK, so here's the first sound file on the new Girouard mandola...


http://youtu.be/EC3Rbm7wcDQ

That's the dilemma...the hand hangs out there. Plenty of great players allow their hands to rest there, but considering reminds us that the less contact with the bridge (or the back, as int the case...

I tried a full evening of free extension last night. It's a lot harder than I thought. However, I was far more conscious of what I was doing in the moment...far fewer instances of 'checking out' of...

The sweet spot on my mandola is just below the end of the fretboard. It's the fleshy part of my hand that edges up to the bridge (or not, hopefully).

However, Mike Compton says that planting on the bridge is a tone killer. So I try not to really touch/affect it at all.

If you're into Robert Fripp of King Crimson, you might want to practice 'free extension' which discourages planting anywhere. For me personally, you can find me hanging out near the bass side of the...

Yes, Charles, I am blessed that way. She downplays her role as 'decider in chief' but she's so much more!

PS - They are very easy to work with. Fantastic in the listening department.

To commemorate my 50th birthday, my wonderful wife said, "Say, wouldn't it be cool if you had a really nice mandola? You sound really good playing one." So, I gave it some thought and decided to go...

I don't know about their guitars, but I got to play one of their mandolins a few months ago, and I came away thinking they sounded and played great.

Here's a little known gem: Richie Havens sang on Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett's album "Please Don't Touch". It's Hackett's best studio release from that era, easily. Also appearing as featured...