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Hello all,

Thought I would throw in my 2 cents on the subject of repertoire building.

If you are switching over, or rather, explanding your horizons from OT to ITM, I think you're in for a...

Deaden the strings with your left hand and strum along with recorded music, preferably tunes that you love. Every song is a good 3-4min workout.

From your examples I assume that you want to play Irish music -- great! What I have found so far is that the harmony is a little different; you would have to learn to harmonize not only the major...

Just got the For Dummies book on iTunes — wish I'd gotten it earlier! Especially good if you're into American styles.

I have a Kentucky 505. It's really nice, A-style though. Available in Europe for just a tad under 500EUR.

They are well respected here in Europe since they actually make their instruments on the continent. I suppose they're no collectors items, but they are considered to be excellent "bang for your buck"...

I'm not a BG player, but I do love Sizemore's tone and ornamentation (and musical personality). What do you guys think, would this dvd be good from a more general mandolin technique point of view?...

I have actually developed problems (carpal tunnel) after starting serious chord work on the small mando. It is hard! All I can say is, keep practicing your single string playing for economy, and add...

Thanks again for your input.

That Tonjes! It's really killing me that I just can't go and try it! I am under the impression that Tonjes builds a great intrument, and that one seems like a bargain...

Richard, thanks for your input! What a lot of experience regarding this issue, and I am happy to be able to draw from it. How did you find the shorter scale limiting? Was it regarding melody or chord...

Yeah, Mark! Bookmarked for sure!

Beautiful! Congratulations!

Tom, your Hathway looks stunning. Hope we get to hear more of it in the future! :) I PM'd you.

Does anyone have any personal preferences regarding tone woods?

Dagger, I live in the far north of Europe. In my neck of the woods, there aren't many mando specialist dealers, and the luthiers' prices are prohibitive compared to the UK. As it happens, however, I...

Hello all,

After having my beginner level OM for some years now, I have decided to take the plunge and get a luthier-made one. Budget here is under 1500 euros.

After some initial investigations...

Just the stuff I need! Many thanks!

You will find that simply being able to hold and move the bow will be a challenge.

Get Matt Cranitch's Irish Fiddle Book, it starts with how to read music and hold the thing, then moves on to...

Thanks for the vid, I have never seen Doyle play the zouk before! I am a huge fan of the Double Play album, and his powerful guitar playing in general. :mandosmiley: His legendary right hand is, IMO,...

To me the clear or amber coloured finishes make the intrument look more dignified and, well, expensive. Cheaper mandos all come in dark bursts, maybe that's why. A nice, light,vsubtle burst is...

Dear all,

This is fantastic advice. I appreciate the time you all have taken to write down your thoughts on this.

Will Patton, your advice really does make a lot of sense to me as someone with...

Thanks, Bertram!

This is the sound that really got me hooked on Irish Trad way back when. Still love it!

Alec Finn is a hero of mine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htolggwtluE

And talk about your iconic...

Well then, this was the perfect day for me to watch his rhythm mando DVD. His right hand is a joy to watch!

Congratulations indeed!

This clip illustrates many things about the kind of style that is usually associated with ITM these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6YJAFbJPrA

Pay attention to how melody players vary the...

Recently got the Rhythm Changes book, and I have to say, it is the book I have been searching for many, many years! Here it is all laid out: the actual practical details of working out an intricate...