Dumb Questions (part 2)

**subweird** · Mar-09-2005, 12:16pm

I'm a very new mandolin player, but I've played guitar for years. Recently I started an Insurgent Country band and we've been playing for a few months now.. we were using the mandolin for an extra strumming instrument, just doing chops opposite of the standup bass, but since we've seen Split Lip Rayfield, we are wanting to do a lot more with the mandolin. I've bought some beginner books and am learning songs like Farewell To Whiskey and Golden Slippers.. but they aren't really helping me with the songs we are doing..

So my question is, when playing the mandolin in a full band (guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin) should I do little licks between each lyric, or between the verse and chorus? or is it more tradiontial that the mandolin player strums or does chops and then plays a solo now and again???

I can post an MP3 of something we are working on if that would help…

thanks a ton for any help I can get!

-dave

**Willie** · Mar-09-2005, 4:39pm

Dave...That varies with each band...Some just chop the beat and other chop some of the time and fill in tag licks at other times...Try both and see which fits your type of music and get ideas from those that are listening..On most fast songs the mando just chops and on slow ones they do some fill work...Good luck...Willie

Mar-09-2005, 5:21pm

Do what Willie said. He knows what he is talkin about on this topic.

**GVD** · Mar-09-2005, 5:34pm

If you're going for a traditional sound then yes the mandolin player normally does a lot of chopping, a few fills and the occasional solo. If you're going for more of a Split Lip sound then you wouldn't chop nearly as much. If you watch SLR Wayne Gottstine doesn't really do a lot of chopping. He uses more ringing chords and quick fills and just plain blistering solos. If you really want to sound like SLR tell your bass player I'll make him a good deal on an old gas tank.

GVD

**subweird** · Mar-10-2005, 10:37am

ha! Thanks for the help guys, I'm no where near being able to play those crazy fast solos.. For now we are going to have to be content with just harmonies, traditional song styles and such..

Thanks for the advice Willie! I'll just keep trying out yer advisin'.