Best mandolin lick

[David Lewis]

Any of you would have seen this article, http://jazzmando.com/new/archives/002336.shtml which reports the best guitar licks... Ted then asks 'what's the best mandolin lick?'

Alright... Let's go... (And as ted said, driven by age, taste and style)


In no particular order:

Rawhide, Monroe
Losing my religion, r e m
Sailin' shoes, Sam bush
Fat man, jethro Tull
Battle of evermore, led zeppelin
Maggie Mae, rod Stewart
Rockin chair, the band
Man of constant sorrow, soggy bottom boys
How to grow a woman from the ground, Chris thile
And something from dawg

I know, that's the stupidest list ever compiled and how could I? What's your opinion?

[Mike Bunting]

How could you?

[David Lewis]

How could you?

I logged in and started typing....

[Elliot Luber]

I agree with Rawhide as number one at least. (In terms of guitar, Whole Lotta Love wasn't even the best Led Zeppelin riff).

[LongBlackVeil]

its not a bad list, but i wouldnt include "losing my religion", its a good song but it doesnt really have any killer licks.

Its also sorely lacking in David Grisman, who has some really tasty licks scattered throughout his career.

But something i want to point out, that list is a compilation of best guitar RIFFS, riffs are definitely not the same as licks.

Grisman has even more killer riffs, my favorite is the main riff of "Blue Midnite"

All that said, im not going to try and compile a list, so i commend you for actually doing it instead of critiquing someone elses

[stevedenver]

oh crikey mate!!!!!!

[jaycat]

I think of a 'riff' as a repeated theme whereas a 'lick' is a catchy string of notes in a solo.

So for example, a classic riff would be the intro to Glad by Traffic. A lick would be Steve Cropper's solo in Hip Hug-Her (or bits thereof).

[LongBlackVeil]

I think of a 'riff' as a repeated theme whereas a 'lick' is a catchy string of notes in a solo.

So for example, a classic riff would be the intro to Glad by Traffic. A lick would be Steve Cropper's solo in Hip Hug-Her (or bits thereof).

thats exactly what the difference is. Usually a song or tune is built around a riff, it is never really built around a lick

So for example, i think the song "losing my religion" has a really good mandolin riff, very iconic indeed. As far as licks? i dont think so.

Its also kind of hard to just name a song as having the best lick, which lick are you talking about? theres usually more than one lick in a song

[Mark Wilson]

I know, that's the stupidest list ever compiled and how could I? What's your opinion?

Are these licks you like or just mandolin songs you like?

The first 'lick' I heard that made me stop and go.. whoa I gotta learn that was a Dawg lick at the end of one of his solos. 10-15 notes that forced me to replay it many times just to take it in. Thats cool

[Ron McMillan]

Chris Thile's mandolin intro to 'I get a kick out of you' on Dolly Parton's 'Little Sparrow' album. A lick without peer, about 17 seconds of absolute blummin' genius.

[sgrexa]

It would be hard to choose just one favorite, but I really love Sam Bush's solo on Big Sciota on Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, and Edgar Myers "Skip, Hop and Wobble". This is Sam at his very best. Sam's "Whayasay" is also a great riff.

Sean

[JeffD]

Many great riffs in the Bach Bm Partita.

[Tommcgtx]

Plenty of tasty stuff in the Grisman/Garcia version of "So What" in my opinion.

[Capt. E]

I was just listening again to an album of Live Duets by Bill Monroe and Doc Watson: take a listen to "Foggy Mountain Top" or "Soldiers Joy" or "Kentucky Mandolin" and you've got some great licks on both mandolin and guitar.

[Backlineman]

One of the first licks I learned, or tried to learn, was the mandolin break in Spinal Tap's Stonehenge. I'm still learning it actually. Quite a few variations on this.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+in+stonehenge

[bagpipe]

One of the first licks I learned, or tried to learn, was the mandolin break in Spinal Tap's Stonehenge. I'm still learning it actually. Quite a few variations on this.

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...+in+stonehenge

I think your mandolin has to go to 11 to able to play that lick!

[Josh Levine]

Something about that thematic opening lick of "Come Hither to Go Yonder" gets me everytime.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nF7r8NkmdKk

[johnhgayjr]

Here's a pretty good one - from back in the "early days"...

[JeffD]

The first lick I learned was the introduction to "Never on Sunday"

[Ted Eschliman]

I'd have to include Thile's solo mandolin intro/bump to Nickle Creek "This Side."

[DataNick]

Bill Monroe's opening lick on Roanoke just kills me Brotha!

[David Lewis]

I actually went for big hits... I agree with the difference between lick and riff, though in this case they're a little interchangeable. Some of them are my favourite. And the really interesting thing is that players like thile and dawg have a different effect on mandolin players as opposed to non players.

Been loving all your suggestions. Keep 'em coming.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

[QUOTE=DataNick;1320289]Bill Monroe's opening lick on Roanoke just kills me Brotha!

And only "correct" with the arm moving upwards on the g-chord!

[re simmers]

Alan Bibey's break, especially when he modulates at the end, on Thanks A Lot with Third Time Out. It's a hot break, but he still maintains the melody. Go to the 1:20 mark for the mando break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eSAKCVk0bQ

Ron Pennington's break on Every Humble Knee. He breaks a string and still plays an incredible break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rRwXkLfq_E

Bob

[Elliot Luber]

Would this be the intro to Dolly's song?