Celebrating the strumming aspects of the mandolin.

[Cosmic Graffiti]

Its been about a year since I started playing mandolin and I am constantly surprised at all of the things that you can do with this little instrument. I have spent a lot of time over this past year learning keys, key changes, basic strumming, tons of songs, transposing, jazz and blues and of course the basic chords and strumming patterns.

Recently I have been really wanting to play a LOT more JAZZ, DAWG, SAMBA style music so my teacher has stated me working a lot on more rhythmic strumming patterns. I am blown away by all of the possibilities that I can see in my head for this new area of study and I am so excited.

So here are a few questions for my fellow technique people.

1. Hows your strumming compared to your melody?
Me: Weak but determined to balance it out asap.

2. What kind of strumming patterns are you currently working on?
Me: Grisman Samba patterns and Pop style

3. What is your cerebral experience when strumming?
Me: Its really interesting switching from melody to a samba style rhythm I feel like a percussionist and it feels very free and open......a lot less restraining then I thought it would.

4. Who are your favorite strummers and why?
Me:Grisman for creativity and shades of rhythm
Sam Bush: Because who can possibly keep up with that right hand!

5. What other areas of music did really learning rhythm and strumming well take you too?

Note: This is not a melody vrs rhythm thread nor is it a debate on what you should learn first etc....lets keep everyone off the soap box. This is a thred to celebrate to strumming on of a mandolin.

Thank you for participating.

[Mark Gunter]

1. Hows your strumming compared to your melody?
Me: About the same compared to my melody playing; both pretty weak.

2. What kind of strumming patterns are you currently working on?
Me: Mostly common time with a bit of a swing. Sometimes, waltzes.

3. What is your cerebral experience when strumming?
Me: Experimentation with different rhythmic ideas when working on particular chord melodies vs. vocal arrangements vs. backup rhythms

4. Who are your favorite strummers and why?
Me: Sam Bush because he uses many of the rhythmic patterns I strive for; Tim O'Brien for his relaxed technique; James Nash for his philosophy about groove (as he applies it to guitar strumming)

5. I can't say I've learned rhythm and strumming well.

[Phil Goodson]

It's my favorite part of mandolin playing. I could play rhythm for hours and never take a break and be very happy.

One of my jams is pretty wide open as far as genre allowed, so various strumming patterns are used to match whatever we're doing, anything from old rock & roll, to some Latin rhythms, to Bluegrass chopping and waltzes & Mixtures of 'strumming with minimal muting' mixed with tremolo as needed.

I'm usually not being too cerebral while playing rhythm, just going with the feel of the music, from heart to hand. Great fun.

[T.D.Nydn]

This is where I've been at,,very inspiring,,,,youtube: "Guthrie Govan 32 note strumming"..