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Thread: Need help with playing strings

  1. #1

    Default Need help with playing strings

    I'm just beginning to play the mandolin but am having trouble.

    When I try to play chords I am (not on purpose) pressing the strings on either side of the strings I am trying to play.

    Any suggestions or help on resolving this problem?

    Any exercises I can work on?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Arch your fingers more, so that the tips engage the strings only.

    And, practice. If you're "just beginning," you need to learn what works for you and what doesn't. No one starts out as an expert.
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  4. #3
    Middle-Aged Old-Timer Tobin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Yep, definitely work on arching your fingers and playing with the tips. You need to be holding it and fretting it the way violin players do, not the way guitar players do.

    The more you get into mandolin playing, the more you will realize just how much it requires very precise finger movements. The location of your fingers, the shape of your hand, the pressure you use, are all going to require years of work to get them just right. Don't be intimidated by it; just realize that it's going to take time and experience. Most average people who don't play musical instruments are not used to having to use fine motor control in their hands. They mainly use their hands like claws for everyday tasks. But playing a stringed instrument, especially a smaller one like the mandolin, is going to take a lot of dexterity training. It will come with time, patience, and practice.
    Keep that skillet good and greasy all the time!

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  6. #4

    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Good advice above--- it also occurs to me to ask if your mandolin has been set up properly? If your action is quite high, you may be sort of rolling off the strings a bit.

  7. #5
    Registered User NEH57's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Come and join 'us' here....http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php?groupid=76 we are all where you are, or were very recently, .....it really is all about 'time' with the instrument in hand......but to want to hang in there until time starts to win out, you need to maintain your spirits.

    Most of us are full of spirits .... even in the playing of one song most of us can go from, to , to , to with a bit of ....but we still

  8. #6

    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Look at the angle you are holding the instrument at also. Sometimes angling it differently, both up and down as well as toward or away from your body can help. Assuming you are playing with a strap, then strap adjustment can make a difference. If you are not using a strap, you might want to get one.

  9. #7

    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Tobin View Post
    Yep, definitely work on arching your fingers and playing with the tips. You need to be holding it and fretting it the way violin players do, not the way guitar players do.

    The more you get into mandolin playing, the more you will realize just how much it requires very precise finger movements. The location of your fingers, the shape of your hand, the pressure you use, are all going to require years of work to get them just right. Don't be intimidated by it; just realize that it's going to take time and experience. Most average people who don't play musical instruments are not used to having to use fine motor control in their hands. They mainly use their hands like claws for everyday tasks. But playing a stringed instrument, especially a smaller one like the mandolin, is going to take a lot of dexterity training. It will come with time, patience, and practice.
    Thanks for the encouragement.

    I'll work at it.

    Doug

  10. #8
    Down the road I go Trav'linmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Need help with playing strings

    Doug , as NEH57 said , join the newbies group. You can find us at the 'listen and learn' drop down menu and select 'social groups' . Hope to see you over there.
    Larry
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