Celtic mandolin?

[Tim B]

wondering if anyone can help me out with some information on what chords will give me a celtic sounding melody on the mandolin

[Fred Keller]

In a general sense, steer clear of thirds. Use roots and fifths. For example, to play a D chord (normally D, F# and A) in celtic music, concentrate on the D and A notes. Get stuff ringing. Others will have more and better tips I'm sure.

[Bob DeVellis]

I 'm not sure exactly what you're asking. If you're playing chords over a melody, then Fred's advice is spot on. But depending on who you talk to, chords will be more or less welcomed in at least Irish traditional music. I think tastefully played accompaniment can add a lot but it's a different process than the chordal accompaniment to pop, folk, bluegrass, or other musical styles. Harmony doesn't play a strong role in traditional Irish music in many (perhaps most) cases. Harmonies are more implied linearly than played as chorded forms (although there are certainly exceptions). Think fiddles and whistles -- not really chordal instruments. Also, the instruments in some forms of traditional instrumental music are kind of mimicking the human voice as it is used in sean nos (old style) singing, which is typically unaccompanied solo singing. So again, not much harmony going on. More traditional forms of accompaniment, if it exists at all, are very understated, perhaps droning a single note, or playing a simplified counter-melody. Strumming full chords usually isn't part of the mix. Accompaniment is often more rhythm than harmony.

More modern interpretations of Irish traditional music are all over the map and can use harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment, electric instruments, drums, horn sections, vocal harmonization, and all sorts of other stuff that isn't traditional. It's completely a personal choice as to how "traditionally" to play but it's probably at least worth knowing about the traditions (either to stay with them or ignore them) so that you can determine whether others you might play with are more or less traditional, and adapt accordingly.

This may seem like an awfully complicated and convoluted answer to a straightforward question, but accompaniment in Irish traditional music (at least) is a much more complicated issue than in most other forms of music. Assuming that what works in other musical forms will work there can backfire, if the other players are steeped in the tradition.