Interesting technique

**Barefoot Bud** · Dec-21-2011, 7:29pm

It seems like he's just running his pick across the strings like an articulated strum. But I'm really having trouble copying it. Awesome to watch anyways.

**Jim Broyles** · Dec-21-2011, 8:37pm

Hmm. I saw single note melody picking, single string tremolo and double stop tremolo. None of it looked out of the ordinary unless I missed something. Great playing and a cool tune.

**kkmm** · Dec-21-2011, 10:39pm

A ha, someone plays tremolo moving the forearm just like me (however this man plays much better than me, fairly new to mandolin). This tremolo technique has been noted as "wrong technique", but I read about this on the Web as one "good" technique. And this is the first video showing this.

Back the the music, it sounds quite interesting and the picking technique where he slides the pick over multiple strings. I have not done this on mandolin but on guitar yes. The trick is to make it sounds good, not just imitating the hand movement.
I like the guitar man too, sounds like percussion.

**Dan Johnson** · Dec-21-2011, 10:48pm

yeah that bit at the beginning would be pretty tough to copy - nice and weird though - kind of sounds like something Frank Wakefield or some old timer might do - cool.

**Jim Broyles** · Dec-22-2011, 12:02am

That's just arpeggios. Remember how we played "House of the Rising Sun" a long time ago? He's just doing it down, then up.

**Jim Garber** · Dec-22-2011, 8:39am

That BTW is one of those strange Gelas mandolins with a double top. Actually sounds quite nice -- I never have heard one. I like this tune and their playing. Good energy.

**matonman** · Jan-05-2012, 6:44pm

hi all, i am brand new to mandolin having just picked up a cheap epiphone a few weeks ago , im having heaps of fun ,and have found it much easier than i anticipated , probably my flatpicking a lot of fiddle tunes on guitar has helped. anyway, i was noodling around last week or so and came up with a sound very similar to the op's example, playing down on both strings in a course and then up, ,playing the bottom string in the course, and then sort of sliding my pick back in a circular sort of motion and playing the top string in the course , then down on both strings in the course. it makes a sort of syncopated "dip diddle dip " sound basicly its "duud".

i have been looking everywhere on the web and the op's example is the closest, if not exactly what i do.
it sounds to me a bit "celtic" for want of a better word and can fit into a few of the tunes that i know .
is there an actual name for this technique?

**JEStanek** · Jan-05-2012, 6:50pm

That's a great tune they play together. Thanks for that. Welcome, matonman.

Jamie

**matonman** · Jan-05-2012, 6:54pm

Originally Posted by JEStanek

That's a great tune they play together. Thanks for that. Welcome, matonman.

Jamie

thanks for the welcome, it looks like the place to be.

**Bruce Clausen** · Jan-05-2012, 9:43pm

Great stuff. On Na Luz by the same duo, they swap roles and the guy playing the Ramírez here goes to the Fado guitar you can see on stage next to him. He's terrific— first time I've seen that instrument used other than for Fado music. Also a number of performances on this channel where solo Fado guitar is accompanied by a fine mandolin orchestra. Thanks, Bud.

**billhay4** · Jan-06-2012, 1:42pm

Quite impressive, both the playing and the music.
If you go to umibouzu0713's Channel on YouTube, you'll see some amazing music.
Bill

**Gelsenbury** · Jan-09-2012, 4:38am

Music can be so wonderful. I won't even try to imitate this, but I'm grateful to have seen and heard this video.

**sjf** · Jan-09-2012, 2:22pm

Originally Posted by billhay4

Quite impressive, both the playing and the music.
If you go to umibouzu0713's Channel on YouTube, you'll see some amazing music.
Bill

Thanks for the link. I just listened to "Black Rain"... wow. This man plays some beautiful and haunting stuff. I'm a fan.

**jramsey** · Jan-09-2012, 3:41pm

Back to the OP's question, I've seen this "sweeping" technique used in Calace's Concerto 1, Op. 113. Check out the lovely Katsia Prakopchyk having a go at it (the "sweeping" technique happens from @4:05 until 4:39). Not sure what the proper name for it is (if there is one), hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in.

**greg_tsam** · Jan-09-2012, 6:13pm

That's called Circular Picking. It's not the same as tremolo or alternate picking. Kinda like sweep picking in both directions. I've tried it before and it's fun. Usually I just think about making a circle or oval with my pick and go lightly at first. Never found much use for it in bluegrass jams but it could add some interesting flavor.