Advice for a potential player.

**NR09** · Apr-10-2012, 4:22pm

Hi, firstly apologies if this is in the wrong place, I couldn't see where else it would go.

Anyway, I have wanted to learn how to play an instrument for ages but have been undecided about what instrument to learn. I listen to a wide veriety of music, but particularly rock/metal. However in the past year or so I have started listening to classical and baroque music. I find it incredibly relaxing and the veriety of the music is great, from light chamber music to huge orchestral epics. I feel I am rambling here so I will cut to the chase, I have looked into learning many different instruments but hace never found one exactly right for me.

I would love to play a member of the vNiolin family (particularly the viola) however I feel that since I have no experience playing an instrument or reading music, this would be too difficult as I am unable to afford tuition (I am in school now and will be at university this year so I will be skint.

However I was at my friends recently had he had received a mandolin as a gift. I had never really considered a mandolin before. He payed me some simple tunes and I just LOVED the sound. I immediately fell in love with this instrument and have since researched online about it and have watched innumerable videos on YouTube about the mandolin.

I am very keen on learning the mandolin. However I have one problem. It seems to me that the vast majority of music for the mandolin is bluegrass. And having heard many songs on YouTube during my mandolin "research" I have to admit I am not a fan. I love classical music and am aware that mandolin was used occasionally especially during the baroque era but I am worried that if I start learning to play the mandolin I will struggle to find music that I enjoy to play on it. To reiterate, I LOVE the sound of the mandolin.

So I guess my question is; even though I love the sound of the instrument is there Any point of me learning if I do not like the music that apparently almost all the mandolin is used for?

Thanks so much if you have bothered to read this

**Ben Somerville** · Apr-10-2012, 4:34pm

I would go for it. Instruments are never confined to a certain genre just because that's how the majority uses it. If you love the sound (and yes, it IS easier than the violin), you should love to play it, which is the most important thing, and who knows; maybe you'll form some groundbreaking new classical metal mandolin fusion genre!

Oh, listen to some of Chris Thile's classical and Punch Brothers (their latest album is more rock-based) stuff. Maybe that'll give you inspiration.

**Grommet** · Apr-10-2012, 4:52pm

Welcome to the Mandolin Cafe! You will quickly learn here that the instrument is in no way tied to any single genre of music. Classical music, Celtic music, Irish traditional, Brazilian choro, jazz, blues, folk, rock.....whatever. The instrument is waiting to go wherever you have the desire to take it. I think it is pretty much a misconception that most mandolin music is geared for the bluegrass player. Check out the Mandolin Cafe social group called "The Song a Week Group" and you will see that our most active social group plays bluegrass tunes less frequently than Irish Traditional or Old Time tunes. Same with written instrucitonal music and such. There is plenty of Classical instructional books out there as well. Check out the many tunes of Turlough O'Carolan that have been transcibed/arranged for mandolin available here on the Cafe. Learning to play an instrument is a long process, but it is one that returns great pleasures and satisfaction. Find others who share your musical tastes and goals, get a well-set-up learner mandolin and let the journey begin!

Scott

**George R. Lane** · Apr-10-2012, 4:56pm

Check out mandozine.com

http://www.mandozine.com/music/searc...rder=A&submit=

**NR09** · Apr-10-2012, 5:35pm

Thanks for your replies. I was looking for reassurance that the mandolin is more than just bluegrass, and that it is in no way confined to just this genre. Having had this I an pretty sure I will take the plunge into the 8 stringed madness!

**Folkmusician.com** · Apr-10-2012, 6:51pm

You might take a listen to Thrash-Grass or New-Time. These are starting to gain in popularity. I sort of live in my own little bubble most of time and hadn't heard of these genres until recently. Not too long ago some teenagers came in and one bought a mandolin. Appearance wise, they were about as far from Bluegrass as you could get... I was listening to him play and the kid was surprisingly good. Very fast picking, but with a good swing to it. I was asking what type of music they play and was told, "New-time". I heard them as a band not too long after that and it was really good. It sort of reminded me of The Pogues. I can't fully relate to Thrash-Grass, but I am glad to see it exists.

**Paul Busman** · Apr-10-2012, 7:00pm

Check out the "Music By Genre" section on the home page of this forum. There are a lot of subforums including a classical one.
I love to sit on the couch and just noodle all sorts of stuff: snippets of the Bach Brandenburgs, Klezmer, Irish and Scottish tunes, old TV theme songs, Led Zeppelin. This little instrument is very versatile, and it's all fun. Who knows, Bluegrass may even grow on you...

**Pete Summers** · Apr-10-2012, 7:16pm

Since the mandolin is tuned like a violin, it is capable of playing any violin music -- classical, jazz, ragtime, rock, whatever -- with only minor adjustments to translate bowing to picking. Also, there is a fair body of classical and/or baroque music written just for the mandolin. Also, of course, Italian music. In short, it is capable of playing anything you want in terms of style, as is any chromatic instrument.

Personally, I play mostly classical and folk ragtime music, and some old-time fiddle tunes.

**Steve-o** · Apr-10-2012, 7:57pm

Welcome to the Cafe NR09. Ben suggested you listen to Chris Thile, since he is a mandolin giant and plays many musical genres. He's all over youtube. Here's a Bach piece for starters: E Major Prelude

As other's have said, check out the various forums on the Cafe to get a feel for variety of musical styles. Enjoy the journey,
Steve

**Randi Gormley** · Apr-10-2012, 8:01pm

Absolutely mandolin is used in classical music. It was classical long before bluegrass was created. In addition to the music written for classical mandolin, just about any violin music is possible -- the technique is just different since there's no bow. I just finished a three-day classical mandolin symposium where we played Bach, Vivaldi, Scarlatti and some Munier -- the first three in mandolin orchestra arrangement and the last in its original. There were probably 30 or 40 of us in the orchestra and it was a really great time.

What hasn't been mentioned yet is your interest in the viola sound. The mandolin family has its viola member -- the mandola. It's slightly larger than the mandolin (just like a viola is slightly larger than a violin) and the register is about the same and, from what I can gather (correct me here, guys) it plays the same music as the viola. There are also mandocellos and mandobasses. I'd pop over to the classical section on the cafe and wander through the discussions; and if you want to check out the rock stuff, that's around, too.

If you take the plunge, you'll have a great time.

**NR09** · Apr-11-2012, 8:56am

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am only just replying due to the time difference, I notice everyone is American

**bribhoy** · Apr-11-2012, 9:46am

I was in your shoes fairly recently. I had always wanted to play an instrument but never got round to it, never read music, always too busy, and whatever. I heard the mandolin (went to see Ade Edmonson at a Bad Shepherds gig) and decided to jump in. Last July, I bought a Kentucky KM-150 from Hobgoblin Music in London - just about the cheapest all solid wood mando readily available in the UK - and really haven't put it down since. Most of what I play is chords, but with some picking and I am getting steadily better. I play rock, punk and Irish traditional. No bluegrass - but I might one day.

I recommend you get the instrument and go where it leads you. The joy is in the journey

Good luck
Brian

**Pete Summers** · Apr-11-2012, 9:52am

Originally Posted by NR09

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am only just replying due to the time difference, I notice everyone is American

Many members here from outside the U.S.A. Keep watching.

**ian s** · Apr-11-2012, 10:18am

Hello NR09
I am not too keen on bluegrass either, but one tune in particular convinced me to buy an old Italian bowlback and try and learn to play the mandolin. Have a listen to Pelagias Song from the film Captain Corellis mandolin, another classic is Speak Softly Love from the Godfather film. I think you will like them.
Ian