Genre choices

[red7flag]

I am currently recording a cd of song I wrote. 6 are Celtic in nature, 2 gypsy, 2 fiddle grass and 2 waltzes. Ovals in general seem more conducive to the non grass tunes. The mandola sounds best playing the gypsy tunes and the OM sounds more in touch with the Celtic tunes. This result is counterintuitive to my expectations. I thought the mandola, short necked and oval would really shine in the Celtic tunes. Instead the guitar shaped f hole OM shined. I would enjoy a discussion on what specific instruments sound better with different genres. Thanks.

[JEStanek]

I'm no expert for sure, but, I would say a lot of it depends upon the arrangement and accompanyment (including voice) going along with each tune/song as to what particular mandolin family instrument works best. I know Mike Compton will use a mandola on tunes he sings on from time to time. I think the key thing for each project it to find the instrumentation that best works together for the individual piece and then the project as a whole to allow for a pleasing flow.

That said, since I play only mandolin or OM alone and have never recorded, I would be interested in hearing what other folks think as well.

Jamie

[catmandu2]

Was just thinking a bit about this when posting up on the "guitar/mandolin" thread. I love the mandola, but it's kind of an interesting animal--voiced in a range that, for me, sounds nice in blues, jazz, and about anything else thrown its way, yet it doesn't jump out like a mandolin. My larger citterns and OMs, like you I find they work nice with droning-modal type approaches. I have both flat top and carved mandolas--both are different of course--I think I play my carved mandola as it provides more space for jazz harmony than mandolin scale length

I play my mandola a lot, but basically only at home to keep my chops up on tenor banjo, which is what I use most when playing out--for its volume and tonal clarity: I can play anything on TB from rags to blues to celtic to standards

[Jim Garber]

There are no absolute rules, Tony. Maybe your particular instruments sound right for what you are doing but maybe some other instruments might work differently.

[red7flag]

Was wondering what lead instruments you think of support gypsy music? Not just lead but supportive too. Thanks.

[John Kelly]

I particularly like using my octave for Scottish pipe tunes as the sustain and pitch seem to suit the tunes better than when I play them on the mandolin. I love the bouzouki for slow airs, again because of the sustain. The scale length of the bouzouki can be a hindrance when playing faster tunes - or at least I find it that way!
Ultimately it is your choice to select whatever instrument and instrument combinations you choose.

Here is a link to a tune I recorded recently with one of my regular band colleagues - he played concertina and asked me to put the bouzouki rather than the guitar on as backing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n5mYcVAmp8

[rob_pt]

For me it doesn't correlate that much with the genre. It is the tune or song that tells me what instrument it wants me to play and how. Of course the song or tune might say something different to you.