About to Join the Club

**Michael Thompson** · Aug-09-2012, 4:32pm

Well, I finally bit the bullet and called up the mandolin store to have them special-order me a Weber 'cello. They said it could be 4-6 months, so I'm sure I'll be practically dying of anticipation as the time approaches.

I know I definitely want to learn Bach's cello suite for it. Any other suggestions for mandocello music beside playing cello pieces or learning some of Mike Marshall's pieces?

**Tristram** · Aug-10-2012, 12:59pm

Asides from Bach's cello suites that you've mentioned, I'd hit up some Leonard Cohen - the following sounds great on a mandola:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEdWBXcgAE

And I imagine it would make a powerful mandocello piece. Very simple chords, readily available tab online. Because of the songs simplicity, gives room for a load of embelishments. Not sure if it's your cup of tea, though.

Congrats on your order!

**JeffD** · Aug-10-2012, 1:03pm

You are going to love it.

**Marcus CA** · Aug-11-2012, 5:44pm

Even though it's in the mando family, the 'cello is SUCH a different instrument. I play it in a very different style than a mandolin. It's really sweet on the high end, but absolutely stunning on the low end, so I tend to use the A string more for an accent. Modal chords take on a totally different dimension, especially when you play them on the lower three strings with one string open.

As Tristram indicated, it's really interesting to go into different types of music with the 'cello and see what happens. I like to put on a cd of rock, country, or folk and just play leads and fills.

A really good album for mandocello exploration is the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble's Bach, Beatles, and Bluegrass, the title of which gives away the range of the tunes. Aside from hearing Butch Baldassari on mandolin, you'll get to hear John Hedgecoth playing mandocello in a variety of musical contexts.

Welcome to the club!!!

**Mandobart** · Aug-11-2012, 10:56pm

Anything that sounds good on guitar sounds better to me on 'cello. And slack key, my favorite.

**Michael Thompson** · Aug-15-2012, 9:59am

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Anything that sounds good on guitar sounds better to me on 'cello. And slack key, my favorite.

Great playing; very soothing.

And thanks everyone, I know I'll enjoy it. I'm just going to have to rearrange the music section of my room. I'm developing a major space problem with all the instruments I keep buying. >_< Haha.