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Thread: Only play mandolin

  1. #1

    Default Only play mandolin

    I only know bluegrass players and I have never met a Mandolin player that couldnt at least play a guitar also. Or banjo fiddle dobro bass or what ever. IM just wondering is that the way it is if that is the way it is in other forms of music. anyone play only mandolin?

  2. #2
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I think it's pretty rare for mandolinists to play mandolin exclusively, and I think that's true across all musical genres.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    me
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Me too.

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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Weirdos.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin



    To clarify, I play mandolin, banjo mandolin, mandola, octave manodlin if I had one, and tenor banjo tuned like a mandola, and tenor guitar tuned like a mandola.

    I am taking fiddle lsessons. But nobody would, with a straight face, say that I can play the darn thing.
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Weirdos.
    I resemble that.

  9. #8
    Mandolindian rgray's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I be weird 2.

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    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Weirdos.
    Yep, "I yam what I yam."

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    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I got other instruments, I just keep 'em around cause their purdy

  12. #11
    I may be old but I'm ugly billhay4's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Too dumb to play anything else. Heck, I can barely play the mandolin.
    Bill

  13. #12
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Well, there's playing another instrument and then there's playing another instrument. I play a lot of things but only play a couple of things.
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    To clarify, I play mandolin, banjo mandolin, mandola, octave manodlin if I had one, and tenor banjo tuned like a mandola, and tenor guitar tuned like a mandola.
    Well, in my book that's more than one instrument, even if they are all related.
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    Registered User bmm5255's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Me

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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Very very suprising

  17. #16
    Registered User Kagey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I play the Mandolin and Also play the guitar but mostly out of tune
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  18. #17
    Destroyer of Mandolins
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Well, in my book that's more than one instrument, even if they are all related.
    Agreed. And if you know your way around a guitar and a mandolin you can show up with a dozen instruments and people will think you're a genius!
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    Registered User Randi Gormley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    As has been mentioned, there's play and there's play. I can still finger my flute, but I haven't actually taken it out of its case in probably three years; I do occasionally play recorder, but it's probably been at least that long since I've blown a single note. so for all intents, I only "play" mandolin.
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    Registered User CeeCee_C's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by Randi Gormley View Post
    I can still finger my flute, but I haven't actually taken it out of its case in probably three years;
    I remember this one time at Band Camp...
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    Registered User Mike Snyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Tenor banjo, that's just a big 'ol mandolin with fewer strings, right. I love it so.....................
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I only play french horn professionally, though I can play most other wind instruments at a high school level. Mandolin and mandola are the only fretted instruments I play, and the only ones I play daily for my own pleasure.

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    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I'm not sure if what I do counts as playing but I only play on mandolin and uke. 90-10 mando/OM to the uke. I never wanted to play guitar. I like open back banjo and decided to go mandolin instead (it seemed easier to transport and more useful for carols and the stuff I like to play).

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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmando View Post
    Well, in my book that's more than one instrument, even if they are all related.
    Well by that logic I suppose you are right. I play mandolin and anything I can tune up and play like a mandolin.

    I have tried guitar and while I love a good guitar, I can't get the one fret one finger thing, or the darn wierd interval. I have tried five string banjo, traditional clawhammer style and blugrass style. It was laughable.

    I have half a chance with fiddle, but its not the bowing half.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
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  26. #24
    Registurd User pjlama's Avatar
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    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    Most musicians I know can play other instruments except for drummers unless you include other percussion. Mandolinists are like that, I think it's hard to say I play mandolin, mandola, om, m'cello with a straight face. I for one can butcher any instrument and regularly do so, I have a hard time when asked "what do you play?" I think my new response will be "I play music." or at least I try.
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  27. #25

    Default Re: Only play mandolin

    I only play mandolin. I used to regularly butcher music on a flute through high school. Took decades off. Found the mandolin. I resurrected the flute for a local jazz jam 2 years ago, but am now trying to learn enough jazz chords to take the electric mandolin instead. Like the OP notes, guitar/mando people are common. But not everyone!

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