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I don't know how early in the 1900's it would be, when did the whole switch from mandolin to banjo take place?

The divots are the same as the ones on mine. They don't look as uniform up close and personal. I'm going to guess the player didn't generally get a...

Many`s a time I seen Buzz Busby just stick his mandolin right up into the vocal mic so he could hear it through the speakers and tune, I do it...

Thanks for the recommendations. I've used a Flinner book that had lots of breaks employing DS, but no explanation as to why THOSE paired notes. The...

Perhaps it's just a loose nut inside of the truss rod cover. I'd look there first.

I associate the comma-shaped ends of the "f"-holes with Kay, but Mike E says several firms made instruments with those holes. Those "fingerboard...

Thanks for this, doublestoptremolo. Sounds like advice from the horse's mouth; my next question will be about tremolo! Obviously I have much to learn...

Don't think it's a Little Wonder. Every one I've seen (I own a Little Wonder mandolin-banjo now) has been marked "Little Wonder" on the dowel stick,...

Bill Monroe invented Bluegrass, just as sure as Edison invented the light bulb. That being said, Edison had a stable of inventors, the same way Mun...

BLARZ = Bleedin' Large Zouk DORDAN = Drone

These are passing notes, called such because they are not in the chord, but are sounded against the chord as the melody passes through them. You can...

This is pretty important. Strings you need will not only be a nickel alloy of some kind, but ball-end. Don't buy loop-end strings, and probably...

if you just want to chord along, learn the four-finger chop chords. They don't need a capo. They also seem impossible at first. They're not! Just...

This has been discussed - https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?139955-Chris-Baird-s-shop-burns-Arches-Mandolins

Check out Sharon Gilchrist on PegHead Nation, I attended a camp she was teaching at and she has a very nice system of learning and using double...

In "Jimmy Brown," if you're playing in what I guess is called first position (near the nut) in G, and you wanted to harmonize the B note (on the...

You have a few choices...learn some basic theory, use a capo, or sit there and watch everyone else play. Check out Mandolessons, Banjo Ben, Matt...

Trust me, we were absolutely NOT playing Elton John at these gigs....remember Tommy Smothers counting a song in?? (ONE..ta-three....FOUR). I am...

I get the concept of capoing, and can do some basic transposing. But when you start to get into complicated letters and roman numerals (what the heck...

I use it as a passing chord from C to A, and never knew. Thanks Gents

Thanks, Bogle! I do love the sound that redwood gives a mandolin!

The choice can also relate to where the note is in relation to the progress of chords. Is the melody note creating tension that will be resolved or...

Ken, is that the top you were telling me about? It sure looks good!