View Full Version : Mandolin, fundamental requirement?
Hudmister
May-02-2018, 6:57pm
Recently a local venue held a bluegrass weekend, Thurs, Fri, Sat. nights.
Thursday nights band was guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass.
Friday nights band was guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and bass.
Saturday night, guitar, banjo, fiddle and bass.
Only Friday was there a mandolin in the bluegrass band. I know you can't do without the banjo, same for the guitar which is a must have, Absolutely can't do without a bass so it seems like the fiddle and mandolin compete for a slot. I know anyone can play a bluegrass song. With Bill Monroe being the " Father of Bluegrass" how can it be that there is no mandolin in a bluegrass band?
I'm sure I saw Flatt & Scruggs on TV without a mandolin present, but I'm not sure.
Certain recipes have basic ingredients that must be included.
vetus scotia
May-02-2018, 7:28pm
Sounds like a question for the 167354
Mando Mort
May-03-2018, 11:24am
My only requirement for music is that I enjoy it. Don't get your blood pressure up over labels. Either enjoy the music or choose not to listen.
MikeZito
May-03-2018, 11:28am
What, no dobro? What is the world coming to?
Mark Gunter
May-03-2018, 11:34am
Local venue? Norfolk, Virginia?
Perhaps it could be a geographical anomaly? Some line-ups may be geographically based ... for instance, I heard that if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.
doublestoptremolo
May-03-2018, 12:43pm
Flatt and Scruggs technically had a mandolin player, but he took probably fewer than 10 solos total on all their recordings. Stanley Brothers went long periods without a mandolin player.
With the many offshoots and permutations of what many would term bluegrass, I think we are way beyond rigid definitions. While I enjoy bluegrass standards with what most would call the traditional instrumentation, it seems that young musicians create music with whatever folks they have available to play with.
As for playing live gigs, how many ways are you going to split a couple hundred bucks? I say make the most with what you've got.
But, yes, the bass, guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin lineup is sweet, even if branching out and playing music that make purists cringe.
jessedaniel1
May-03-2018, 1:06pm
How do you start a new thread
jessedaniel1
May-03-2018, 1:08pm
My name is Jesse Daniel
my 1999 gibson F-5L Cremona master model was stolen. serial number is 90125019. Please help me find it. it is heartbreaking.
Please help me post this thread.
Warm Regards,
Jesse Daniel
256-605-4420
jddaniel@dekalbk12.org
jaycat
May-03-2018, 1:30pm
Jesse, go here, there is a Post New Thread button at the top of the page: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?47-General-Mandolin-Discussions
MikeZito
May-03-2018, 2:04pm
I heard that if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.
Technically, isn't that country music, not bluegrass?
p.s. - I HATED Alabama, until I saw them live . . . incredible band!
tiltman
May-03-2018, 2:36pm
Did the bands at least have the good sense to apologize and let the audience know that they weren't really playing bluegrass?
(somewhat tongue-in-cheek...)
Kirk
Jesse, go here, there is a Post New Thread button at the top of the page: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?47-General-Mandolin-Discussions
There is also one at the top of the page. Good luck finding your mandolin.
Hudmister
May-03-2018, 5:15pm
Sounds like a question for the 167354
Police. ahh! Thanks vertus scotia for the advice . I called them. They said "Call a lawn care company with a horticulturist on staff for a blue grass problem". I'm good now
Mark Gunter
May-03-2018, 5:31pm
Technically, isn't that country music, not bluegrass?
p.s. - I HATED Alabama, until I saw them live . . . incredible band!
I'm genre-challenged, and I confess it freely.
I think there are areas where mama sings bass and daddy sings tenor, as well.
KGreene
May-03-2018, 9:31pm
Local venue? Norfolk, Virginia?
Perhaps it could be a geographical anomaly? Some line-ups may be geographically based ... for instance, I heard that if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band.
:))