Hi folks

[Silvermiyazawa]

Hi folks, new here and new to the mandolin. I have been a proud owner for all of 7 hours! I am a flute player mainly, a woodwind player generally and I also play bass guitar. I have dabbled on violin a bit and have fancied mandolin for a while.

I have enjoyed the first half of the tutor book - right up to snapping both E strings - well I did one, OH did the other. Not sure whether it's our tuning technique or that the instrument had been sitting in the shop for a while and had shot strings! Going out to find new ones tomorrow.

With regards the age question, I am 32 (although my mother keeps telling people I will be 34 this year!).

Looking forward to getting tips of you folk.

[Dale Ludewig]

Welcome, Helena. This is a great place with lots and lots of wonderful people. Welcome aboard. Please know we all welome your posts, questions, whatever. Sometimes we dicker about stuff, just like if we met in a "cafe". Hmmm.

As to your immediate questions, I'd suggest getting a tuner and new strings. Sounds like those that broke may have been residents on that mando for too long.

Ah, to be 32 again!

[Mike McCoy]

Good luck and welcome aboard!

[357mag]

Yup! Ditto. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Jason Kessler]

Welcome welcome welcome.

I, too, will recommend a tuner. I'm a multi-instrumentalist, and have both abhored and not needed electronic tuners. The mandolin is different; the tuner helps.

The folks on this forum are pretty laid back, as long as you don't say the words "Gibson" or "Folk of the Wood." So I hope you'll weigh in with any questions you may have.

And, to the poster above: I have an Eastman; someday I'll have a .357.

[glauber]

Greetings from another flute player turned picker!

[good_ol_al_61]

Welcome!

As a former long time brass player, you will find the mandolin a soothing sassy instrument capable of many moods and feelings. With my former Getzen Trumpet, B flat Trombone or Baritone you simply played the music in front of you.

Not so with the mandolin. You can really "go exploring" as Marty Stewart likes to say.

You will probably get to a point sometime in the future where you ask yourself, "why did I waste all those years on such a cumbersome instrument?"

At least I did.

[Silvermiyazawa]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I am off to find new strings later today, I may check out tuners as it's useful intonation practice for the flute too.

I can't see myself giving up the flute anytime soom though as teaching and playing pay the bills and I love it! I aim to have lots of fun with the mandolin, I love folk music and have already discovered how easy it is to play by ear on the mandolin (not one of my strongest points on the flute!)

I'll bare that in mind about Gibson and Folk of the Wood, but seeing as I have never hear of one and I though Gibson made guitars you are probably quite safe in my company!

[JEStanek]

Helen, your ignorance is bliss with regards to Gibson and Folk of the Wood. Any other issues are easier to provide enlightenment on. Good luck with the strings, since noone has suggested yet... If you're playing a bowl back mando get light guage strings. If you're playing a more "modern" mandolin try out the D'Addario J74s a medium guage string. These are just suggestions to start... believe me, people are as picky about their strings as they are their cars, guns, mandos, dogs, whatever! You might be able to play some very pretty duets with flute and mando... Have fun and Greetings and Salutations!

Jamie

[banjomanva]

welcome http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Keith Erickson]

Hello & Good Morning Helena,

Welcome aboard.

I just want to warn you that once you start playing the mandolin, it's really hard to put it down. I'm just warning you. I actually have to fit work into my mandolin schedule. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

I be honest with you, I don't know why I'm addicted but I am. I hope you find the joy in the mandolin that we have all found.

Cheers http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[Moose]

Welcome aboard - Enjoy your mandolin "experience"- I bet you will!! - If you need help....ask! - most of us enjoy sharing our sometimes limited knowledge - and experience(s)- 'specially with "newbies"! - Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[bjc]

Silvermiyazawa,

Welcome, now that you have your first mando, we need to help you figure out what mando to buy next...tee hee
I started mandolin about 3 1/2 years ago (been playing guitar for more years than I care to mention) and I now have 8 mando related axes...so be careful and ask the member ship what to buy next:-)