Blues Mandolin Song Choices [Archive]

nickster60

Dec-04-2019, 12:28pm

I attend a Blues Jam regularly and play guitar. I would like to play a a mandolin song from time to time. Any suggestion for songs that might work at a Blues Jam.

Ranald

Dec-04-2019, 12:49pm

Have a look at the posts entitled "Blues, Stomps & Rags," #1-50 down the Forum Page under the heading, "Jazz, Swing, Blues, Bossa, Choro, Klezmer, Ragtime."
More blues than you can shake a stick (or perhaps a back cat bone) at .

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/146404-Blues-Stomps-amp-Rags-50

Mandobart

Dec-04-2019, 1:42pm

Check out Rich Delgrosso, Gerry Hundt and of course Jim Richter for ideas and inspiration.

David L

Dec-04-2019, 2:01pm

Almost any song will work on mandolin, it will just be different. Depending upon your proficiency, what key you choose might make a difference. There are lots of songs that are blues based, but not in the "blues" genre: "Route 66", "Chains", etc. Lots of Western swing music is blues: "Milk Cow Blues", etc.

You can even do songs which are not blues form, but do them in a blues style. David Bromberg does "900 Miles" in a very bluesy style on his album,"The Blues, the Whole Blues, and Nothing but the Blues"

Simon DS

Dec-04-2019, 3:26pm

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Mark Gunter

Dec-05-2019, 12:58pm

I have a few favorites lately in different styles on mandolin, Green River (CCR), Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (Rev Gary Davis) and Diving Duck Blues (Yank Rachell). All are a lot of fun on mandolin.

Yank played mandolin on Diving Duck. I worked out a cool mandolin version of Keep Your Lamp based on Larry Campbell’s guitar arrangement, it’s a favorite with the worship band I play in. I worked out Green River on mandolin, based on my own finger style guitar arrangement, during my first year of mandolin, and made a video tutorial of it - before I could even play it fluidly. When I play it on mandolin now, I still use the same licks and forms that I showed in that video. It works. I’ll put a link to that here, in case you’re interested.

https://youtu.be/JWMmAJ0cevo

Charles E.

Dec-12-2019, 9:16pm

Ry Cooder doing Brownsville Blues....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdHXqAvOfXg

Al Trujillo

Dec-14-2019, 8:32am

Anyone have any good sources of tab books for Blues? So far they've eluded me.

pops1

Dec-14-2019, 9:10am

Here's one I like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlfYqIY-jyQ&fbclid=IwAR1cg-Q5JXe8Q0nbu0LeCdR8GT-4EyZdNTnTecNR1VDoK8TjljC3mhQOom8

mmuller

Dec-14-2019, 10:33am

One for the holidays....

https://youtu.be/aRJmNP46XHU

Charlie Bernstein

Dec-14-2019, 10:45am

Any blues tune is fine. Just learn it on mando. Some good artists for inspiration are mentioned above. Yank Rachell and Johnny Young are a couple of early practitioners, and there are a few Memphis Minnie tunes that include mando.

Even though I don't remember any mando associated with them, you can do some playing along and get some great song selections from Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers and the Memphis Jug Band.

For minor-key blues, listen to some Rich DelGrosso. And to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56KoGpf2P0

Charlie Bernstein

Dec-14-2019, 10:47am

PS - Once you have the hang of it, a blues jam is a great place to bring a mando, because it'll be the only one there.

T.D.Nydn

Dec-14-2019, 11:38am

"Bluegrass Stomp"..

Ranald

Dec-14-2019, 8:50pm

Even though I don't remember any mando associated with them, you can do some playing along and get some great song selections from Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers and the Memphis Jug Band.

Vol Steven was an impressive mandolin player who played with the Memphis Jug band.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/141481-Blues-Stomps-amp-Rags-20

EdHanrahan

Dec-14-2019, 9:19pm

Almost any song will work on mandolin ... You can even do songs which are not blues form, but do them in a blues style.

IF I recall correctly (not necessarily a given!), didn't Stevie Ray Vaughn do a pretty rockin' cover of "Mary Had A Little Lamb"? Yeah I know it's on guitar but still a valid example, even if extreme.

Mark Gunter

Dec-14-2019, 9:36pm

IF I recall correctly (not necessarily a given!), didn't Stevie Ray Vaughn do a pretty rockin' cover of "Mary Had A Little Lamb"? Yeah I know it's on guitar but still a valid example, even if extreme.

Good example, SRV (in 1983) covered Buddy Guy’s blues version (1963) of the nursery rhyme.

Ranald

Dec-15-2019, 10:47am

Anyone have any good sources of tab books for Blues? So far they've eluded me.

These books all are good, and include tabs tabs. All come with either a CD or a link for MP3's.

Carr, Joe. School of Mandolin: Blues. Mel Bay.

James, Steve. Roots and Blues Mandolin. Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons, String Letter.

Delgrosso, Rich. Mandolin Blues: from Memphis to Maxwell Street. Hal-Leonard.

Carr's is good for someone fairly new to either mandolin or the blues, providing rhythms, blues scales, and such. James's is more intermediate, with plenty of good, sometimes well-known, tunes. Delgrosso's is for a more experienced player, who already has a blues background. His book has plenty of information in it, and is a must for anyone interested in the history of blues mandolin. Steve James also has two teaching DVD's On Homespun Video.

Al Trujillo

Dec-15-2019, 11:05am

These books all are good, and include tabs tabs. All come with either a CD or a link for MP3's.

Carr, Joe. School of Mandolin: Blues. Mel Bay.

James, Steve. Roots and Blues Mandolin. Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons, String Letter.

Delgrosso, Rich. Mandolin Blues: from Memphis to Maxwell Street. Hal-Leonard.

Carr's is good for someone fairly new to either mandolin or the blues, providing rhythms, blues scales, and such. James's is more intermediate, with plenty of good, sometimes well-known, tunes. Delgrosso's is for a more experienced player, who already has a blues background. His book has plenty of information in it, and is a must for anyone interested in the history of blues mandolin. Steve James also has two teaching DVD's On Homespun Video.

Thank you, Ronald!! I'll dig into them soon.

Charlie Bernstein

Dec-15-2019, 11:41am

I have a few favorites lately in different styles on mandolin, Green River (CCR), Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning (Rev Gary Davis) . . . .
Rich DelGrosso does a nice job on "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" on the album by his trio the Ragpickers.

Joey Anchors

Dec-15-2019, 11:49am

https://youtu.be/NLxW_Ndqmec

Here’s a track I recorded a year ago on a five string mando.

Ranald

Dec-15-2019, 12:03pm

https://youtu.be/NLxW_Ndqmec

Here’s a track I recorded a year ago on a five string mando.

Very cool, Joey. Good video too. Makes me want to drink straight whisky at some late-night dive on the side of an old highway.*

*with a designated driver to take me home, of course.

David Lewis

Dec-15-2019, 3:52pm

Mike Compton hasn’t been mentioned? Check out his 'rotten taters' album. There are some lovely blues, which you can simplify if needs be.

Davey

Dec-16-2019, 4:52am

I stick in G when I'm doing songs if possible, easy chords which sound good & the possibility of a solo.

I like "Can't be satisfied" (Muddy Waters)"Monday morning blues" ( MIssissippi John Hurt) Hellhound (Robert Johnson) & sneak in a few more country ones like like "White Freightliner" and "Catfish John". "Love in vain" is good too. Keep the mando part simple, don't compete with yourself.

Mark Gunter

Dec-23-2019, 1:01pm

Rich DelGrosso does a nice job on "Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning" on the album by his trio the Ragpickers.

I looked for this track, Charlie, haven't found it yet.

I did find a track where Rich played another tune I'd mentioned, Diving Duck Blues ... and a bunch of other blues from Rich that I really need to purchase and digest :)

Mark Gunter

Dec-23-2019, 1:02pm

https://youtu.be/NLxW_Ndqmec

Here’s a track I recorded a year ago on a five string mando.

Very nice, Joey :mandosmiley:

Mark Gunter

Dec-23-2019, 1:04pm