Open positions

[doublestop]

I have been playing mandolin for 4 years now and have been concentrating mostly on my improv skills for the last year. I find it much easier to play in closed positions further down the neck than in open positions. Is this a backward way of learning? During the last 2 wks. I have been forcing myself to play my breaks in open positions. Does anyone have any tips or insight or am I on the right track?

[John Flynn]

There are many players who say that your approach is the more classical, sophisiticated one. A versatile player should be able to play in any key and that means closed scales. However, there are a lot of tricks that can be done in open positions that are just not possible in closed positions. So a really versatile player should probably also be able to take advanatage of that. It sounds like you got the hard stuff mastered first, which is commendable. Now you can experiment with the fun stuff.

[Tennessee Jed]

I envy you. I am doing well using open positions but have a hard time with the closed ones.

[Ted Eschliman]

I'm quite fond of Closed Positions (http://members.aol.com/teesch/FFCP.html).
Learning these is time well spent if you want to play all 12 keys, or want a good, agile pinky (AND 3rd finger). Don't worry, you won't forget how to play the open strings, too.

[G'DAE]

Using closed positions should make it easier to play "Double stops"? Am I right??? You,learning closed positions, would put you in a better position to improvise, as the scales should be all around your positions. One thing I can say for sure, is that I play mainly in open positions as my mandolin doesn't handle playing up the neck past the 4th. or 5th. fret.
I,ve just learned to play with what my mando can do. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Feel fortunate that you have that problem. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[MandyLynn]

...want a good, agile pinky (AND 3rd finger). Don't worry, you won't forget how to play the open strings, too.
...no kidding. I spent the first YEAR or so playing in mostly open positions, and now that I'm trying to really be good about learning and playing "closed" it's like learning all over again. my pinky is angry! :]

[Keith Newell]

I have played mandolin for 15 years and tons of stringed instruments before and after that. I think closed and open are not much different in difficulty but what is hard is what one fits the piece you are playing. I just got back from a session (Irish) and some pieces were open and some had closed chords that created a nice "tension" and resolved going to an open chord with the nice ringing feel. I could go on and on about theory, all should be constant but from experience many just dont fit a set pattern. I guess thats what makes music so entertaining.
Keith Newell
http://www.newellmandolins.com

[doublestop]

Thanks for all the responses! I think I am conquering another plateau. Have been plaing in just the open positions for a few days and am finally getting acustomed to it.