Mandolin Is Not A Fiddle

[stefeb]

Using the Fiddler's Fakebook, among others, and I was wondering if all the ornementation notated in the songs can be done on on the mandolin.

There is one in particular, and I don't know the technical name, but it appears over a note (usually a quater note), and looks like an elongated number 8, which has been laid on its side.

Is this playable on the mandolin, and if so, how, hammer-on and pull offs, or picking?

Thanks.

[G_Smolt]

I don't know the name of that doohickey either, but if it is the same one I'm thinking of, I'm pretty sure that it means "hammer-on one step above, pull-off to original note, pull off to half-step below, then hammer-on to original note".

[Jim M.]

It's called a "roll" and G is right about how it is played. Usually seen in Irish music. Hard to do on a mandolin and make it sound like much unless you have one with a lot of sustain. Can work pretty well on a big octave mando or zouk.