Jam Along Blues

[bjc]

Greetings,

I've been reading with great interest the postings in the blues forum....As a rock guitar player who jumped into the mandolin world, I was not all that interested in Bluegrass...But I did find Brother Yank and it opened my eyes...if anyone knows where I could get some transcriptions of Yank Rechelle, I'd appreciate it...also if anyone is looking at working on their chops I'd suggest Jam Traxx or cvls.com to jam along with...it's like having a real band that tolerates your explorations...and they don't drink your beer or steal your women http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[mandobob]

BJC
Same here (guitar to mando), and I favor blues playing.
Here's the stuff I've found; search for Rich Del Grosso;
he's written some great blues lessons including a great piece in guitar friendly "E", and the styles of Yank and the great Johnny Young. He also has a great jugband book. Steve James does a Yank tune on his instructional (Diving Duck).
And don't miss Ry Cooder's blues mando; Bill The kid being an easy TAB to find.
Bob

[bjc]

Bob...thanks for the listening tips....I really appreciate it...when I tell someone that I play BLUES mandolin (or tell tehm I am trying to learn)...they look at me like like a three eyed freak who married his cousin on the Jerry Springer show...
What type of mando do you have? and who do you play with?

[ira]

blues on the mando is spectacular. just finished playing the thrill is gone and the it was almost unfair how much fun i had!

[duuuude]

...when I tell someone that I play BLUES mandolin (or tell tehm I am trying to learn)...they look at me like like a three eyed freak who married his cousin on the Jerry Springer show...
Yep, it's funny tryin to explain verbally what would take no time musically, best just to play & let them figure out what it is.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[mandobob]

Bjc
Oval hole Breedlove (had Oval Hole Gibson and Martin but sold them). Nobody left to play with from the ol' crew, and this isn't the first time I've said this; I just play with myself.
Alomost forgot to mention Cooder's solo on Love in Vain;
mmmm tasty.

[bluesmandolinman]

duuuude

"...they look at me like like a three eyed freak" ....

thank you so much to let me know that I am not alone http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Your posts are always fun to read.

Cheers,Renéhttp://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Steve Scott]

For some blues licks that seem to fit the mando well, check out any recording by Blind Blake. Very tasty stuff.

[Seth Rosen]

"...they look at me like like a three eyed freak"

Yeah, it's a little unusual. #Here's a significant percentage of all the working blues mando players in the world http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

(Lto R, Seth Rosen, Steve James, Andra Faye and Rich DelGrosso)

[ira]

what a crew = great shot!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[bjc]

I can't thank all of y'all enough for responding...It has made me feel like I've found a home for my closet addiction...I've been playing mando a little less than 2 years...but have played guitar for as long as I can remember (which isn't much due to past indiscretions...that short term memory loss thing coupled with old age:D).
#Any pointers anyone could provide with respect to chord voicings would be appreciated. I have the Steve James tape and that has provided hours of inspiration. But anything else that could be suggested would be awesome...

Peace
Cryin' Brian

[duuuude]

bjc,

For jammin along while learnin yer way around the blues scales, I've always suggested the Clapton tape "Just One Night" or Johnny Winter's "Guitar Slinger", both have lotsa jammable tunes in regular keys. I'm sure there are plenty more but those two are filled with tunes using blues scales.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[bjc]

Mike,

Thanks for the tips (it sure beat stuff like "Don't eat yellow snow...")...How long have you been playing? And do you have some sort of ensemble you are with?

[bluesmandolinman]

Hey Seth

On what ocasion was the picture with those Blues Mandolin Players taken ?

Would love to attend next time you meet... any chance ?

Thanks,René

[duuuude]

bjc,

I've only been playin a little over a year, with a buncha years bangin out three chords on a guitar before that. The Steve James video was my "introduction" video to mandolin, and covered just what I was looking for. I don't listen to much recorded stuff for purpose of learning as much as just to get the tempo & changes down, then it's off to the races doin' my own thing with tunes. Don't jam many blues with other folks yet, kinda hard to find a good acoustic blues jam, so I stay happy by playin along to whatever bluesy stuff I can find around the house. Blues recordings with alot of harp can also be fun, the mando can replace or play off of alot of the harp parts. Guess that may be what attracted me to mando for blues, it can cover both the guitar parts and the harp parts, something I could never do playing guitar & harp at the same time.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Seth Rosen]

Rene, #

That picture was taken at Augusta Heritage swing and blues week 2002, Augusta happens every year in Elkins WV. #Rich won't be there this year, but the the other 3 of us will. #I teach a morning swing mando class and an afternoon blues mando class, Andra teaches a blues mando and fiddle class in the morning, Steve is there teaching guitar. #Usually on Friday we combine Andra and my morning classes and have a big mandofest...that's where that picture was taken. #Info is available on the Augusta website

http://www.augustaheritage.com/theme.html

check out both blues and swing week for all the details. #If you have any questions, let me know.

--seth

[bluesmandolinman]

Thanks for the information Seth

I have been to Virginia once... took some lessons from the Mandocrucian... really pushed me. "In person" teaching is much better than any Book/CD instruction !!!

Don´t know If I can make it this year... maybe next year...it´s a long way from Germany you know.

Thanks again

René

[bjc]

Now I got excited since Rene' said "Virginia"...I live on Willoughy Spit in the Southern part of the state...then I saw the site "WVA"...and got sad...:-(

[terrygolletz.ca]

I have been jamming blues on the Mandolin for many years. What I figured out a long time ago is that you need to know your scales!! The combination of the diatonic and the pentatonic. I charted these about 20 years ago for all keys and never regreted the exercise. I have worked the patterns into my brain. The safe notes for the blues are in the pentatonic scale. The interesting variations come when you vary from that in runs and transitions. Spend time listening to the blues to understand what others have done then create your own statement. Also keep in mind that the music happens at the point of contact. Play on the beat and inside the music and you can't go wrong. Rhythm is 95% of the art. At least this works for me.

[ira]

hey terrygolletz, wish i know how to do the scale thing as you did, but either way, love your description of the attack point for the blues.

[Daniel Nestlerode]

Coupla thoughts...

Blues on mando family instrumetns is definitely VERY cool. I have found that the mandola is slightly more blues friendly than mandolin, at least the way I play. And it looks like the lady in the above image (way above in a previous post) agrees with me. I just feel like I can dig in and get more growl out of a 'dola than I can out of a mandolin.

But it doesn't stop me from playing blues on a mandolin, as I did when I was jamming along with Clapton's latest: Me and Mr. Johnson. Me & Mr. J. is Clapton playing just Robert Johnson material, and it's one of the best CD's EC ever released IMHO (yes, better than From the Cradle, wich is also wonderful). Just a ton of great electric and acoustic licks, songs sung with conviction and power. It's locked tight in my CD player right now.

My two cents,
Daniel

[duuuude]

Daniel, yer soooo lucky, I haven't gotten out to get a copy of the new Clapton yet. I read the other day that he finally feels "man enough" now to cover Johnson's work, what a trip!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Daniel Nestlerode]

I haven't gotten out to get a copy of the new Clapton yet.
Getting out to get the CD is not necessary, as you may know. You can download it from any of the fee per song music sites on the internet. My fav. is iTunes, but that's just 'cause I use a Mac more often than not.

And if EC is now "man enough" to cover Robert Johnson, maybe he'll continue with a second CD of RJ material and maybe some more country blues. That would be cool.

Pie in the Sky: would be especially cool for EC to hook up with a mando player to do a blues release. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Daniel

[bjc]

Clapton may not be God, but he sure is good...Ever since I picked up some Yank riffs and transposed some guitar riffs people are asking me why aren't there MORE blues mando players...
And I just bought a mandola and it really does speak well for the blues...I'm still struggling with the positioning...i.e. A=E...but when I get it moving it is sweet.
what gauge string are you using on your 'dola?

[Daniel Nestlerode]

What gauge string are you using on your 'dola?
I'm using the standard D'Addario 'dola set. I don't remember the gauges off hand and the 'dola is at home (though the mandolin is at work with me for breaks & such).

Bought 'em online at www.juststrings.com

I'm thinking of going to Tomastick-Infeld mittels though because my left hand gets tired on those 2234 D chords and 4456 E chords. Something lighter and silkier would be more comfortable for longer periods.

I have a Weber Alder #2 with an Allen AR-2 tailpiece on it. This is the flat top 'dola, and like all stock Weber 'dolas it is x-braced and a 17" scale length. It's the scale length that makes fretting barre chords tiring. 17" is 2" longer than the standard Gibson 'dola.

[Sellars]

Hi!

I'm a bit caaried away with the blues too lately! Are there also electric mandolin players here? I've been doin' some muddy waters, and other chicago stuff, which I enjoy very much!

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

R

[Zemper]

I play acoustic and electric blues mando and just stumbled on the forum... I find that the Fender FM-61SE is awesome for blues or anything you want to play on it for that matter... I just bought a Gibson f-9 because I heard its quite a blues mando as well...

[Sellars]

Hi Zemper!

Great! I just bought a Fender FM-61SE, I'm still waiting for that one to arrive. I've been playing my 4 string solid body Fender a lot, because it is perfect for string bending (yeah! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif Stevie Ray all the way http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Zemper]

Cool man, # It really is a great mando, # It gets a great tone when run through a nice bluesy tube amp... I play with reason a lot and I record on Cubase, and the sounds you can get combining a nice electric mandolin with the Reason 2.5 instrument simulators like a nice cello, b3 organ, or fender rhodes is simply amazing... I love recording, and perfecting a song over time, its really cool to see the progress....

[Sellars]

How cool!

Can you let us hear a sample of that?

Is string bending possible with the fender, or does it get out of tune too much?

[WSE]

I am sure this has been covered before but what type of mando did Yank use? Thanks.

[Zemper]

Sure... i got a song I can send you.... How should I do it, through Email?

BTW String bending is possible, but takes the mando out of tune a bit quicker, but I do it all the time