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This week, June 17th.

https://youtu.be/WGQ3It-i7jM

https://youtu.be/4oK0k1lQwyI

DigitalSky, I have to ask you about your forum name. I'm familiar with software by that name.

I found the mandolin after being a guitar player for decades. My advice is to get your hands on...

I own only one of each instrument I play and I suppose, while not a "problem", I do have some regret about the way I tend to binge on one instrument for a while and ignore the others. Not enough time...

Scale length is a difference, which would contribute to a difference in sound and, minimally, playability for some hands. But neither of those things make a Gibson-style arch top mandolin unsuitable...

Several times, yes. Sometimes things look good on a spec sheet but just fall short in the real world. Sometimes the most popular thing leaves you cold. A million people can be wrong!




Well,...

Likewise. I think my ears are tuned to the Martin sound, particularly the Martin mahogany warmth. Collings mandolins, however... I have never heard one I thought sounded anything short of excellent.

With his permission, I've posted a transcription of Alex's arrangement here.

Mark, the OP, wrote "I know I tend to rush. I also just feel awkward and not in synch with the music or the instrument".

Metronome and focused practice is the answer. Playing "in the pocket"...

I understand where you are coming from. 30+ years as a guitarist (and clawhammer banjo player) , I never played an instrument using a flatpicking until I started with the mandolin and it was a big...

1. The customer is always right!

2. Bling has precisely the same effect on tone as does a scroll and points.

3. Re-read item 1 above.

Ok, Larry, I'm stealing some of your licks.

I like the rhythmic variety in each of Des and Larry's takes. I found it challenging to not always simply re-use the rhythm of the original melody and...

Indeed. Garrison Keillor tells a story about a man with a vintage car that looks brand new. To keep it's showroom appearance, he rarely took the car out of the garage and cleaned it meticulously...

Vibrato refers to change in pitch. Tremolo is change in volume... or, sustain, in the case of the mandolin I suppose. We execute tremolo with the picking hand (no change in pitch), we execute...

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Nice mandolin! I adore my Collings.

Ok, following Des' suggesting and jumping into the Deep Blue Sea!

Jazz improvisation is new to me. It's something I have aspired to for years but never found any traction with it until I picked...

BTW, for our readers at home, the correct answer is Martin.
8-)

Every video that Aaron generously shares with us is a master class.

While I understand David's intent, it must be observed that to learn how to approach those rich chords with only four strings, listening to mandolin players is essential. Don Stiernberg is a master...

I'll be the first to reply but likely not the only person to suggest Don Stiernberg.

My YouTube playlist for this tune includes a video with Don.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy1W4cBgg4p1vTr3bjyPxRtMhpfUfyxb_

That's part of it for sure, but I would also say that I believe that we play tone into our instruments. We repeat the mechanics that help produce the tone we like and I think the instrument gets used...

Acoustic instruments need to be played. The worn, well used one will often sound better than the one which is in "mint condition". In my experience. Likewise, I have yet to find a new mandolin in any...

I received a set last week from JustStrings and put them on my MTO. They produced a softer sound while offering a rougher feel than my favorite EXP74CM set. I thought the G string lacked the clarity...

I have found that practicing a phrase of music, or a lick, extremely s l o w l y produces results that are nothing short of miraculous. Whether it's left hand fingering or right hand pick...

Sounding good, gents!