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What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Let’s say you’re sitting around a fire with some friends or family and you decide to enhance the mood with your impressive mandolin skills. After taking a minute to explain that this instrument is not, in fact, a ukulele, you begin to play. What tunes do you bust out? Could be any genre. Vocal or not. Whatever.
(Asking as a beginner that’s trying to build a repertoire)
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Foggy Mountain Top.
If they're people I don't really care for... Wagon Wheel.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
I would hold my mandolin out in front of me, with strings facing upwards. Then I would produce a one-inch red rubber ball, which I would begin to bounce off the strings...like on a man on a trampoline. (This takes practice.) You have to not only keep the ball going, but you need a steady tempo. Each time the ball hits the strings, it creates a nice chiming ring. Now, just reach my left hand up and around the neck and play some easy open-string chords to any simple little melody. Maybe sing.
I saw a guy do that once.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Originally Posted by
Mike Buesseler
I would hold my mandolin out in front of me, with strings facing upwards. Then I would produce a one-inch red rubber ball, which I would begin to bounce off the strings...like on a man on a trampoline. (This takes practice.) You have to not only keep the ball going, but you need a steady tempo. Each time the ball hits the strings, it creates a nice chiming ring. Now, just reach my left hand up and around the neck and play some easy open-string chords to any simple little melody. Maybe sing.
I’m canceling my Artistworks subscription. This is the only thing I need to learn.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Usually a crowd pleaser when I stop playing!
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Thank you and goodnight:)
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
If it's Sunday start out with a spiritual like "Revival", as in Newgrass. Or "Uncloudy Day". Really nice if others join in singing. Chop it hard and get ready to retune for any further picking.
Or,maybe an old foot stomper like "Little Rabbit". Keep dancers away from the campfire.
Read the crowd from the feedback you get. Please the crowd and you please yourself.
There may be someone in your presence who really wants to hear "Lawyers,Guns,and Money" power chords on a mando.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Thank God I'm A Country Boy
or
Workin' Man Blues
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Cherokee Shuffle, slower with some crosspickiing
Whiskey B4 Breakfast
Heck, if they never heard a mandolin before or are not familiar with bluegrass I might just noodle around some, they don’t know any better...:cool:
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Originally Posted by
bigskygirl
Cherokee Shuffle, slower with some crosspicking
Whiskey B4 Breakfast
Absolutely! Both of those also work great as set openers.
Around the fire, with only one choice, I might also go with John Reischman’s “Little Pine Siskin” or “Daylighting the Creek.”
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Yeah, I know that Wagon Wheel is like the Stairway to Heaven of acoustic music...but people really do like it.
When I play with my band folks also really respond to Folsom Prison Blues, Man of Constant Sorrow, Sally Goodin. You Ain't Going Nowhere pleases the boomer era folks...
Cripple Creek (the instrumental) can get people moving as well.
Kirk
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Buesseler
I would hold my mandolin out in front of me, with strings facing upwards. Then I would produce a one-inch red rubber ball, which I would begin to bounce off the strings...like on a man on a trampoline. (This takes practice.) You have to not only keep the ball going, but you need a steady tempo. Each time the ball hits the strings, it creates a nice chiming ring. Now, just reach my left hand up and around the neck and play some easy open-string chords to any simple little melody. Maybe sing.
I saw a guy do that once.
Reminds me of Tom Callister & friends...
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
when I stop playing & go home.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Originally Posted by
Bertram Henze
I went down the proverbial rabbit hole searching and listening to the guy playing that black fiddle!And the band is Imar(?)
Gotta find out more about these musicians. Crowd pleasers indeed!
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
L-O-V-E ala Nat King Monroe.
Really.
(Me on either mandolin or banjo, wife sings and plays guitar.)
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Mule Skinner Blues, but i don't yodel. I do it like Van Morrison
Honky Tonk Women
And if they are Playas: Frog on the Lillipad
I hate to say it but Wagon Wheel does tare it up, but i play it on fiddle so i didn't include it. . . . Or did i?
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
I find that most people are glad to listen to whatever you want to give em’. “ Long Black Veil” always works, “Goodnight Irene” if there are singers in the crowd. “This Train is Bound for Glory” can get rowdy, and WW is a crowd pleaser. “Beaumont Rag” if you want to showboat a little. They’re all good.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Originally Posted by
V70416
And the band is Imar(?)
Aye!
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Hey Good Lookin’, Ring of Fire, Up on Cripple Creek, and Country Roads usually go over well and get people singing along.
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
Cripple Creek
Losing My Religion
Jambalaya
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
I hate to say it, but it doesn't seem to have much to do with skill or ability. I find if I sing a song about being rowdy, drinkin' (too much) or partaking in other less than legal substances -- the crowd seems to perk up and be on your side, and that "might" allow them to notice my next more "serious" offering......
I hate having to appeal to the lowest common denominator, but I also remind myself that my "art" is performed in beer joints, NOT art museums!!! :disbelief:
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
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Originally Posted by
Mando Mort
Cripple Creek
Losing My Religion
Jambalaya
Norwegian Wood
I’ve Just Seen a Face
Ripple
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Re: What are your go-to crowd pleasers?
I've noticed that almost any song John Denver recorded seems to get a lot of love, especially country roads. Granted, the setup isn't something i've ever done or plan to do, but whenever we're out in public and take a break from our usual music, John Denver just brings on the enthusiasm and sing-alongs.