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I am teaching my self mandolin, and I have a pretty good grasp on everything except strumming patterns. I can do tab and cords but not all songs sound right with out a strumming pattern. I have heard scales can help and of course practice, but what to practice is my question I guess.
Hi Ruperta-
This is SUCH a big open question that I suspect you are either going to get a LOT of responses from all over the spectrum, or very few 'cause folks are going to be hard-pressed to offer any meaningful specific answer-- this is where i find myself in my response.
I guess I will say that teaching yourself mandolin is great-- but your lack of direction indicates that you need some guide-- a map, if you will, to help you on your journey. I might suggest getting "Mandolin for Dummies" by Don Julian. It is a great guide, and hardly for dummies. If you follow the book, it might not provide all the answers, but it will be a great help in focusing the questions.
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN!
Ruperta,
I agree with jshane's recommendation. Get Don's book and be sure to download the mp3 files that accompany the text. Start at the beginning of the book and work patiently.
This Three Easy Rhythms video lesson by Don Julin can cover a lot of styles.
I try to emulate his easy and relaxed rhythm stoke in my playing. It takes a lot of practice to make it sound that easy.
On the second rhythm example (percusive chop) he moves his pick out over the end of the fretboard. For me that position works on percusive rhythm. ymmv
here's a chart
here's a chart I made up for this
Attachment 125875
Thanks, I will look into the book jshane. And Mark when I get a chance I will watch that video. Would there be any other books y'all would suggest to help along? Thanks for the tips and suggestion.
John McGann's "Rhythm Mandolin" video on Homespun (available as a download from the Café) is very good. -- Ed
Chart makes very little sense to me. Can you explain a bit?
Bill
Well, maybe I have it wrong, but here is how I read it:Quote:
Originally Posted by billhay4
The first pattern is down/up four times. The second removes the last 'up' strum in the measure, the third removes the last two 'ups', and this continues until every permutation has been presented. Then it moves on to syncopated measures, which remove certain 'down' strums as well as 'up' strums.