Re: Producing clean chords
Well the easy answer is going to be practice. The double strings and shorter scale length conspire to make it harder to push down. The plus side? When you master mandolin chords you will think the ukulele chords are ridiculously easy.
Make sure your mandolin is set up properly, action is not too high, bridge is placed right, frets are level, all that stuff. While it takes effort to chord cleanly, it shouldn't take super human effort.
Another thing to think about is that you don't need to do four finger chords except for bluegrass chopping, and even there you can get away with a lot.
But mostly its practice.
Re: Producing clean chords
Re: Producing clean chords
When you make each new chord shape, play each string individually and see if the note rings clearly. If it does not, you need to re-evaluate how you are fingering.
Get a CLOSE to the fret as possible without going over the top.
Re: Producing clean chords
Setup is key. Besides what jeffD says, you can try lower gauge strings and lower the action at the bridge to make them easier to play (while sacrificing tone)
Barre chords are tricky. Use side of index finger closest to thumb, pull in with your fretting arm so thumb has to do less work. The one finger mini-barres are even trickier, you have to try lots of angles.
Re: Producing clean chords
Make sure the position of the mandolin relative to your body allows for maximum finger reach and strength. Check out Mike Marshall's videos on YouTube for some relevant instruction. R/
Re: Producing clean chords
This video my master Simon Mayor was posted on another thread but illustrates lots of cleanly executed chords. As another member noted, he supports the mandolin so he doesn't have to support the neck with his left hand. There are some times when you have to angle your fretting hand a bit different for each chord so it is best to keep that flexibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jni796IFU6s
Re: Producing clean chords
It's instructive looking at his hands my fingers would be moving a lot more (assuming I could play this) and a lot of the time the first joint or 2 of Simon's fingers are perpendicular to the fretboard which mine generally aren't -something I can get away with playing melody lines but which is challenging on arpeggios.
Re: Producing clean chords
Quote:
Originally Posted by
derbex
Simon's fingers are perpendicular to the fretboard which mine generally aren't
Something I've struggled with as well, and IMHO definitely something to focus some time and practice on, worth the effort to re-train to get the fingertips as perpendicular as possible.
Re: Producing clean chords
Learn good technique the first time. This way you don't have to retrain yourself how to do it the right way 5, 10, 20 or 45 years later
Re: Producing clean chords
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jim Garber
This video my master Simon Mayor was posted on another thread but illustrates lots of cleanly executed chords. As another member noted, he supports the mandolin so he doesn't have to support the neck with his left hand. There are some times when you have to angle your fretting hand a bit different for each chord so it is best to keep that flexibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jni796IFU6s
WOW... that is beautiful playing.
I love the sound of that mandolin too.
Does anyone know what maker it is?
Re: Producing clean chords
It's probably a Mike Vanden, of Scotland: www.vanden.co.uk
Re: Producing clean chords
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Musica
...especially when play chords with extensions such as 7th,9th, 11th, 7sus, 9sus, 6/9 etc...
As you mention more fancy chords, you might want to read this: http://jazzmando.com/mandolin_chord_economics.shtml
1 Attachment(s)
Re: Producing clean chords
I see lately links to jazzmando.com on the Cafe, but the site seems to be long dead.
Is it really alive again?
I am not able to reach it, just get errors.
Attachment 148058
Re: Producing clean chords
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sevelos
I see lately links to jazzmando.com on the Cafe, but the site seems to be long dead.
Is it really alive again?
I am not able to reach it, just get errors.
Latest update I see is from November 2015. But I have no problems to access all the good old stuff there.