Could anyone point me to a technical description (online/books) of how the mandolin was actually used in early Blues?
Yes, I could just listen to recordings, but I'd appreciate an introductory shortcut.
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Could anyone point me to a technical description (online/books) of how the mandolin was actually used in early Blues?
Yes, I could just listen to recordings, but I'd appreciate an introductory shortcut.
Two words: Rich DelGrosso.
The above resources (James & delGrosso are very good), though Joe Carr's School of Mandolin Blues is a good resource for beginners, with more emphasis on rhythm and scales -- the basics -- than the others.
Thanks for the responses. The Steve James material looks very helpful and I've ordered the Joe Carr book despite the strangely mixed reviews.
I'm collecting instructional material, but I'm particularly looking for descriptive data like this https://www.earlyblues.com/Essay%20-...20Shoulder.htm
Since yesterday I found this YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/67rene/videos with live recordings of Yank Rachell. Having video (rather than just audio) makes everything much clearer and has provided exactly what I'm looking for.
The Steve James is good stuff, the Rich DelGrosso is better, but the best stuff is what you will hear on the old recordings. Johnny Young is a personal favorite to add to the list. Lots of the best old recordings may be available for download don't know is still in print. If you know blues scales it is not that hard to figure out what these guys are doing, most of the time.
If it's actual history, rather than technique you're after, I have to quote "mrmando" (post #2 above): "Two words: Rich DelGrosso" -- not that you won't learn plenty of technique from him as well. Also read Blues Mandolin Man: The Life and Music of Yank Rachell by Richard Congress. I hope I didn't steer you in the wrong direction with the Carr book. You will learn plenty from it though. For videos of blues mandolin playing, see my 48 entires under "Jazz, Swing, Blues..." entitled "Blues, Stomps, & Rags." See also postings by others in the Blues Mando social group: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php?groupid=99
I was after 'historical technique' rather than technique or history per se, but it's all of course of interest.
Your "Blues, Stomps, & Rags" series is inspirational.
I'm looking at the options.
I play mandolin in an Oldtime/crossover stringband but occasionally have to do something solo. I was looking at Blues guitar but I think it would take too long to develop.
Blues mandolin was a more obvious choice as it would be based on what I can do already and feed back into it. On the other hand, it seems to benefit from guitar accompaniment, so maybe it's not quite solo enough...
On the other hand:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3_oU19oLZE
If link doesn't work, search YouTube for "Minglewood Blues/ Ken Whiteley (feat. Julia Naverson".
(Still, I get your point, Ken does have a washtub bass accompanist, I think it would be hard to do a whole show on blues mandolin without a fellow musician, though you could pull off a ten-minute set at an open mike.)
People tell me the mandolin is too thin and/or harsh on its own unless in the hands of a virtuoso. Ken Whitely’s performance is certainly interesting, energetic and very full.
Although I’ve only recently thought about attempting some Blues mandolin myself, I’ve long admired Ry Cooder’s ‘Goin' To Brownsville’.
How did Ry play mandoleen without a pick?
I recommend lessons by Mike Compton - he is an encyclopaedia of all American styles. I can play decent blues thanks to him. (Rich Del Grosso and Joe Carr are also great.) But Mike's lessons can be sourced through here.
Guy Tortora plays mando without a pick but he is a very strong guitar player. https://youtu.be/Xw9lZCimlOA
I just took a Blues Mandolin course from Steve James at 2019 Swannanoa, Mandolin and Banjo week. He was very good and a real encyclopedia of the early blues mandolin players. Another guy I can think of, is Johnny Young. He played a lot of stuff with Otis Spann, Big Walter Horton, Little Walter Jacobs, etc. I've got a CD by him where he does a lot of Mandolin stuff. Of course as mentioned there is Yank Rachell and his Harmony Batwing. I also have a book/CD by Rich Del Grosso.
For most Australians of a certain age, Johnny Young conjures up 'Young Talent Time', which was a show which featured child performers - some of whom went on to significant careers here and overseas (Dannii Minogue, Kylie's sister, springs to mind). Australian talent shows - about as far from the blues as you can get.
But Young the mandolinist is superb blues.
Well, I'm a new player, and thanks to this thread, I picked up some of the stuff mentioned here. I am working through the Steve James videos, and it's just what the doctor ordered. When he presents a tune I don't know, I go out and find the original, listen, work out the differences; and that leads me somewhere else ... blues suits me better than other forms, I'm having fun with it, I'm having fun with my new instrument, and I hope to actually inflict myself on stage on live humans soon. Thanks guys.
Steven