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Love to try me some V picks!

But the downside of the fiddle tuned mandolin is that it is ill suited for closely voiced chords, like those in "Wichita Lineman." It probably can be done, but it is not a natural fit. Mandolin is...

I forgot that I said I would post a recording of my "Cuatro Americano." Here is the rhythm part for "Wichita Lineman" (recorded crudely in one take through my computer mic.)...

This is the spirit of what I was getting at. But take heart in this: Live audiences (usually) do respond to whether anything magical is happening performance wise. And probably the most important...

If you are going to gig at the pub level, you have to balance your idealism with pragmatism or you will quit and never progress as a working musician. A gigging musician at the local level will...

I use the term Cuatro because it is generic for "small four stringed guitar." You can call it the "Cuatro Americano" if it helps you keep from getting mixed up with the other various instruments...

Thoughts on a fouths tuned mandolin based about 6 months of semi-pro experience....

For live performance I have switched from mandolin to what I am calling a Cuatro (small four stringed guitar). ...

Thanks Earl. Your point about the "click track" is well taken.

Things that I have done to improve my sound and performance:

1) The latest two recordings use a Nady SPC-25 condenser...

Here is another recording of an original song that my trio finished yesterday. It is called "Bitter Soul." I think it shows how well the octolin tuning can blend with guitar to provide a lush open...

Thanks!

New original song showing the unique "Octolin" sound for old timey music...again a distinct sound that is not "mandoliny" (actually the "melody" could not be played this way in standard tuning).
...

http://pennstate.craigslist.org/msg/2032342149.html

This discussion has motivated me to explore more traditional mandolin style on my Octolin. Seems I was already playing the "Bill Monroe" voiced chop chord, which is actually more guitar voiced than...

Okay, here is my Octolin Wiki. I think this just about covers it. It is really geared to explaining what I am doing rather than to converting anyone to "octolin" tuned mandolin.

Octolin uses a...

I started on a Rouge too. I bought a used Kentucky KM-630 F style used a few months ago for a really good price. Ironically, the Rouge had a much better factory set up! So I second the post above...

I found a solution to the controversy!! I shall henceforth call my fourths tuned instrument an "Octolin." Since the only issue any of you seem to have with my playing is that it is not mandoliny...

It could be argued that "Perfect is the enemy of the good." It all depends on what your goals are and what kind of music you want to make. The original poster seemed like someone more like me...he...

This is the first time I have been criticized for playing something too close to the original.

Regarding your implicit (and unfavorable) comparison to Dawg...well at first I thought it was sort...

Thanks. The solo is rough so that is probably part of why folks would not dig it as much as the fills, etc.

The other issue is that it is not really guitar tuned...as Jim B has pointed out...

I am not claiming that I am making some grand innovation, just wanting something that works for gigging purposes. Here is another recording...Friend of the Devil...it is a live recording with...

It is really about making good music. You may not be amazed by my playing, but I have practiced and performed 200+ hours to get as good as I am since starting in June. (Check out my tremolo picking...

"Bluegrass" approach to CCR, "Pickin on CCR" includes "Susie Q." Short clip on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Pickin-Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/dp/B00000J7VJ

Is this purist enough for you? To...

Yes, the double stop is dissonnant. If you can hear the dissonance you are hearing the flat 7th and the root together.

Okay, if it sounds like a little guitar because of the licks, I accept...

Listen closer and you should be able to hear a flat 7th...I am playing a double stop. (Not trying to copy anyone else anyway, but can't resist the urge to correct your erroneous claim.) I am not...

Looks like about 30 hits from this site already. With all the resistance last month, I would have thought someone would be telling me it just sounds wrong...like a uke or a capoed guitar played in...