When I took Mick Moloney's class mandolin last year at the O'Flaherty Retreat in Texas, he mentioned that the mandolin had one advantage over all other instruments: the ability to make a large chordal sound that emphasizes the lift and can be heard. Otherwise, he pointed out, the notes can get lost in a big session. He illustrated this with one of Tom Cussen's mandolins which was not particularly loud note for note but did have a big chord voice.
Mick suggested that in a session you could use that to your advantage not as a backup instrument but as a technique to add to the richness of the session and to make sure that you hear yourself.
I have videos which I will post later, but I was wondering if anyone else had any techniques to assure volume or to make sure you can be heard or at least hear yourself in a session (as opposed to stage or quiet playing.)
Mike Keyes
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