Rhythm!

[OdnamNool]

Me too, San Rafael! One thing associated with rhythm technique (at least in my mind...) is also, "dynamics." I think that dynamics are too often overlooked. Yet they sure can evoke a powerful message.

[250sc]

OdnamNool,

I couldn't agree more.

[OdnamNool]

Wool...yeah! So... no comments here? Uh... we're talkin:

Boom chuck-a-lucka-lucka
Boom! Uh Hah! Oh yeah!
Sayin...uh huh! Yeah, yeah!
Awwwww WWoooooooooooo!

Ooomph-giddy-giddy, HAR OOMPH............yeah, yeah...
Pa-chink! Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa...Pa-chink!

(sorry... I'm going away, now...)

[OdnamNool]

Aw-ooom; aw-wooom
Uh, oo! oo! OO! OO!
Diggy, diggy, floom, floom...
Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha....
YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! !!!!!!!!!! BBbaby, baby, baby, oh, yeah... uh huh.....

(sorry... I really am going away now...)

[250sc]

Sorry, I don't think I can agree with that.

[OdnamNool]

O fer cryin' outloud... then how 'bout this?

Cha-ching.........
Ba-bing..............
Uh roomph, lucka, lucka.......
Uh roomph........
Da-biddle, iddle, squiddle,chiddle...
uh, uh, uh...
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
Ba-beet-iddle-fiddle-unka, unka, unka....
bah hah!..... bah hah.

[mandocrucian]

Rhythm Mandolin Boot Camp
Oct 23-26, 2005
Holiday Lake 4-H Center
Appomattox, VA

[Brian Baker]

Boom-chaka, boom-chaka, boom-chaka laka laka
Skat-doom-doom, da skat-doom-doom, da skat-a-doom
Boom-chaka, boom-chaka, boom-chaka laka laka
Biggle-dee biggle-dee biggle-dee biggle-dee spa-ba-doowaa!



This is kinda stress-relieving!

[OdnamNool]

I agree!

Uh oomph
Uh oomph
Uh, chinka, chinka, chinka......................
Oomph.

[Brian Baker]

Room room, SPLAT!
Room room, SPLAT!
Room room, SPLAT!
Room room, SPLAT!
We will, we will, ROCK YOU!

[For additional mando-Queen connection, go to iTunes and check out Hayseed Dixie's bluegrass version of Fat Bottomed Girls!]

[jasona]

OK, now that that is out of everyone's system...lets hear about your favouite rhythm exercises!

[OdnamNool]

Jumprope... Double-dutch... Wait a minute! Favorite, as in, favorite?? Ur... I better not say...

[250sc]

Lately I've been enjoying playing rythm for some more jazzy stuff like Lady Be Good, Out of Nowhere, Nauges, Little Rock Getaway, Wave, Whispering.....

I really like the way the melody works against the chord changes of these types of songs.

[om21ed]

Being a beginner I'm just lately setting the metronome and trying to chop away with it--its hard ! Any suggestions on other rhythm exercises ? Or ways to use the metronome to improve rhythm ?

[250sc]

om21ed,

your doing the right thing by using the metronome. You might find it hard to do now but after a month or two it should get easier.

With your metronome going, try playing the melody all the way through one time then go directly into the rhythm for the second time through. Make sure the transition from lead to rhythm is as smooth as possible. (Remember your dynamics. Chop chords can be a lot louder than single note leads.) If you can, play the melody with variations for the third time through.

This will get you in the habit of moving smoothly from one musical function to the other.

Good luck.

[Eric F.]

I know Niles teaches the workshop on it and John McGann has an excellent DVD on rhythm in general, but there does seem to be a dearth of instruction on mandolin rhythm techniques. Most books give you some chords and tell you to play them. No hint of different techniques one might use. At most, a bluegrass-oriented book gives a quick chop description. But then there's nothing about how to play on a waltz or how to mix things up a bit. It seems strange. Anyone know of any DVDs, CDs or books that focus on mandolin rhythm? Niles, if you create one, I'll buy it!

[tnpathfinder]

I practice by playing with a good CD. I try to play through entire CD or untill I just can't stand no more. You can quickly work up chops for playing CHOPS!