Re: New mando. Still trying to adapt. Thoughts welcome.
Originally Posted by
Rdeane
Bottom line, if you like the tone of the new mandolin, keep at it and you will probably adjust and be happy with it overall.
I'm with "Rdeane" on this one. I went from fiddle to mandolin, then to banjolin. Each instrument has the same tuning, but differs in size and design. I found each adjustment difficult at first, but easier as I persisted. Going from fiddle to mandolin was especially hard (after a few years, I'm still better at picking than chording on mandolin, because I'm used to playing one note, or sometimes two notes, at a time on fiddle). The change between the mandolin and banjolin is less extreme, but still noticeable. I use the mandolin more often, and have to be careful not to neglect the banjolin, or playing it becomes difficult again. Good luck and enjoy your instruments.
By the way, if you haven't discovered Rob Meldrum's free (printable) Mandolin Set-Up Ebook, check it out. For a copy, email rob.meldrum@gmail.com and put Mandolin Setup in the subject line (see the Original Post in this thread).
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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