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Thread: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

  1. #1

    Default Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Hi,

    I started working on some arrangements of folky ballad type songs, and want to try just sparse guitar and mandolin accompaniment and am wondering if there are suggestions for examples of this well done. A chop won't fit this approach but tremolo does.

    Basically, I re-routed my signal setup and it is fairly clean for (my rudimentary) home office "studio" and want to try some tunes with very sparse arrangements.

    Any suggestions genuinely appreciated.

    Dave Martin
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  2. #2
    Registered User red7flag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    While somewhat in the bluegrass realm, Skaggs and Rice, has some beautiful arrangements. Bury Me Beneath the Willow is to me sublime.
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  4. #3
    Unfamous String Buster Beanzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Worth checking out some of Simon Mayor & Hilary James arrangements, very tasteful...

    Eoin



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  6. #4
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    I like using double stops, you can play the melody or less. They allow movement without the intensity of chords and strumming.
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    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Perhaps you are thinking of this sound? The Blue Sky Boys were minimalists with the vocals out front.

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    Registered User doc holiday's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Well... not always mando & guitar, but one of my alltime favourites is "Lonesome Song" by the Foghorn Duo, Sammy Lind & Caleb Klauder. A great CD project

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  11. #7

    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Mandolin Orange, although they switch up instruments.

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  13. #8

    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Here’s another Foghorn-related recording: Reeb Willms and Caleb Klauder, Oh Do You Remember; very tasteful guitar and mandolin accompaniment to lots of great songs. It has the old time feel.

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  15. #9

    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Thanks, all , these are the direction. I'm playing with (good thing I don't have to pay the mortgage with it) with very simple finger picked arpeggios on guitar with mando color tones and fills. MandoOrange, Lori McKenna with (?) Mark Erilli, that's good stuff. Thanks again.
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    I've always liked Peter Ostroushko's sublime riffing on Greg Brown's rendition of William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and of Experience" set to folk music

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  18. #11
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    For "sparse" guitar and mandolin accompaniment. I can't find anyone better than Bill & Earl Bolick, the Blue Sky Boys. Here's a YouTube channel with 38 of their songs, and here's an example:



    Later: Oops, shoulda checked Post #5; great minds think alike, right, Bob?
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  20. #12

    Default Re: Sparse mando and guitar examples aka taste lessons

    Dave: Please check out the David Grisman/Jerry Garcia albums “Not For Kids Only.” They are exactly what you are looking for! In fact you should have a listen just to make sure you don’t accidentally imitate them, not that that would be a terrible thing to do.
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