Re: 5 string in jazz combo question
Originally Posted by
Bill McCall
5 string mandos are way too cool just to take over rhythm from a guitar.
Of course that's true
Seriously, in my opinion a 5 string mandolin would already be better suited for this role than a 4 string. But, as DavidKOS mentioned, the low C string is still relatively high compared to a guitar. So the "best" option would be an octave mando, which covers roughly the same tonal range as a guitar.
I've been succesfully using an 5 string octave (GDAEB) as a "guitar" in a standard jazz combo for some years now, and I still think that this is the best option if you don't want to learn the guitar. However, the high B string is only very seldomly used...
There's only one thing that really distinguishes an electric octave from an electric guitar: Due to the fifths tuning the intervals in your chords are quite wide, whereas a guitar produces a "tighter", "more dense" or "bigger" sound. That's also the reason why I prefer the plectrum banjo (CGBD) over the tenor banjo (CGDA).
Mandolins: 1920s (?) Meinel & Herold Bowlback, 2006 Furch "Redwood MA-1" A5
Octaves: 2004 Fender FMO-66 Flat-Top, 2015 A. Karperien 5 String Electric
Banjos: 2007 Gold Tone IT-250F Irish Tenor, 1963 Vega Vox No. 1 Plectrum, 2016 Recording King RK-OT25 Clawhammer
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