Good Tone - How long does it actually take?
I'm usually the first one to reply to these threads, and my answer is always the same - "Scales and scales and scales and scales" I say. "Consistent right hand attack for consistent dynamics." "Hit that sweet spot right behind the fret." "Do exercises to see how little left hand finger pressure it takes to make a clean note."
And I'm the first one to chime into these threads simply BECAUSE, in my opinion, my tone & dynamics are so atrocious.
So I'm running those scales, and doing those picking exercises, and running MORE scales. And it seems like when I go to play my fiddle tunes my tone is STILL awful.
I console myself that I am still very much a beginner on mandolin. And it is unreasonable to expect a beginner to sound any way other than like a beginner.
But how many months of running scales and doing exercises and playing fiddle tunes badly do you have to go through before you start to have consistent good tone?
Eastman MD-514 (F body, Sitka & maple, oval hole)
Klos Carbon Fiber (on order)
And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.
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