Pinky on the pickguard

**JeffD** · Dec-20-2007, 9:29pm

Originally Posted by (mandocat @ Dec. 19 2007, 21:24)

Music is an art. #Playing mandolin is an artform. #But it can also be part sport. #For instance there are guitar, fiddle, and mandolin contests all over the country. #People win all the time for their technical ability. #Players will do gymnastics on the fingerboard. #That's half the fun.

Yikes!

I hope your funin' with us.

As soon as technical gymnastics fails to be in service of musicality and becomes its own goal, I leave.

You can hear it when it happens, and it turns me off.

I am not saying certain music doesn't require speed and technical proficiency boardering on the super human. But no tune should be played faster than it needs to be.

Let me say it again for emphasis. No tune should be played any faster than it needs to be.

**Nick Triesch** · Dec-21-2007, 12:48am

You can have it both ways. Just listen to Chris Thile on a ton of stuff. He can play some sweet music but man, its fun to watch him fly!!! I have never heard anyone play that fast or that clean. He is the Tiger Woods of mandolin!