Best piece of advice you've learned here at The Cafe

[Michael H Geimer]

Without question The Mandolin Cafe is an incredible resource for anyone interested in the mandolin. We have all become better players from being here, I think.

So, what is the best piece of advice you got from here?

* * *

Mine came from long-time poster MandoJohnny (John Flynn). I do not recall the exact words he used but the idea was that a melody well played is always loud enough, that our human brains will follow the harmonic motion and hear it clearly.

So, Thanks John for the insight! It has helped me keep a clear head during performance for many years now.

[TheBently]

The best piece of advice has definitely been to use a metronome with just about everything. And i can agree, it has made my a playing a so much better! I use one so much! I don't think I'd be where I'm at without one!

[bootsy]

Definitely learn to read music! Although I'm nowhere near proficient after six weeks so much more mandolin music has opened up for me from bluegrass to classical

[Fretbear]

That contrary to my deepest heartfelt desire, that I should buy an "A" style.......

[John Flynn]

That I should spend less time on the Cafe' and more time practicing. Of course, that's advice I haven't actually followed, but it's still the best!

- The mandolinist formerly known as "Mando Johnny"

[wsugai]

Wouldn't exactly call this advice, but the two things I've read here in the Forums that's made the greatest impression on me is that there are others who don't particularly enjoy playing (1) in jams, and (2) fiddle tunes.

[billhay4]

Didn't hear this on the Cafe, but "shut up and play" might qualify as pretty good advice, advice I've not followed.
Bill

[JeffD]

Wouldn't exactly call this advice, but the two things I've read here in the Forums that's made the greatest impression on me is that there are others who don't particularly enjoy playing (1) in jams, and (2) fiddle tunes.

You have identified an important thing that I have gotten out of this site. Not advice exactly, but finding out that I am not alone.

What ever you like or don't like, its good to know that there are others of the same tastes and preferences. Its good to know that we don't have to like everything to be a mandolinner, (we knew that but still), that we can find others who have and do make the same choices we have.

Its good to know that our experiences are more universal than we might have thought, good and bad, hard, easy, ego boosting and ego destroying. That we are not alone in this. That what we struggle with has been, more often than not, struggled with by many many of us.

That, to me, has been gigantic. More than once or twice, someone has explained a problem they are having or something they find hard or don't understand, and I am right there, yea yea me too, what about that, what about that, what he said, yea.

Often the help someone gets is helpful to me. But the main thing is finding out that I am not the only one who wondered, swore, tripped and fell, on this or that particular thing. That I am not alone in preferring this and not being interested in that, and that I am not alone on the paths I have chosen.

Its good to know I belong.

[jmp]

Never assume it is a real Gibson just because it says so on the headstock

[fatt-dad]

It ain't a competition.

f-d

[pefjr]

Hard question,...I am gonna look forward to reading this thread to see the nuggets of knowledge come in. The best lesson I have got from the cafe...so far... is Marc Woodward's blues workshop, as it open a couple doors on box patterns and how blues is integrated into pentatonic scales. See, ...I even know how to spell pentatonic now. The best advice I have ever received on music in general came from my son when he told me, "Dad, you have really missed out by not learning Music Theory." It's a little odd when a father looks up to a son.....but that is what I do now, he is my inspiration. He was 100% right, and since then I have studied Music Theory, and now Mandolin musical theory. So .... my advice to anyone is , "Don't miss the boat, study and learn Music Theory.

[Fred Young]

for a very, very beginner, I was advised to just start by tickling the strings until I started hearing what started making sense to me. and with all the mandolin café posts, what a treat! Thanks a bunch folks.

[journeybear]

Very best little bit, nothing to do with mandolins but rather general behavior in this sort of setting (and others, by extension): "Read more, post less." I was already several thousand posts in but it's still good.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I couldn't pick one thing in particular,but reading all the experiences of other folks on here about most aspects of mandolins & the playing thereof,there's been a treasure trove of good advice & info. That's what makes the Cafe such a terrific site.Tomorrow,you never know,but something totally new might spring up to surprise &/or astonish us,
Ivan

[Ron McMillan]

That a minute spent reading the latest thread about this or that deluxe pick that will somehow make you a better player - or at least make you sound like a better player - is a minute I'll never get back again.

[Ivan Kelsall]

From blueron - "..or at least make you sound like a better player..". I don't think it's 'quite' what you meant Ron. Maybe 'make you think you sound like a better player' - but i'd settle for your meaning rather than mine !,
Ivan

[Ron McMillan]

You're exactly right, Ivan. For once, I wasn't cynical enough!

[JeffD]

You're exactly right, Ivan. For once, I wasn't cynical enough!

[Pasha Alden]

So many bits of good advice. However, the setup advice from Rob Meldrum; also the assistance when looking out for a mandolin. The advice on the cafe has been worth as much as the white gold from the SA mines.

[Michael H Geimer]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Another Huge Thing for me was the complete overhaul of my "icky bug" pick grip into the "curled index over thumb". Absolutely huge thing for me, and it took a couple of years to really sink in and become natural.

[Chunky But Funky]

That contrary to my deepest heartfelt desire, that I should buy an "A" style.......

Same for me. I believe it was worded "a scroll is a $2000 strap hanger". Still loving the Collings MT2, so I guess it was good advice!

Doug

[farmerjones]

So, what is the best piece of advice you got from here?

Buy the MT.

I still haven't.

Truthfully, the whole FFcP thing is worth solid gold, and we all got it for free.

[Larry S Sherman]

Truthfully, the whole FFcP thing is worth solid gold, and we all got it for free.

Free, but much more great content if you buy the book (and support the author).

Larry

[Bob DeVellis]

Well, it's a small, specific thin but it's proved to be a great tip -- how to wind strings when changing them. I learned here to wrap the string around the post and then pass it through the hole in the post. I do this on guitars now, too. It's fast, reliable, and tidy and also simplifies removing the strings wen it's time for the next change.

The other thing this forum has taught me is that cordial, respectful, informed discourse can be found on internet forums. Although I don't drop by here as often as i once did, I still do check in from time to time and it's good to see that many of the smart, generous, funny, good-natured folks that I remember are still here.

[bagpipe]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Another Huge Thing for me was the complete overhaul of my "icky bug" pick grip into the "curled index over thumb". Absolutely huge thing for me, and it took a couple of years to really sink in and become natural.

Ha ha - excellent description of both grips! As I get lazy and don't focus on technique, I find myself resorting more and more to the "icky bug" grip you describe.