Intro to the Octave Mandolin Instructional Video Questions

Subject: Octave Mandolin Fingering
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 11:54:50 -0500

Greetings Christopher,

Glad to assist if I can:

I can't seem to find a page anywhere on the web that describes how Octave Mandolin fingering differs from Mandolin fingering.

Yes, it's true. There are very few references to the Octave Mandolin on the internet...and, I do not even know of a published book covering Octave mando...

It seems that violin fingering is more or less directly transferable to the
the mandolin. But violin/mandolin fingering does not seem to work well on
an octive mandolin -- streaches are pretty long; makes the hand hurt.

This is also true...finger placement is quite a bit different...We do have the chord charts available on our website FAQs for Octave Mandolin:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3049.htm

We're hoping to add scalar exercises with finger placement...unfortunately, it may be a long time coming due to our overwhelming details at the FOTW store.

For the purposes of picking out tunes, should we finger an octave mandolin
as if it were a cello?

I suspect this would work...however, I do not play cello to confirm this...only experimentation will reveal how well it works for you.

Is there a place on the web that describes O-mandolin fingering, and presents pictures of chords?

Again, we do have the open position chord charts available as a downloadable PDF (see above)...let me know if you have any trouble loading this file.

An obvious answer for me would be to just buy the Video, and I just might do
this. But it seems like there should be a page somewhere on the Web that
describes the subject.

Yes...the video covers all the fingering for both chords and first-position scales...along with melodies and chord progressions to further establish these fingerings. And, it's the only instructional road map for Octave mando that we know of...it's available through our online store or through www.elderly.com

Let me know if I can ever assist you further...Mickey

Thanks
C. Guida

Product Review of the
"Intro to Octave Mandolin" Video:

From learning such fundamentals as "proper" hand positioning to fingerpicking improv, this video is a must for beginners right up to veteran players. Mickey's easy and relaxed style guides you through the process from tuning, holding the instrument, chord charts, to step by step tune breakdown from simple to advanced, and then into some improvisational fingerpicking. Starting with basic melodies, broken out part by part, and then advancing into more intricate tunes as well as some of his own compositions, Mickey provides a good instructional guide for anybody contemplating learning the Octave Mandolin. The rich, smoky, baritone of his Weber Yellowstone Octave Mandolin is a treat to hear as he leads you step by step into the relatively uncharted world of the Octave Mandolin. Mickey demonstrates breakdowns of early American fiddle tunes, Celtic tunes, as well as some bold journeys into his well demonstrated fingerpicking skills on the medieval-like original "Battle of Rivendell"...a must for Lord of the Ring fans! This was the missing instrument from that soundtrack! Mickey's video demonstrates the husky voice of this musical chameleon of the mandolin family. It truly is a "world" instrument that is able to adapt to any musical stylings you prefer. Let Mickey show you how. As a player who strives for greater proficiency, I wish I'd had access to such an informative resource when I was starting out. I'd be light years ahead of where I am now. Highly recommended! Submitted and Written by Master Octave Mandolinist: Russell Godfrey

Russell's Further Suggested Octave Listening Discography:

Discography for Octave Mandolin/Irish Bouzouki/Cittern

Mandolirium - Unstrung Heroes
Danu – Think Before You Think
Bothy Band – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Tim O’Brien – The Crossing, Real Time
Old Blind Dogs – Legacy, Tall Tails, New Tricks, Bred In The Bone, "Fit?"
Planxty – Well Below the Valley, Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
Robin Bullock – Green Fields, Lightning Field, Travellers
Gerald Trimble – First Flight –(rare) – Heartland Messenger, Crosscurrents
Roger Landes – Dragon Reels
Kevin MacLeod – Springwell
Tannahill Weavers –(many recordings)
Altan – (many recordings)
Ron Kavana – Home Fire, Think Like a Hero, Coming

Subject: Video Sampler Question
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 2002 17:14:14 -0400

Hi Mickey!

I had taken a vow of silence for at least two weeks, but now I have to
break it :))

Actually, the video sampler I'm referring to is the one at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page532.htm

And I hope that you tell me it's on the "Intro to Octave Mandolin"
tape. That is one awsome piece of music!

Thanks again!

Garry

Greetings Garry,

Yeah! I know which piece you're referring to: "The Battle of Rivendell"...I wrote this piece in 1990...It's one of my personal favorites...and, it just so happens to also be showcased on the "Intro to the Octave Mando" video...because of the limited time frame, the piece wasn't broken down to be taught...it was aired on the video with the hopes that others would take an interest in fingerpicking octave mandolin...

Here's the Chapter it's located in:

Chapter VII: New Dimensions In Octave Mandolin
A. "The Battle of Rivendell" B. "The Amber Hills of Moria"
Thanks for your avid support of my fingerpicking mando efforts...Mickey

Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 00:35:39 -0700
Subject: Further Octave News

Mickey

I just received Zan MacLeod's irish bouzouki vidoeo from home spun. It's a good one. He takes a different tack than yours so I would consider them complementary rather than competetive in nature. I must mean that they (Home Spun Videos) figured you did what you did very well and saw no need to do that. Zan plays in the same tuning GDAD that I do and in fact we have very similar styles. He stresses chords and backup. It's a bummer that they never took your idea and used yours but at least you shouldn't have to go head to head with them.

Cheers

Rik Barron

Greetings Rik,

Thanks for keeping me abreast...I appreciate your critique and certainly, it makes me feel that this could have been in the works before I sent my sample tape to Happy Traum (President of Home Spun Tapes). He seemed nice enough and did respond very positively.

I'm hoping to continue the Octave Mando series with an Intermediate Tape and an Advanced Tape making it a 3-part series in totality. I will introduce your tuning GDAD within its own chapter...

Please stay in touch if ever you come across other zook and octave news!

Wishing you the best, Mickey