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September 20, 2009 7:21:25 AM MDT

Hi Mickey,

Just keep on enjoying the journey of life and your work and playing. Let me know from time to time how and what you are doing. Again I can't say thank you enough for producing your DVD's that really helped me to build a good basis for getting into playing the Dobro. It has saved me many a time in playing with others who are good musicians but don't know anything about theory etc to help them play better.

Your friend and struggling student,
Jack
(AKA Travelin Jack)

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Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 13:31:55 -0600
Subject: Re: Folk of the Wood Contact Form: Dobro question for Mickey

Your Name: lori W.
Subject: Dobro question for Mickey
Message: Hey there,

I recently purchased my old friend the dobro after selling it for money about 15 years ago :(

I also recently purchased your square neck instructional videos part 1 and 2. It is absolutely the best !!!

I do have a problem in that in the first melodic exercise its hard to follow along on " Oh Susanna", and I would really like to get the tablature so I can practice (very slowly) till I get it right. Can you help?

All the best, Lori W. California

Greetings Lori,

Currently, the only Dobro tabs I have are on my FolkoftheWood.com site at:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/Dobro_Lessons.html

Although there is some co-relation to the DVDs, Exercises, Scales and a few Songs, some of the tunes are still missing. I'll see what I can do to post more tabs to support the DVD in the future.

Feel free to write me anytime you should have question during your learning journey.

All my best!

Mickey Cochran

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Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:38:02 -0600
Subject: Re: Dobro rhythm/counting

Hello, Mickey
Seems I'll never run out of questions to ask. In one previous email I'd talked to you about feeling like my rhythm was off somewhat. You said that we all hear music differently and to follow my own muse, and that helped me quite a bit. Thanks for that.

You're most welcome Donald.

I do have something else to ask, though. This may be a bad habit or it may be ok. In one of the first exercises on the first Dobro video (first G-chord progression), I find myself counting a rapid 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2 as I gain speed while picking. Shouldn't I be counting these eight notes in the 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 timing? Is the 1-2-3 counting going to affect my playing as I try to lay a good foundation?

As long as you're keeping consistent with the chord progression, you can use any numerical sequence you'd like. Most importantly, the goal is to play the Chordal exercises without the pauses between chords. Try tapping your foot with the beat (as illustrated in the video) ... and you'll be sure to capture the feel. The video will also help you stay on track.

This might be nothing to worry about, but I'd just like your opinion.
Also, what can I gain from learning music theory?

Quite a bit really. It's not that it's essential to learn theory, only that you're given a different window to view your music through. Sort of adding an entirely new dimension to your skill set.

I've read a good bit of your FAQs, and you often mention finding a good music theory book. I'm looking at one at a local dealer, and it's a thin one, like the songbooks it's been placed with on the rack. It has a CD with it that the reader can listen to and follow along with, which would be good for me. I can only read but so much from a songbook; unless I have a "hands-on" example to listen to, I can't follow the book well enough. Are there any other music theory books out there that you can recommend?

Music Theory books, written specifically for the Dobro, are quite rare. In fact, I don't really know of any off-hand. However, you can purchase a general music theory book that you can correlate to the Dobro on your own. Music Theory really is a common ground for all music instruments ... in other words, it's a universal language that applies to all instruments.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Thanks for your help as always.
Donnie

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Date: 5/09/09
Subject: Re: Dobro question

Hi Mickey,

Your "Intro to the Dobro Part 1" has been very important in my learning process. I was curious... I realize it may not be a "beginners" song, but do you ever plan to do a tablature book with the song "Santa Fe Rail #2"? Or maybe a cd with that song on it? I really love that song & would love to learn it some day. I really like how you go slow in your instructions. Your section on "relative tuning" helped me iron out some serious tuning issues I had after changing my strings. Thanks so much,
---From the beach, Jay

Greetings Jay,

Thanks so much for your kind words ...

Yes, I will eventually be placing "Santa Fe Rail #2" on both a CD and in a book. It's a matter of time of course. Lots of projects on the horizon. It is cool to hear your inspired feedback.

This is a tune, amongst others on the DVD, such as Freight Train, that can be played without accompaniment since it carries its own harmonic structure. And, one of my projects I set aside was to compose a book of Solo Dobro which will consist of unaccompanied Dobro pieces.

Thanks again ... and feel free to write should you have any questions during your Dobro journey.

Mickey Cochran

Folk of the Wood
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312

http://www.folkofthewood.com

http://www.mysticwestproducts.com

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Subject: Dobro Capo
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:20:56 -0600

Good evening Mickey,
Went up to Newport, AR (that is in Northeast Arkansas near my hometown of Batesville) and my friend from teenage days of the first band we had was there and another band was formed and we played Saturday night until about 1 a.m. Saturday morning. Found out that I could use a lot of the 3rd and 6th stuff in runs and trills along with the hammer on and pull off combo with slides on the low notes and had a few pretty good breaks as well as using the chords to accompany using three finger picks. I had a lot of fun as well as the other guys and learned a lot about what I have to learn yet and practice as well. I used the capo generously! In fact, I left it in Jim's Guild Star Fire electric guitar case by accident. He called tonight and is mailing it. That brings up a question about the capo you demonstrated on the DVD. Jim said he'd seen a dobro capo that resembled a metal hair clip with a set screw in the top and it only clamped on the strings at whatever fret you wanted. Who makes those and what type are they? I need to get one of those as the Shubb capo is a little cumbersome to change out in a hurry and sounds like the other one would be faster to change. Thanks for all the good emphasis on getting the basics down (in your Introduction to the Dobro), it saved my hide in the jam session the next day as I had one of the guys ask how long I had been playing and when I told him I had started in December, he asked me who was my instructor and I then told him about your web site and the instructional DVDs you had and how great your teaching is. He will probably be ordering one of your DVDs for the mandolin as he has just purchased one.

Good luck and again thanks for hammering on the value of getting down the basics and methodology versus just learning songs by wrote. I think that is how you spell it. (grin)
Your very happy friend and student,
Jack M.

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Subject: Dobro lessons
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2004 14:35:42 -0500

Mickey,

Greetings again...

I wrote to you about your recommendations concerning square neck Dobro lessons, especially in establishing building blocks, not just learning licks and tunes.

I've been studying your Dobro series, have you converted them to DVD yet? The reason is that DVDs are so easy to go exactly to a particular lesson fast without having to rewind.

DVD is on the agenda...yes, these videos were all originated on Digital format as opposed to Analog...which will make it a seamless transition to DVD...however, encoding is still somewhat complicated...so, please stay tuned with us on the DVD conversion. It may be late this summer...

Anyway, I think your series is the one I'm interested in. I have the rolls down pretty well and I'm familiar enough with bar chords but I just need to concentrate on good foundations rather than just a bunch of licks, am I on the right track? I think for myself, No. 2 would be where I could begin without much problem.

Sure, in Part 2, there are many exercises and studies that will assist you in laying down a solid foundation...however, this is only one dimension within a larger journey...

I'm not sure if you've been here yet: while waiting for our DVD version, you might also check out our online squarneck lessons at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

There's a great section on learning melodic squareneck Dobro...which is also covered in the Part II video...additionally, many scales are laid out to further your dexterity and studies...

Mickey

Any guidance on what you would do is appreciated.

Ron Bennett

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Subject: "Intro to the Dobro"
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 11:09:47 -0500

Hi,

I have a question about the tapes "Intro to the Dobro" by Mickey Cochran.

Greetings Gary,

What tuning is used in the video lessons?

In both our Part I and II Squareneck Dobro videos, we're using Open G Tuning...which is standard for Squareneck Dobro...
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Right now from what I understand I want to learn open G because I want to play blues.

If you're interested in blues, you might want to be pursuing Roundneck Dobro...which is commonly used for blues...

There are examples on the Squareneck Dobro videos of solo blues...only, the squareneck is normally used within a bluegrass setting....

I guess I'm asking 2 questions then... do I need to focus only on G tunings as I start to learn and what tuning the videos are in...

Yes, if you're playing squareneck, the Open G Tuning should allow you to do everything you'd need to do...on roundneck, it's a completely different story...we have a "Roundneck Dobro Slide and Blues Technique" video that does cover a variety of tunings and focuses mostly on blues and slide...this may be more to your liking...

Mickey


Thanks,

Gary Gessler

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