Fingerstyle Mandolin Fingerpicking Approach

On Aug 26, 2009, at 11:14 AM

Your Name: Joe B.
Subject: Mandolin finger-style picking
Message: Do you have any resources for learning the finger-style mandolin picking and/or the tunes that see when viewing your Breedlove Orca video's? It doesn't appear to be covered in your "Intro to Mandolin" DVD, based on table of contents. Thanks for your help.

Joe

Greetings Joe,

Thanks for writing! It's nice to hear from others with the same interest in Fingerstyle Mandolin.

I have been working on the script for the Fingerstyle Mandolin DVD for many years now ... and, due to all of my other obligations it's been shelved repeatedly.

At the very least, I do have some fingerstyle lessons online at: http://www.folkofthewood.com/Lessons_Fingerstyle_Mandolin.html

I hope to still come out with the DVD ... of late, my performance schedule has also been quite heavy with a local Branson-style venue. However, I may still regroup in September and put out some more instructional materials.

Thanks again for your interest and please stay in touch,

Mickey Cochran

Folk of the Wood

Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 19:49:06 -0700
Subject: Re: info about mandolin fingerstyle technique book?

Hey Mickey,
Happy New Year. I've been a fan of your store for several years now - I have bought 2 instruments from FOTW and am just finishing up your Crosspicking book. I've recently taken another look at your video samples (especially of the mid-level Breedloves) and noticed that you have a lot of videos of fingerstyle picking. I love the sound of crosspicking and fingerstyle would seem to be a more effecient way to get that sort of sound. You also talk about an upcoming book about that technique. Is it available yet?

I have played some fingerstyle guitar so I could imagine that technique wouldn't be too much of a stretch. Any info would be appreciated. Mark L., Charlotte, NC.

Greetings Mark,

I believe I remember you ... Pretty impressive that you're nearing completion of the Mandolin Crosspicking Technique book. As you may be aware, I sold FOTW a few years back, and only recently reacquired the company.

Yes, I did perform quite a few fingerstyle pieces on the mando samplers. And, I also agree with you, it's the next best thing to crosspicking, in fact, many of the crosspicking arrangements I placed in the Mandolin Crosspicking Technique book, sound great note-for-note in the fingerstyle approach. Fingerstyle mandolin allows for a lot of new sounds and an entirely different world to explore on the mandolin. So many things can be executed on the mandolin of which are impossible with a flatpick.

The fingerstyle mandolin book/DVD is still in the works ... and, hopefully, will be finished within a few months. So, please stay tuned on the FOTW web site ...

For now, I'd highly recommend that you get used to wearing fingerpicks ... plastic Dunlop Thumpick and Brass Dunlop Fingerpicks ... this will help you with the foundation medium for fingerstyle mandolin. Make sure to experiment with different sizes until you've found a set that's comfortable.

Fingerpicks are essential for sufficient volume when playing with other instruments ... additionally, they give you far more dynamics (from soft to loud) that's hard to accomplish without ...

Hope something here helps,

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

Subject: thanks
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 11:28:19 -0500

Hey Mickey,

Thanks for the suggestions about fingerstyle picking on the mando. I'll keep on the lookout for your book/DVD on Fingerpicking Mandolin.

Seeing your fingerstyle approach gave me one of those "of course, why not?" moments, where you borrow a technique from one instrument and apply it to another in a way that breaks a tradition but Works and suddenly opens up tons of new possibilities. Probably akin to what Jesse McReynolds felt when he first tried the crosspicking banjo technique on the mando or Dave Grismon felt when he started playing jazz with old-timey stringband instrumentation. I play jazz piano, rock synth, some acoustic guitar and concertina and feel my most creative compositional moments are often when I take something I use on one instrument or in one genre, and apply it to another instrument or genre.

From my standpoint, it's great to hear you're back at the helm at FOTW. The main thing that initially drew me toward FOTW and still keeps me checking there, is the database of detailed information you supply on various topics. I could buy quality acoustic instruments from a variety of sellers (locally and online), but I feel more loyalty/obligation to buy from your outfit because I have benefitted so much from your generous info sharing.

Thanks again, Mark

Wow Mark! That is one very nice letter. I really appreciate your appreciation. It's truly inspiring to work with customers such as yourself.

Yes, borrowing a technique from one instrument to another truly opens doors. And, with some adaptation over time, it seems to etch out its own destiny. I've probably been overly involved with experimentation; at the least, it's been an adventure. Sounds like you're of the exact same frame of mind. Let's stay in touch more often ... Mickey

Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:52:55 -0600
Subject: Re: what happened to the fingerstyle mandolin lessons?

I'm finally getting around to wanting to work on the finger-style mandolin material that used to be available but I can't seem to find it on your new website. When I google fingerpick mandolin, I can find some of the old pages but cannot access them all anymore. Is this material no longer on the web?

Barb F.

Greetings Barb aka mandogal,

I'm now fixing this to ensure that the page is up and running. The issue lies in the site being completely restructured for full orientation towards publishing ... and, of course, a change in ownership.

So far, I believe it's coming together well ... with one single thematic interface being the goal.

Here's the page you're looking for:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/Lessons_Fingerstyle_Mandolin.html

From here on, you can go to the main page:
http://www.folkofthewood.com

Then go to Music Lessons > Table of Contents ... and you'll find your way.

On another note, I'm finally getting around to producing the "Fingerstyle Mandolin" video ... so, please stay tuned for its upcoming release.

All my best,

Mickey Cochran
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312

http://www.mysticwestproducts.com

Subject: Re: what happened to the fingerstyle mandolin lessons?
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:54:55 -0400

Mickey,
Wow! Fantastically fast response! Thanks so much for making these resources available. I'll be looking forward to the video.

Barb

Subject: Mandolin String Gauges
Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 18:36:07 -0700

Hi Mickey

Okay, I am a fairly new mandolin player and wondered what the difference between light gauge and medium gauge strings for my mandolin is. Is it possible to get a heavy gauge? Why would I choose one over the other?

If you're new to mandolin, you'll only want to use a light gauge set of strings. Medium gauge and heavy gauge strings add more body and fullness but are far more difficult to play.

Also, does anyone play a mandolin using fingers rather than a pick?

Yes, I do all the time...check out our video samplers below for an example. Additionally, in our online mandolin lesson section, I teach fingerstyle mandolin. We also have many online video samplers, in our mandolin section, demonstrating the fingerstyle mandolin technique firsthand.

I know that there are different "tunings" on a guitar. Are there different tunings on a mandolin?

Yes, only not as common as on guitar.

Just wondering and I can't seem to find the answer to these questions anywhere on the internet.

We have an extensive FAQ section below...check it out if you get the chance. Mickey

Thanks,

Mollie in PDX

Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 13:54:30 -0700
Subject: Fingerpicks...

I've got your crosspicking book, but... I noticed on a site video that you
were crosspicking with what looked like Banjo fingerpicks. Can you tell me
a bit about that? Gary

Greetings Gary,

Yes, this would be fingerstyle mandolin...which does use many of the same patterns as illustrated in my crosspicking book. I like both approaches for different reasons...fingerpicking mandolin adds an entirely new dimension...and to learn more about this approach, I've included a whole new section on our web site with fingerstyle technique building for mandolin:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/Lessons_Fingerstyle_Mandolin.html

This approach doesn't necessarily require fingerpicks...the fingerpicks do add volume, punch and tonal clarity as a medium...so I do recommend learning this approach to the mandolin with two or three metal fingerpicks along with one plastic thumbpick.

Hope this is something you'd like to pursue...Mickey

Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 19:17:48 -0700
Subject: Re: Fingerpicks...

Thanks. I appreciate all of the innovative stuff you've been doing. Even
though mandolins have been around for a while, I think we're just at the
beginning of innovation for them. Gary

Subject: fingerstyle
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2004 15:16:38 -0600

i am a fingerstyle guitarist, however i have really enjoyed the notion of
fingerstyle mandolin. have any instruction on this?

Greetings,

Yes, an instructional video is in the works...it will be an intermediate to advanced level effort...if you haven't seen our video samplers on fingerstyle mandolin, check them out linked from below...it's great to see some interest in this unique approach to the mandolin...lots of possibilities and with your gained abilities on guitar, you should find the transition to fingerstyle mandolin a breeze...Mickey

Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 10:14:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: fingerpickin' mandolin

Thanks for sharing your fingerstyle mandolin experiences with us...I've done quite a few video samplers on our website with the fingerstyle approach...

Accolades to you for pursuing this style...I wish more would consider this approach to the mandolin as a serious medium.

Keep in mind, I'm also working on an instructional video dedicated to fingerstyle mandolin....

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Howdy. I just did a search for fingerpicking mandolin
and your site popped up at the top.

I recently picked up a mandolin due to my getting
a job in a music store in Jacksonville, Fl. I have been
a percussionist/drummer for 18 years. I never got the
guitar or bass bug. But, someone showed me G,C&D on a
mando and the sound took me.
Being that this was my first stringed
instrument, I had no preference of how to attack the
strings. I started with a flat pick, but within a week
I abandonned it for fingerstyle, without finger picks.

It's been a little more than a year now, and I
have practiced a lot, 3-6 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a
week on average. I have developed a few different
techniques. Having a heavy understanding of rythm and
attack, at times I play the mandolin much like a
doumbek, at times I get into a flamenco thing with
fluries of notes using two fingers for tripolets,three
for square patterns (16th,32nd & 64th notes). This may
seem backwards(2 for triangular, 3 for square), but
for triplets, I do two up-strokes (middle finger then
index), followed by one down-stroke with the middle
finger, which puts me back in position for the first
up-stroke. For 16th notes, I use 3
up-strokes(ring,mid,then index)followed by the middle
finger down-stroke. The ring finger goes back with the
middle, but doesn't hit the string because it's
shorter, and is now ready to repeat the pattern( I
also found that all the fingers can do a down stroke
for amazing flurries of notes). I've found that moving
this blurry barage of fingers of from the G string to
the E string and back and forth can be very neato. I
like to play the lower notes on beats 1 and 3, and the
higher notes on beats 2 and 4. Using 64th note patters
with this method proves quite interesting ( try G
minor and C minor then D minor (spooky, yet majestic)).
gotta go, just thought I'd share a few things w/
you.
thanks for your time.

Brian Jenkins

Subject: Fingerpicking Mandolin
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2003 07:46:55 -0000

Hi

Greetings Dave,

I recently started playing the mandolin after years of playing guitar, mainly fingerpicking, and a couple of brief but intense flings with the 5 string banjo. The main reason for taking up the mandolin was to allow me to play traditional tunes (bluegrass and local - I live on the west coast of Scotland) and to develop my flatpicking. I was also attracted by it's portability - the ideal instrument for playing in the car during lunch breaks on the road.

I agree...I find taking a mandolin on the road is far more practical than guitar...they're even smaller than a travel guitar.

After seeing your video samplers I was inspired to get out my fingerpicks and apply them to the mandolin. Do you have any advice about how to apply fingerpicking technique to the mandolin, particularly re playing tunes that require a fair amount of single string work - i.e. patterns/rolls to use?

I have a video on fingerpicking mandolin that's on the agenda...my suggestion off the cuff would be to continue experimenting with what works for you...one of the critical aspects I've discovered would be how to shape the fingerpicks. I've found a gain more volume and definition by pulling the picks to that they're almost straight at the tip.

There are infinite ways to attack each string in combination with rolls...I've found that different meters call for different patterns. For instance, a jig time works well with a roll effect on a single string in triplets. Whereas, 4/4 timing seems to work well with alternating between the thumb and index fingers. Crosspicking falls into place with forward and backward rolls. I can play quite a bit faster crosspicking patterns with fingerstyle than with flatpick...even so, I love both mediums, and if you've already be perusing our video samplers, you can see that I divide my playing up between the two approaches.

I also wonder if you have an views about the limitations of playing the mandolin this way and should I really be thinking about getting a mandola or octave mandolin.

I believe that fingerstyle mandolin has barely been explored...it has many possibilities that are awaiting discovery. It's an evolutionary process of which, someday, will be considered an accepted medium. Today, it's considered very unorthodox. In respect to bluegrass, you wouldn't want to approach the mandolin with nothing but a flatpick period. Bluegrass has its traditions, and in honor of keeping it pure, we should all be working hard to retain its tradition in every respect...including playing mandolin with a flatpick. An interesting side note is the fact that Lester Flatt of "Flatt and Scruggs" played his acoustic guitar with fingers and a thumbpick. He would play back-up using this technique/medium solely. No one can criticize a legend of this caliber for deviating from flatpicking guitar, which is considered the bluegrass tradition. Interestingly enough, Earl Scruggs himself played guitar lead with fingerpicks and thumbpick.

Yes...mandola and octave mandolin both work well within a fingerstyle medium. They offer the lower bass end that mandolin falls short on. With this feature, mandola and octave can be played effectively as solo instruments within the fingerstyle medium. If I was already playing mandolin, and I wanted a lower voicing, I'd opt for the Octave mandolin...which is entirely different than mandolin...whereas, mandola falls between the two, it still has a voicing that comes very close to mandolin in tonal range.

Hope something here has been of assistance to you...Mickey

I look forward to hearing from you

Thanks

Dave