Solo Mandolin: Playing Mandolin Unaccompanied

Subject: Mandolin and Violin
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 17:48:52 -0700

I have played the violin for most of my life having started lessons at age 3.

Lucky you!!! I started in 5th grade and then, had put it down and didn't start back until much later...

I am classically trained but have been trying to learn Celtic tunes lately due to marrying into an Irish family. The problem is that the fiddle is not that conducive to singalongs. My wife wants me to learn the guitar but I have struggled when I have picked them up before because I have small arms, hands and fingers. I expect that the mandolin would be much simpler for me due to the stringing.

Yes, and you won't have to relearn the fingerboard language...the mandolin is essentially a violin handled with a different medium...yes, due to the picking hand, as opposed to the bowing hand, there are some new mechanics to learn...even so, it would be quite a bit easier transition for a violinist to pick up the mandolin over and above any other fretted instrument...

All fiddle players pluck along on their violins when fooling around although I realize that the frets complicate this. My question is as to whether the mandolin is conducive to the playing of simple Irish type songs that can be sung along to, similar to a guitar?

Yes...I've done this many times...and have successfully played the mandolin as a solo instrument within a performing situation...there are some things to consider when playing mandolin solo, such as, staying with the open-position chords allows for the lowest end bass to resound....especially if backing up your voice...you might also consider playing the crosspicking approach or fingerstyle mandolin...this adds harmonic support to the instruments lead lines...

You can hear examples of this in our video sampler section:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page319.htm

Let me know if you have any further questions...Mickey

Thanks for your help.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 15:18:34 -0600

That answers lots of questions. Thank you for your time. Can a mandolin be played as a solo type instrument? Ricky Skaggs is the only mandolin player I'm familiar with, and I've only heard him play in a group. Any recordings you recommend that I could get an idea of how that would sound?

Greetings,

Yes, a mandolin can most definitely be played as a solo instrument...in 3 separate ways:

1. with a flatpick in a chord melody solo fashion
2. with a flatpick using crosspicking technique...where patterns (arpeggios) and rolls are established to support the melody...
3. and, as a fingerstyle instrument...using fingernails and a thumbpick or fingerpicks and a thumbpick...

Whenever playing single line melodies with a flatpick, the mandolin really calls for a back-up instrument for harmonic support...

To hear fingerstyle solo mandolin, please check out our video sampler page:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page319.htm

There are many samples of solo mandolin played with both flatpick and in a fingerstyle medium...

Let me know how else I might assist...Mickey

Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Fingerpicking Mandolin
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 17:21:10 -0000

Mickey

Greetings Dave,

Thanks again for the helpful information.

I wonder if I can trouble you with one more question. Do you know of any recorded examples of solo mandolin being used to accompany a singer?

I know of no recorded examples of a single mandolin backing up vocals...I've heard a couple of examples of live shows where I've heard this medium performed to good effect. Steve Smith, who resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico, has done very well using the mandolin as a solo accompaniment instrument. He has a website where you can contact him with further questions regarding this medium and approach.

http://www.desertnight.com/

I personally love the sound of a solo mandolin...as I'm sure you can attest from our video samplers. I believe the possibilities are infinite...there are ways to arrange in both fingerpicking and flatpicking so that the mandolin carries its own harmony notes above and below the melody.

I have been really impressed with the folk of the wood site - well presented and laid out, lots of useful information. I've particularly enjoyed the video clips and your answers to my questions.

Thanks so much for the kind words regarding our website...and our video sampler efforts...we hope to add many more...currently we have over 1000 and counting.

Mickey

Thanks again

Dave