Mandolin Learning Fiddle Tunes on Mandolin

SSubject: Re: Fwd: Fiddle tunes for mandolin
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 20:29:51 -0500

Thank you, Mickey. Acting on your suggestions, I looked and have already found some music by those you suggested. I'll also look at ordering from Folk of the Wood. I do have a question, if you don't mind. Would you explain the "shuffle lick" to me? I think it is down stroke twice and then up and down, etc. Please make it simple to me. Thanks so much. Sincerely, Bob

The shuffle lick is based on shuffle bowing of the fiddle...

On the fiddle the shuffle bow involves one long bow stroke followed by two short bow strokes...

Now, on the mandolin, we're emulating this bowing technique by picking one down stroke to last for one beat and on the second beat, playing both a down and upstroke with your picking hand. This gives it a rhythmic pattern such as: daaadadadaaadadadaaadada...kind of difficult to explain in writing...hopefully, you can make some sense of this...Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Subject: Fiddle tunes
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 19:28:06 -0500

Some months ago, I bought the Intro To Mandolin by Mickey. It is really good. I am at the point now where I need some music -without vocal- to practice playing along with. Now, I practice the mandolin breaks for bluegrass music. It's been suggested to me to get a few cd's of violin/fiddle bluegrass songs and practice playing and learning them with the mandolin. My problem: I don't know any fiddle players who have recorded cd's of bluegrass fiddle music which will help me reach my objective. Can you help? Some suggestions for maybe how better to improve my playing, i.e., what to practice with, or a source for fiddle music. Thanks, Bob

Sure Bob,

On Fiddle Music: Try finding any albums by: Byron Berline, Vassar Clements or Benny Thomasson...and remember, Bill Monroe has quite a few recordings where fiddle is showcased...

You might check out our latest updates on mando lessons...there are many new scalar studies offered:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

Look for books or videos that offer lots of studies and exercises...to build up your technique beyond learning songs...

Thanks for the kind words regarding my video, Mickey