Subject: slide mandolin on resonator
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:37:27 -0500

Howdy - currently play acoustic and alittle solid body electric in a band that primarily
does blues/rock and alittle country -
I'm interested in getting into some slide stuff on the mando -
I have spoken to one of your staff (very nice fellow named Tradd)
and am considering getting a resonator mando to further investigate slide playing -
I've done some very rudimentary stuff on the solid body in standard tuning -
my question(s): what open tunings are most used for slide on mandolin? - AEAE is one I know of -

Yes, AEAE is quite effective for slide mandolin...however, when you learn your way around, you'll find that standard tuning works very well. The only real reason I can find for using an open tuning on mandolin is if you're playing fingerstyle mandolin...where more than one note is played...this would then give you lots of drone strings to play off of...I love fingerstyle mandolin and believe it's a whole new doorway to taking the mandolin to new realms. I know of very few players using fingerstyle mandolin...hence, if you plan on using the AEAE, my suggestion would be to try playing with the fingerstyle approach. If you're only planning on using a flatpick, I'd say go with the standard tuning...for most of what you'll be doing will be single note playing.

also - is there any instructional material out there specific to slide mando or
could you point me in the direction of general slide info on the guitar -

Wouldn't that be cool? I haven't seen anything to date that instructs on how to approach slide mandolin. I believe Sam Bush should come out with a book/cd/dvd on this...he's the most qualified...

You might at the very least check out our fingerstyle mandolin lessons section...we've got that covered...

For free acoustic music lessons:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

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

Thanks alot
David R. D.

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 13:11:33 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: slide mando instruction video?

Attn. Mickey:

Greetings,


Now that I'm playing a Rigel Reso, I'd like to learn slide style on it.
Are there any instruction videos which include slide mando instruction?

I do not know of any off-hand...You might look for anything by Sam Bush...he has been the foremost exponent of this style...

I'm a violinist, not a guitarist, though, so I don't have any guitar slide
experience to transfer. I'm assuming that because of the tuning in fifths,
and the much narrower neck, guitar slides and techniques are not optimal for
the mando. Which slide is preferred? (glass or metal?) Will I have to cut
one down-to-size?

Either will work on mandolin...and, any standard size slide will apply to mandolin...I don't know of any made specifically for mandolin...


And, while we're discussing the Rigel Reso..., it came strung with a rather
heavy string set (I use ultralights on my other mando -- a Phoenix
Neoclassical). How light a string set can I practically and reasonably go
on the Reso?

You can go as light as you wish...only each Reso is set up differently...so you may encounter some buzzing...you're not going to know until you try...if it does buzz, it can be set up with a higher action if necessary...only it may take a technician to assist you with this...I have a Rigel Reso of which has medium gauge strings...and this helps retain a fatter sound; expect a thinner sound with light gauge strings...

Good luck, Mickey


Thanks!

G'dae