I manage about an hour or so almost every evening to practise the instruments I own and to play them for enjoyment.
I started teaching myself mandolin about 5 or so years ago, added a bouzouki (G-D-A-D) a few years later and last Christmas gratefully received a present of a 12 string guitar from my wife. (I have played basic 6 string guitar for many years).
The split between practise and 'just playing' varies from evening to evening.
I'm looking for advice as to how to mix the three instruments in such as way as to advance on all three and enjoy them too.
Should I alternate them each night or week or as the mood strikes me/ Or some more sophisticated strategy?
Outside of home I play in friend's houses and at pub sessions - where I can hold my own on mandolin, and just about on zouk. The 12 string is too new to have taken anywhere.
In case it helps: my interests are Celtic Bluegrass and Blues on the mandolin, Celtic on the zouk and Country Blues on the 12 string.
Well didge, at least you only have three instruments! I play 9! so I have to have an intelligent method to progress on them.
Playing the guitar for 30plus years means that I dont focus on that so much, but nonethe less I will still put a few months in once or twice a year.
I suggest cycling your instruments. so for me I will concentrate on one instrument , while dabbling with others. The plan is to put in small doses of 2 instrument and a large dose of one for about 3 months+- then shift focus to another, this obviously requires time. if you dont have that then you have little hope.
I normally have introduced a new instrument every 5 yrs or so. so;
for me Instrument 1; 1-3 hours daily,
instrument2; 20-30 min
inst 3; 20-30m
rotate every 1 to 3 months.
now If I am gigging with a particular instrument I will put a week or 2 of focus in to brush up on speed etc.
I would also put a 1-3hour day into the second instrument and third every 10 days 2 weeks or so.
If you have one hour, I would recommend concentrating on one instrument for that hour. Long ago, during a time when I was underemployed and had plenty of time for it, I added mandolin, banjo, fiddle and 12-string to my guitar playing. I found that I needed at least an hour dedicated to each instrument to really get into the groove and retain the learning.
you are lucky really that your 3 instruments have similar characteristics. right hand picking for example is effectively the same. A tune learnt on the mandolin is learnt on the baz... or close enough. the guitar left hand an baz left hand have similar fret distances so all 3 instruments will cross fertilise each other. A wise choice.
Playing flute, pipes and concertina here. I personally can't devote to all three instruments, so I try to maintain a daily practise duration of 1-5 hours a day on the flute and play the others for enjoyment. I have the concertina for three months now and can play exactly two tunes (a waltz and a fling), but I'm fine with that. On some days I play the pipes almost exclusively, mostly on B.E.D. (bitchy embouchure days)...unless they're also B. reed D., on which I tend to go to bed early
I dont have boys of blue hill in my tunebook. Ive played fiddle for fourty years and am still modest about my tallents but you just seem to full of yourself to be real.
Don't believe any of it, Prodigal, he's just an attention-seeking wind-up merchant who does this every few days. Spoils what is otherwise a useful thread.
So wolf bird, you have made same usefull contribution to this ' crosstraining thread? how many instruments do you play?
And you prodigal? or perhaps you are on the wrong page?
why not pop over to the banjo thread.... oops you dont play banjo either... so, gentlemen, pray tell me, what on earth are you doing on these threads at all? looking for an argument? perhaps you might start an argument thread of your very own, and leave us multi-instrumentalists and banjo players to our own business .
Tell me jig, what martial arts school do follow ( you've boasted often enough about your prowess ) ? Whatever it is, it's got to be crap, because there are no respectable traditions that teach bragging and egotism as virtues, or signs of mastery.
You've got a few loose screws somewhere. Pity. You spoil this site, IMO. I'm not going to waste words on you.
good, bye. perhaps we can get back to cross training....
Which funnily enough is our philosophy regarding martial arts too.So to answer your question, ; Muay Thai, Greco-Roman, Brazillian Ju-jitsu. Though I spent my formative years in Shoto's House,
I like Harvest Home, whats wrong with that? I am only beginning to work my way through the tunes on this site and am llooking for new varitions when I can find them. You jig dont have any tunes in your tunebook so its a bit cheap to slag others who do. And actuallty I do play banjo.
You play the banjo too? oops, you werent at the session last night were you?
prodigal, I didnt slag you, you insulted me.[ god that sounds really childish, what am I reduced too on this board!?]
I legitimately asked you a question, and to be honest, you are looking for variations in Harvest home? after 40 yrs? Here?; http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/49 !!!!!?????
check it out dude. UFC, Cage rage, IFC, King of the cage, Pride, shhot, MMA. I know its sport, but heck we might as well have fun
I think "cross training" is a good idea. I've been learning the dulcimer (not the hammered kind) and I feel it is helpful toward my flute playing. Being a newbie -- not just to this music but toward making music that doesn't require a stern piano teacher at my side -- I'll take all the help I can get.
Yeah, sbhikes. I sometimes get the impression that people who want to learn are asking "which way should I go ?" as if asking the road to a particular town. But it seems to me, if you're *really* keen to learn, you don't need to ask anybody, you just keep trying everything that comes your way, whether it's instruments, or CDs, or tunes, or fragments of advice, or anything. I think it's really really interesting to try different instruments. I think dulcimer is great. And there's that thing called a Hummel, which might have been the origin of the dulcimer, in Scandinavia, which i think has resonating strings. Oh yes, and there's that double dulcimer, where two people play it on their laps facing each other, legs interleaved. Bet that's fun !
Dulcimer is awesome. I love the drones. The instrument morphs and mutates with the different tunings. Putting a capo on the diatonic fretboard is enlightening. It's easy to play right out of the box. It teaches much about rhythm, too. The dulcimer provides me a great deal of enlightenment.
'Cross training' on fretted instruments
'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I manage about an hour or so almost every evening to practise the instruments I own and to play them for enjoyment.
I started teaching myself mandolin about 5 or so years ago, added a bouzouki (G-D-A-D) a few years later and last Christmas gratefully received a present of a 12 string guitar from my wife. (I have played basic 6 string guitar for many years).
The split between practise and 'just playing' varies from evening to evening.
I'm looking for advice as to how to mix the three instruments in such as way as to advance on all three and enjoy them too.
Should I alternate them each night or week or as the mood strikes me/ Or some more sophisticated strategy?
Outside of home I play in friend's houses and at pub sessions - where I can hold my own on mandolin, and just about on zouk. The 12 string is too new to have taken anywhere.
In case it helps: my interests are Celtic Bluegrass and Blues on the mandolin, Celtic on the zouk and Country Blues on the 12 string.
Cheers
DIDGE
# Posted on February 22nd 2008 by DidgeLewis
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Well didge, at least you only have three instruments! I play 9! so I have to have an intelligent method to progress on them.
Playing the guitar for 30plus years means that I dont focus on that so much, but nonethe less I will still put a few months in once or twice a year.
I suggest cycling your instruments. so for me I will concentrate on one instrument , while dabbling with others. The plan is to put in small doses of 2 instrument and a large dose of one for about 3 months+- then shift focus to another, this obviously requires time. if you dont have that then you have little hope.
I normally have introduced a new instrument every 5 yrs or so. so;
for me Instrument 1; 1-3 hours daily,
instrument2; 20-30 min
inst 3; 20-30m
rotate every 1 to 3 months.
now If I am gigging with a particular instrument I will put a week or 2 of focus in to brush up on speed etc.
I would also put a 1-3hour day into the second instrument and third every 10 days 2 weeks or so.
# Posted on February 22nd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
If you have one hour, I would recommend concentrating on one instrument for that hour. Long ago, during a time when I was underemployed and had plenty of time for it, I added mandolin, banjo, fiddle and 12-string to my guitar playing. I found that I needed at least an hour dedicated to each instrument to really get into the groove and retain the learning.
# Posted on February 22nd 2008 by Bob himself
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Cross-posted. If you have the discipline to follow jig’s advice about concentrating on one instrument for weeks or months, that’s probably worthwhile.
# Posted on February 22nd 2008 by Bob himself
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
you are lucky really that your 3 instruments have similar characteristics. right hand picking for example is effectively the same. A tune learnt on the mandolin is learnt on the baz... or close enough. the guitar left hand an baz left hand have similar fret distances so all 3 instruments will cross fertilise each other. A wise choice.
# Posted on February 22nd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Playing flute, pipes and concertina here. I personally can't devote to all three instruments, so I try to maintain a daily practise duration of 1-5 hours a day on the flute and play the others for enjoyment. I have the concertina for three months now and can play exactly two tunes (a waltz and a fling), but I'm fine with that. On some days I play the pipes almost exclusively, mostly on B.E.D. (bitchy embouchure days)...unless they're also B. reed D., on which I tend to go to bed early
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by s.g.
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
jig your biog says that you play play guitar ,fiddle, and mandolin. What are the other 6?
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Drums [basic]
Bass
Banjo
Whistle
Cello[badly]
GBH
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
your bio says nothing prodigal, Do you play ITM? if so what instrument? A beginner? intermediate like me ? or master?
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I live in Ireland and play the fiddle and Im pretty good. if your ideas suggest your intermediate then Im definitly a master.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Ho Ho!
so how many decades did it take you?
I note you have 'boys of blue hill' in your tune book. Interesting choice.....
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I dont have boys of blue hill in my tunebook. Ive played fiddle for fourty years and am still modest about my tallents but you just seem to full of yourself to be real.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Don't believe any of it, Prodigal, he's just an attention-seeking wind-up merchant who does this every few days. Spoils what is otherwise a useful thread.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by wolfbird
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Yep, your right, harvest home..
2 classic prodigal quotes ;
. ''then Im definitly a master.''
''am still modest about my tallents ''
Sorry i cant help laughing.. fourty years you say?
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I dont see why I should come on this site and be insulted by someone who has to use a mternome!
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
So wolf bird, you have made same usefull contribution to this ' crosstraining thread? how many instruments do you play?
And you prodigal? or perhaps you are on the wrong page?
why not pop over to the banjo thread.... oops you dont play banjo either... so, gentlemen, pray tell me, what on earth are you doing on these threads at all? looking for an argument? perhaps you might start an argument thread of your very own, and leave us multi-instrumentalists and banjo players to our own business .
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I have not insulted you at all . au contrair. your first comment on the banjo thread was;
''From what I've read jig only seems to play with himself!''
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by The Prodigal
my how amusing....
Prodigal, If you have been playing 40 yrs, and you are a master, great....so why do you have harvest home in your tune book?
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Tell me jig, what martial arts school do follow ( you've boasted often enough about your prowess ) ? Whatever it is, it's got to be crap, because there are no respectable traditions that teach bragging and egotism as virtues, or signs of mastery.
You've got a few loose screws somewhere. Pity. You spoil this site, IMO. I'm not going to waste words on you.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by wolfbird
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
good, bye. perhaps we can get back to cross training....
Which funnily enough is our philosophy regarding martial arts too.So to answer your question, ; Muay Thai, Greco-Roman, Brazillian Ju-jitsu. Though I spent my formative years in Shoto's House,
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
cross training is an interesting thread title, why did you choose it Didge? sorry about the heckling...
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I like Harvest Home, whats wrong with that? I am only beginning to work my way through the tunes on this site and am llooking for new varitions when I can find them. You jig dont have any tunes in your tunebook so its a bit cheap to slag others who do. And actuallty I do play banjo.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by Scorpion de Rooftrouser
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Sounds to me like a dog's breakfast. No surprises there then.
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by wolfbird
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
You play the banjo too? oops, you werent at the session last night were you?
prodigal, I didnt slag you, you insulted me.[ god that sounds really childish, what am I reduced too on this board!?]
I legitimately asked you a question, and to be honest, you are looking for variations in Harvest home? after 40 yrs? Here?; http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/49 !!!!!?????
check it out dude. UFC, Cage rage, IFC, King of the cage, Pride, shhot, MMA. I know its sport, but heck we might as well have fun
# Posted on February 23rd 2008 by piobagusfidil
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I think "cross training" is a good idea. I've been learning the dulcimer (not the hammered kind) and I feel it is helpful toward my flute playing. Being a newbie -- not just to this music but toward making music that doesn't require a stern piano teacher at my side -- I'll take all the help I can get.
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Yeah, sbhikes. I sometimes get the impression that people who want to learn are asking "which way should I go ?" as if asking the road to a particular town. But it seems to me, if you're *really* keen to learn, you don't need to ask anybody, you just keep trying everything that comes your way, whether it's instruments, or CDs, or tunes, or fragments of advice, or anything. I think it's really really interesting to try different instruments. I think dulcimer is great. And there's that thing called a Hummel, which might have been the origin of the dulcimer, in Scandinavia, which i think has resonating strings. Oh yes, and there's that double dulcimer, where two people play it on their laps facing each other, legs interleaved. Bet that's fun !
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
Dulcimer is awesome. I love the drones. The instrument morphs and mutates with the different tunings. Putting a capo on the diatonic fretboard is enlightening. It's easy to play right out of the box. It teaches much about rhythm, too. The dulcimer provides me a great deal of enlightenment.
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by sbhikes
Re: 'Cross training' on fretted instruments
I found a sample of a hummel here. Very short, but interesting sound.
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/pub/a/oreilly/digitalmedia/2007/08/02/review-korg-mr-1-hi-def-recorder.html?page=4
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/836
http://www.orleansdulcimers.com/diatonisk.asp
# Posted on February 24th 2008 by wolfbird