Most any tune you like will sound good played this way. Try to incorporate some drone strings and double stops.
I'll strongly second the recommendation of Luke Plumb's new recording. His rhythm is a bit "swingy" throughout. I would have like some of the tunes played a bit straighter, but the playing is wonderful and it's a chance to hear the instrument in a contex that is atypical of mandolin recordings.
Some tunes do seem to fit the mando better than others. Here are some of my favorites for mandolin.
Jigs:
Finbar Dwyer's Favourite
Andy DeJarlis' (in either E (the original) or D)
Tar Road to Sligo
Garrett Barry's
Joe Derrane's
Geese in the Bog
Kitty's Rambles
The Castle
A Health to the Ladies
Reels, Hornpipes, etc.
Kitty's Wedding
Theresa Halpin's
Tuttle's
Sgt. Early's Dream
Julia Delaney's
Exile of Erin
Maude Millar
John McKenna's #1
Humours of Ballyconnell
I've been having a lot of fun with "The Frost is All Over", it's easy to get a full sound playing the tune on the higher strings while playing partial chords and droning with the D string. I like to vary the B part by playing it down one octave, too. Plus it's an especially lovely, simple tune!
Try some waltzes like "Midnight on the Water", "They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay" and "An Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó." I like playing them on mandolin, just for a diversion from the quicker dance tunes.
Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
hiya,
any tips on some nice tunes to learn that could be played on mandolin unaccompanied (maybe only by a tapping foot!)...
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by criodain
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Get Luke Plumb's new cd - lots of great traditional tunes on that. Just mandolin and percussion.
I see it has not been posted on here yet - I will try to add it tonight.
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Most any tune you like will sound good played this way. Try to incorporate some drone strings and double stops.
I'll strongly second the recommendation of Luke Plumb's new recording. His rhythm is a bit "swingy" throughout. I would have like some of the tunes played a bit straighter, but the playing is wonderful and it's a chance to hear the instrument in a contex that is atypical of mandolin recordings.
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by Steve L
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Not ITM, but "Santa Lucia" is a classic tune for the mandolin ..
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
cool. noted!!
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by criodain
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Some tunes do seem to fit the mando better than others. Here are some of my favorites for mandolin.
Jigs:
Finbar Dwyer's Favourite
Andy DeJarlis' (in either E (the original) or D)
Tar Road to Sligo
Garrett Barry's
Joe Derrane's
Geese in the Bog
Kitty's Rambles
The Castle
A Health to the Ladies
Reels, Hornpipes, etc.
Kitty's Wedding
Theresa Halpin's
Tuttle's
Sgt. Early's Dream
Julia Delaney's
Exile of Erin
Maude Millar
John McKenna's #1
Humours of Ballyconnell
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by Will Harmon
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
My favourite jigs on the mando:
Junior Crehan's (An Lurgadan)
The Miller's Maggot
My Darling Asleep
The Old Favourite
Humours of Glendart
Tobin's Favourite
I can't play any reels properly on it so can't help there :/
The Home Ruler is a nice Hornpipe to learn on mandolin, it goes over all the strings.
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by dee.
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Thanks for the Luke Plumb tip guys - he's pretty damn good!
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by RockyRoader
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
I'm noting the suggestions above and will add:
Jigs:
Murray River
Eavesdropper
Donald Ian Rankin (all over the strings!)
Da Trowie Burn
Da Brig
Not to mention all the waltzes, hornpipes and polkas which go so well on the mandolin but are seldom played in sessions
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by Bren
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Luke's album as promised:
http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/3301
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
I've been having a lot of fun with "The Frost is All Over", it's easy to get a full sound playing the tune on the higher strings while playing partial chords and droning with the D string. I like to vary the B part by playing it down one octave, too. Plus it's an especially lovely, simple tune!
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by fidkid
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Dagger Gordon's 'Faraway Grandchild'
Buck White's 'Down Home Waltz'
2 great tunes written on and for mandolin
not 'ITM' of course but both can be heard at sessions round here
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by Bren
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Richard Brennan's & Bush on the Hill.
I lifted these great tunes from the mandolin playing of Mick Moloney on his classic album Strings Attached.
# Posted on March 31st 2009 by octogreg
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Some inspiration may be found here:
http://www.paythereckoning.com/thepage.htm
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by oldstrings
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
I checked out Luk Plumb on myspace. Some good stuff there...
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by criodain
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Looking for an mp3 download of just Sean Ryans jig. I can't figure out the ABC shtuff *runs away*
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by criodain
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
I'll Buy Boots for Maggie -- it lets you move out of the usual frets and up the neck a bit; Congress Reel and Star of Munster, too, are fun to play
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by Mandogal
Re: Good tunes to play solo on the mandolin
Try some waltzes like "Midnight on the Water", "They Sailed Away from Dublin Bay" and "An Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó." I like playing them on mandolin, just for a diversion from the quicker dance tunes.
# Posted on April 1st 2009 by 52Paddy