The Session >> Discussions >> Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
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Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi everybody! I just joined based upon a tip from fellow mandolincafe.com community member "Davetnova". This is a great web site that you've developed here, and I'm looking forward to contributing via discussions and tune posts.
I was wondering if there are many other mandolinists in this on-line community, and mandolinist or not, if any of you from the San Francisco Bay Area. (I'm from Oakland)
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Dear Mad Dawg,
I was just taking a break from a bit of mandolin practise and thought I'd see who was about on 'The Session' and lo and behold there was your message! I'm stuck in England (though I'm Irish) so that's a fair bit of a walk from Oakland. What do you play on the mandolin, what sort of mandolin is it, how long have you been at it etc etc. You don't have any family ancestors by the name of McGlinchey or Adair by any chance!
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Paul,
I've been playing for just a couple of years, but am just getting back into the mandolin after a year off due to an injury to my fretting hand (I severed both flexor tendons in my pinky). As a result, I am afraid that my song-list is very short, but I'll likely focus on Irish and Scottish trad.
My mandolin is a Student model by luthier Mike Spicer in Ontario, Canada. It has a fairly wide neck with nice big fat frets, so I find it much easier to play than my old Korean plywood mandolin. I wouldn't mind upgrading to one of Spicer's better models, but I also have been eyeing Webers, Breedloves, Freshwaters, and Moons (and in the upper price brackets, Joe Foley and Stephan Sobell).
And no, no McGlinchey or Adair in my family tree. My only confirmed Irish roots are in Galway; my grandmother's mom was a Raftery, and hailed from there. (sorry -- I don't know whether or not she was related to the poet in any manner).
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi.
I have been playing mandolin for a little over a year. I have a Mid Missouri model M4 mandolin, which I enjoy. I play Irish music. However, I'm teaching myself. Hence, I look forward to discussions and learning from this great website. I also play hammered dulcimer. My son plays fiddle, and he can also play mandolin, dulicimer and piano. I'm probably in the category where my enthusiasm and efforts exceed far exceed my talent, but I have fun. I live in the Washington, DC area.
I look forward to good discussions about mandolins. Good to have more on this site.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Alice - I think I've heard of Dave Swan, but it could be that his name sounds familiar because I just ate lunch at Swan's market today. I have been to one or two Highland Games here, but I am not connected with them in any way other than being a frequent customer of the food and beer concessions when there. Does Dave frequent all of the games held around here (Oakland, Pleasanton, Santa Rosa, etc.), or only specific ones that he is involved with?
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi to mad dawg. Mandolin is also my "main" instrument, tho I've been working mostly on the fiddle the past couple of years. I also build F-5 style mandos and guitars and am working on my first fiddle after restoring a couple of junkers to get the hang of the old varnishing methods.
One nice thing about the fiddle, triplets are MUCH easier with a bow. That's about the only thing that's easier though.
Welcome from another newbie, this is a great group.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Jim (Dawg) -- I'm originally from Foster City, born in The City. Now out in Denver, but I get back to the Bay Area every now and again. What sessions do you normally play at?
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
By the way - I imagine that that I have played more Mandolin this year than fiddle. I am very glad that I have done so but my fiddling have suffered a bit. I'll have to shore it within the next month and a half.
I am now at a decent level of playing on the instrument. The triplets are becoming easier. I'll check up on you all for some playing advice.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I am like Jim above in that my enthusiasm exceeds my talent. I'm learning the mandolin for two years now. I was about to say that i "play" the mandolin instead of 'learning" the mandolin.This led me to question myself on when i finally can say that i play the mandolin instead of learning it? Any suggestions?
I have a mandolin made by Joe Foley and find it great now that it seems to be settling down with a couple of years use. I had a Gibson mandolin before that which was no comparison.
Who do you people admire most amongst the mandolinists of this world. For what it's worth i think Andy Irvine is brilliant (which is not original) even though he plays does'nt play the mandolin enough, but when he does it's worth the wait.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
With any instrument the better you get the more you realise there is for you to learn. The day you stop learning is the day you stop improving. As a rule of thumb, I reckon you can say you've "arrived" as a player when people stop asking you "when did you start", or "how long have you been learning".
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
celtic1234,
What I said in my previous post was about an objective assessment from others. Subjectively, I think you'll know in yourself when you're "playing", as opposed to just "learning". You'll know this when you realize you're now keeping up with the session and playing the tunes you know at session speed. You know it when you realize that you're starting to play tunes in the session that you haven't actually seen or formally learnt; you're now learning them direct from the session. You won't, in general, be thinking about technique; your fingers will do what the music dictates, without conscious instruction from you. And the final objective accolade is when your friends in the session invite you to lead off with a tune!
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
A problem that i have at present is trying to hear my mandolin above the other instruments. Because of this i find that sometimes i lose myself under the noise of the uilleann pipes or bodhran. I've been told that i should really be listening to the others instead of myself but find this difficult. I find it difficult to play when i can't hear myself. Anyone else have this problem? How do i get over this problem? Should i really be listening entirely to everybody else?
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I sometimes think if you can't hear yourself it's a good thing because you're blending into the overall sound. If you can hear yourself it may well be thats because the notes don't fit with what others are playing.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Even on the fiddle I can't always hear what I'm playing (mercifully!) when things are getting really warmed up. The trick is to have a technique that is sound enough so that you know that you're playing the right notes even when you can't hear them. And that, of course, means practice. If it's any consolation, even in orchestras there are occasions when a string player can't quite hear what (s)he is playing. This is a good sign that they're playing in tune and in time with everyone else, because otherwise a duff note will suddenly stand out.
Another solution is to agree within the session that the louder instruments should have an occasional rest so that the quieter ones can have their play undisturbed. I think reasonable session players would accede to such a request.
An extreme solution, of course, is to have a pickup on your mandolin connected to an earpiece!
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
You guys are lucky. It's impossible to play flute if you can't hear yourself; it's like singing without hearing yourself (try it sometime, when i'm not around).
But i haven't had this problem yet, even in noisy sessions; i used to have it all the time playing in electrified bands. In a session, i try to either be at the outer edge of the group, or near a wall to reflect the sound. Another solution is to play the piccolo.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Mad Dawg,
Have seen your posts on Mandolin Cafe, also. Am a newbie to this website, too. My mandolin is an Encore I picked up in Ireland a few years ago. It's a Korean make with a laminated top and a single-coil pickup. Fairly seviceable, but limited in being able to be heard at sessions. Had the pickup and tuners upgraded when I began playing in an Irish/Celtic band, but it still has trouble holding pitch. Know a few tunes, but mostly play rhythm in the 'bluegrass chop' mode. Have been listening to alot of Celtic players of late and am doing my best to lose the 'chop' when playing traditional music. To Celtic1234 you might try the Mandolin Cafe website as they have all kinds of ideas for resolving a variety pf problems regarding the mandolin. Cheers and happy playing!
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi,
I'm new to the session and to playing mandolin. I'm glad to see there are others playing mandolin in Irish music. I'm learning alot of great tunes from the session, it is a great help to find a tune that I like on a cd and be able to get the music to that tune from the session's tune list. Unfortunately I've not found any sessions to go to in my area of the world, Iowa. There seems to be alot of people playing mandolin in trad music once you look for them. One that I wasn't aware of until seeing her live is Mary Shannon, sister of Sharon Shannon.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Mad Dawg. I recognize you from the MandolinCafe, which is where I found out about this site too. (I started a mando thread a few days before your post.)
Hi Jim Langley. Being from the DC area as well, I was wondering if you play at any of the local sessions.
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Peeps
I have been mando-ing for a couple of years, 30-40 tunes and thoroughly loving it. I'm in a 2 piece "Irish band", we do pubs and parties in North Wilts, England. I was started off by a previous band member but had to learn fast when he left. I learn by ear mostly but have used Padraig Carrols' Irish Mandolin Book as a tutor. I have a grasp af the dots! and there are some good tunes in there.
Does anyone know of any holiday courses for mandolin, where I could learn more from group teaching, Ireland maybe?
The way to learn thoughis to keep practicing.... don't read the paper in the loo, take your mandolin!!
Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi everybody! I just joined based upon a tip from fellow mandolincafe.com community member "Davetnova". This is a great web site that you've developed here, and I'm looking forward to contributing via discussions and tune posts.
I was wondering if there are many other mandolinists in this on-line community, and mandolinist or not, if any of you from the San Francisco Bay Area. (I'm from Oakland)
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Dear Mad Dawg,
I was just taking a break from a bit of mandolin practise and thought I'd see who was about on 'The Session' and lo and behold there was your message! I'm stuck in England (though I'm Irish) so that's a fair bit of a walk from Oakland. What do you play on the mandolin, what sort of mandolin is it, how long have you been at it etc etc. You don't have any family ancestors by the name of McGlinchey or Adair by any chance!
Paul M
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by sergeant fox
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Paul,
I've been playing for just a couple of years, but am just getting back into the mandolin after a year off due to an injury to my fretting hand (I severed both flexor tendons in my pinky). As a result, I am afraid that my song-list is very short, but I'll likely focus on Irish and Scottish trad.
My mandolin is a Student model by luthier Mike Spicer in Ontario, Canada. It has a fairly wide neck with nice big fat frets, so I find it much easier to play than my old Korean plywood mandolin. I wouldn't mind upgrading to one of Spicer's better models, but I also have been eyeing Webers, Breedloves, Freshwaters, and Moons (and in the upper price brackets, Joe Foley and Stephan Sobell).
And no, no McGlinchey or Adair in my family tree. My only confirmed Irish roots are in Galway; my grandmother's mom was a Raftery, and hailed from there. (sorry -- I don't know whether or not she was related to the poet in any manner).
-Jim
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
Paul -- how about you? How long have you been at it, and what do you play? (and is it lonely being an Irish mandolinist?
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi.
I have been playing mandolin for a little over a year. I have a Mid Missouri model M4 mandolin, which I enjoy. I play Irish music. However, I'm teaching myself. Hence, I look forward to discussions and learning from this great website. I also play hammered dulcimer. My son plays fiddle, and he can also play mandolin, dulicimer and piano. I'm probably in the category where my enthusiasm and efforts exceed far exceed my talent, but I have fun. I live in the Washington, DC area.
I look forward to good discussions about mandolins. Good to have more on this site.
Thanks
Jim Langley
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by Jiml
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi, mad dawg, do you know Dave Swan in your area? He is a fireman and musician. If you are connected to the Highland Games you may have met.
My son plays mandolin in our band and at local sessions. He recorded this last year when he was 14.
http://www.mp3.com/Mando_Flynn
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by aliceflynn
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Alice - I think I've heard of Dave Swan, but it could be that his name sounds familiar because I just ate lunch at Swan's market today. I have been to one or two Highland Games here, but I am not connected with them in any way other than being a frequent customer of the food and beer concessions when there. Does Dave frequent all of the games held around here (Oakland, Pleasanton, Santa Rosa, etc.), or only specific ones that he is involved with?
-jim
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
What is it with mandolinists and the spelling of the word "dog"? Seems like a universal problem -- or at least an American one!
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by cuchulain54
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hello,
I am new to thesession.org. I play clawhammer banjo and I recently bought a mandolin. I hope to learn some Irish tunes along with old-time songs.
In regards to the spelling of dog "Dawg", I am sure it is related to the nickname of David "Dawg" Grisman, a mandolin innovator.
Ben
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by bdatki
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I used to spell this nickname as mad dog, but once I took up the mandolin I was compelled to "correct" it.
-Jim
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
...but I honestly couldn't tell you the story behind how Dave Grisman came to (mis)spell it.
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mad dawg
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi to mad dawg. Mandolin is also my "main" instrument, tho I've been working mostly on the fiddle the past couple of years. I also build F-5 style mandos and guitars and am working on my first fiddle after restoring a couple of junkers to get the hang of the old varnishing methods.
One nice thing about the fiddle, triplets are MUCH easier with a bow. That's about the only thing that's easier though.
Welcome from another newbie, this is a great group.
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by ScottC
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I will let you in on a little known secret. Of course, no one will care but mandolin players.
David Allen Warren Grisman Dawg - Get it?
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by mandocaster
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Jim (Dawg) -- I'm originally from Foster City, born in The City. Now out in Denver, but I get back to the Bay Area every now and again. What sessions do you normally play at?
Zina
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by Zina Lee
Dia duit
Mad dawg ...
I've seen you post from time to time at the mandolin cafe.
Welcome to the session!
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by Aidan Crossey
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Nice to see you made it over Dawg and mandocaster
# Posted on January 16th 2003 by Davetnova
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
By the way - I imagine that that I have played more Mandolin this year than fiddle. I am very glad that I have done so but my fiddling have suffered a bit. I'll have to shore it within the next month and a half.
I am now at a decent level of playing on the instrument. The triplets are becoming easier. I'll check up on you all for some playing advice.
Mark
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Mark Cordova
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I am like Jim above in that my enthusiasm exceeds my talent. I'm learning the mandolin for two years now. I was about to say that i "play" the mandolin instead of 'learning" the mandolin.This led me to question myself on when i finally can say that i play the mandolin instead of learning it? Any suggestions?
I have a mandolin made by Joe Foley and find it great now that it seems to be settling down with a couple of years use. I had a Gibson mandolin before that which was no comparison.
Who do you people admire most amongst the mandolinists of this world. For what it's worth i think Andy Irvine is brilliant (which is not original) even though he plays does'nt play the mandolin enough, but when he does it's worth the wait.
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Celtic1234
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
With any instrument the better you get the more you realise there is for you to learn. The day you stop learning is the day you stop improving. As a rule of thumb, I reckon you can say you've "arrived" as a player when people stop asking you "when did you start", or "how long have you been learning".
trevor
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
celtic1234,
What I said in my previous post was about an objective assessment from others. Subjectively, I think you'll know in yourself when you're "playing", as opposed to just "learning". You'll know this when you realize you're now keeping up with the session and playing the tunes you know at session speed. You know it when you realize that you're starting to play tunes in the session that you haven't actually seen or formally learnt; you're now learning them direct from the session. You won't, in general, be thinking about technique; your fingers will do what the music dictates, without conscious instruction from you. And the final objective accolade is when your friends in the session invite you to lead off with a tune!
Keep at it. Time is your best friend.
trevor
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
A problem that i have at present is trying to hear my mandolin above the other instruments. Because of this i find that sometimes i lose myself under the noise of the uilleann pipes or bodhran. I've been told that i should really be listening to the others instead of myself but find this difficult. I find it difficult to play when i can't hear myself. Anyone else have this problem? How do i get over this problem? Should i really be listening entirely to everybody else?
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Celtic1234
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
I sometimes think if you can't hear yourself it's a good thing because you're blending into the overall sound. If you can hear yourself it may well be thats because the notes don't fit with what others are playing.
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Davetnova
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Even on the fiddle I can't always hear what I'm playing (mercifully!) when things are getting really warmed up. The trick is to have a technique that is sound enough so that you know that you're playing the right notes even when you can't hear them. And that, of course, means practice. If it's any consolation, even in orchestras there are occasions when a string player can't quite hear what (s)he is playing. This is a good sign that they're playing in tune and in time with everyone else, because otherwise a duff note will suddenly stand out.
Another solution is to agree within the session that the louder instruments should have an occasional rest so that the quieter ones can have their play undisturbed. I think reasonable session players would accede to such a request.
An extreme solution, of course, is to have a pickup on your mandolin connected to an earpiece!
trevor
# Posted on January 17th 2003 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
You guys are lucky. It's impossible to play flute if you can't hear yourself; it's like singing without hearing yourself (try it sometime, when i'm not around).
But i haven't had this problem yet, even in noisy sessions; i used to have it all the time playing in electrified bands. In a session, i try to either be at the outer edge of the group, or near a wall to reflect the sound. Another solution is to play the piccolo.
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by glauber
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Mad Dawg,
Have seen your posts on Mandolin Cafe, also. Am a newbie to this website, too. My mandolin is an Encore I picked up in Ireland a few years ago. It's a Korean make with a laminated top and a single-coil pickup. Fairly seviceable, but limited in being able to be heard at sessions. Had the pickup and tuners upgraded when I began playing in an Irish/Celtic band, but it still has trouble holding pitch. Know a few tunes, but mostly play rhythm in the 'bluegrass chop' mode. Have been listening to alot of Celtic players of late and am doing my best to lose the 'chop' when playing traditional music. To Celtic1234 you might try the Mandolin Cafe website as they have all kinds of ideas for resolving a variety pf problems regarding the mandolin. Cheers and happy playing!
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by welshdude
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi,
I'm new to the session and to playing mandolin. I'm glad to see there are others playing mandolin in Irish music. I'm learning alot of great tunes from the session, it is a great help to find a tune that I like on a cd and be able to get the music to that tune from the session's tune list. Unfortunately I've not found any sessions to go to in my area of the world, Iowa. There seems to be alot of people playing mandolin in trad music once you look for them. One that I wasn't aware of until seeing her live is Mary Shannon, sister of Sharon Shannon.
# Posted on January 18th 2003 by haybale
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Mad Dawg. I recognize you from the MandolinCafe, which is where I found out about this site too. (I started a mando thread a few days before your post.)
Hi Jim Langley. Being from the DC area as well, I was wondering if you play at any of the local sessions.
Loralyn
# Posted on January 20th 2003 by Loralyn
Re: Hi, I'm new here. Are there any other mandolinists out there?
Hi Peeps
I have been mando-ing for a couple of years, 30-40 tunes and thoroughly loving it. I'm in a 2 piece "Irish band", we do pubs and parties in North Wilts, England. I was started off by a previous band member but had to learn fast when he left. I learn by ear mostly but have used Padraig Carrols' Irish Mandolin Book as a tutor. I have a grasp af the dots! and there are some good tunes in there.
Does anyone know of any holiday courses for mandolin, where I could learn more from group teaching, Ireland maybe?
The way to learn thoughis to keep practicing.... don't read the paper in the loo, take your mandolin!!
Kipper
# Posted on February 1st 2003 by Kipper