I like to sing . . but I also like to play mandolin tunes. I've never really heard anybody sing and play tunes on a mandolin at the same time. . (mind you I've lived a very sheltered life). Can anybody help?
This is the main reason I bought my mandola....so I could play backup and sing without learning a completely new instrument, like guitar.
I do, however, still use the mandolin as backup on a few songs...The Blacksmith, Willie and Mary, Home by Bearna, Willie Taylor. But generally speaking, just by the nature of its little self, the mandolin is more suited (I think anyways) to melody playing.
Now, if what you mean, is both playing and singing the melody at the same time...well, I'm not sure I could split my focus well enough to do both at the same time.
There are songs written to a hornpipe melody. *Phil the Fluter's Ball" is one such. The Dubliners covered it (although it was originally recorded in the 78 era by something like Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band), and so it would have had Barney McKenna playing banjo or mandolin--I can't recall.
I thought this was fairly common. Maybe I run in odd circles, or may it's an Adirondack thing, or maybe the Adirondacks are an odd circle, which seems fairly likely.
The only song I know of which works well on mandolin is the Steve Winwood song "Back in the High Life Again". Not exactly traditional, but very few songs work at all on the instrument.
Don't forget about Rod Stewart's song with the mandolin opening (was it "Maggie May").
It might be worth taking a look at www.mandolinmagazine.com as there might be something there.
Maggie May had a mandolin *ending*, Cuso. Rod featured the mandolin on quite a few of his tunes. "Mandolin Wind" was a good example. Lindisfarne used it a lot too. In fact it was Ray Jackson who played the mandolin part for Rod on Maggie May, although John Peel pretended to play it on Top of the Pops.
There's also songs like "It must me love" (Labi Siffre (sp) and Madness), "When I'm dead and gone" etc which sound great with the mandolin.
Many folk and trad songs can be adapted for mandolin accompaniament with melody runs etc so I wouldn't restrict myself to what's been done already.
I'm actually a pretty crap singer so I stick to playing tunes. That was one of the reasons that I moved from guitar to mandolin and fiddle. There were too many mediocre singer/strummers going around already.
Paul Brady - "Lough Erne Shore" & "The Jolly Soldier".
also several on the recordings by Donal Maguire, surely one of the most under-rated singers in the Irish tradition.
"When I'm Dead And Gone" was by Benny Gallagher & Graham Lyle.
Incidentally, I'm going to see Paul Jones and Dave Kelly do a gig in an unlikely venue tonight.
--St Michael's Parish Church, Musselburgh.
What's the connection? Why Tom McGuinness, of course! He played with Gallagher and Lyall in McGuinness Flint and with Paul Jones in both Manfred Mann and The Blues Band-and with Dave Kelly in the latter.
- Billy The Kid" ,"Goin' To Brownsville",Ry Cooder._
These are the two tracks that hooked me on mandolin. Good call.
When I'm Dead and Gone seems to be one of those things every guitarist (in UK & ireland anyway) plays as soon as they learn a couple of mandolin chords. Very prominent part of the sound.
"Phil the Fluters ball" - my dad would only believe I could play an instrument if I could play "PTFB" on it. Nothing else would impress him. Fortunately I learned it on whistle just before he died. Pretty hard singing it while you're playing whistle though.
Stew, I get to sing and play mando at the same time. My band, Celtic Stew (what a coincidence), plays a mix of traditional dance and the usual pub tune/singalong stuff. We have a wonderful guitarist, electric bass and a flute/piccolo/whistle player. With the strong rhythm/chord structure, it is pretty effortless to pick the melody and sing at the same time on songs like Whiskey in the Jar. I will play high octave in unison with the flute or the vocal line, and low unison with the whistle and piccolo. It's almost as good as having an accordion player!!.
For specific singers who play, I guess the Wolfe Tones come to mind and, of course, me!
There's also "Hobos' mandolin", recorded by Tom Rush on his "Ladies Love Outlaws" album, though it's by someone else, and ABOUT a mandolin.
Should be good, though.
Here's a couple more:
The Galway Girl by Steve Earle (from Transcendental Blues - also, a slightly different version is on Sharon Shannon's The Diamond Mountain Sessions).
The Raggle Taggle Gypsy by Planxty.
Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
I like to sing . . but I also like to play mandolin tunes. I've never really heard anybody sing and play tunes on a mandolin at the same time. . (mind you I've lived a very sheltered life). Can anybody help?
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Justintime
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
By the way I like playing Hornpipes best.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Justintime
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
the only one that comes directly to mind is "Blue moon over kentucky" but I suspect that it's not the one you want to sing.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by I_Fel
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Andy Irvine?
Peter Rowan?
Bill Monroe?
Bob Brozman?
Steve Earle?
(OK, last four are chording rather than playing tunes)
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Bren
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Listen to Nicklecreek...
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
This is the main reason I bought my mandola....so I could play backup and sing without learning a completely new instrument, like guitar.
I do, however, still use the mandolin as backup on a few songs...The Blacksmith, Willie and Mary, Home by Bearna, Willie Taylor. But generally speaking, just by the nature of its little self, the mandolin is more suited (I think anyways) to melody playing.
Now, if what you mean, is both playing and singing the melody at the same time...well, I'm not sure I could split my focus well enough to do both at the same time.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by ketida
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
There are songs written to a hornpipe melody. *Phil the Fluter's Ball" is one such. The Dubliners covered it (although it was originally recorded in the 78 era by something like Dan Sullivan's Shamrock Band), and so it would have had Barney McKenna playing banjo or mandolin--I can't recall.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by s1m0n
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
I thought this was fairly common. Maybe I run in odd circles, or may it's an Adirondack thing, or maybe the Adirondacks are an odd circle, which seems fairly likely.
KFG
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by KFG
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
The only song I know of which works well on mandolin is the Steve Winwood song "Back in the High Life Again". Not exactly traditional, but very few songs work at all on the instrument.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by russellrapport
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Don't forget about Rod Stewart's song with the mandolin opening (was it "Maggie May").
It might be worth taking a look at www.mandolinmagazine.com as there might be something there.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Cuso
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Maggie May had a mandolin *ending*, Cuso. Rod featured the mandolin on quite a few of his tunes. "Mandolin Wind" was a good example. Lindisfarne used it a lot too. In fact it was Ray Jackson who played the mandolin part for Rod on Maggie May, although John Peel pretended to play it on Top of the Pops.
There's also songs like "It must me love" (Labi Siffre (sp) and Madness), "When I'm dead and gone" etc which sound great with the mandolin.
Many folk and trad songs can be adapted for mandolin accompaniament with melody runs etc so I wouldn't restrict myself to what's been done already.
I'm actually a pretty crap singer so I stick to playing tunes. That was one of the reasons that I moved from guitar to mandolin and fiddle. There were too many mediocre singer/strummers going around already.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
I always liked 'p stands for paddy' with a mandolin accompaniement
Anders
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by weefreefidler
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Paul Brady - "Lough Erne Shore" & "The Jolly Soldier".
also several on the recordings by Donal Maguire, surely one of the most under-rated singers in the Irish tradition.
"When I'm Dead And Gone" was by Benny Gallagher & Graham Lyle.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Kenny
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
p stands for paddy - amazing........
i have a live recording of moynihan singing that somewhere - breathtaking!
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
That's right Kenny and a hit for McGuinness Flint in 1970/71.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Incidentally, I'm going to see Paul Jones and Dave Kelly do a gig in an unlikely venue tonight.
--St Michael's Parish Church, Musselburgh.
What's the connection? Why Tom McGuinness, of course! He played with Gallagher and Lyall in McGuinness Flint and with Paul Jones in both Manfred Mann and The Blues Band-and with Dave Kelly in the latter.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Johannes J
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Ooh, John, you're so eclectic!
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by kris
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Thanks to every one for their contribution . . I'll have a look at your suggestions.
# Posted on January 18th 2005 by Justintime
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
"Billy The Kid" ,"Goin' To Brownsville",Ry Cooder.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
- Billy The Kid" ,"Goin' To Brownsville",Ry Cooder._
These are the two tracks that hooked me on mandolin. Good call.
When I'm Dead and Gone seems to be one of those things every guitarist (in UK & ireland anyway) plays as soon as they learn a couple of mandolin chords. Very prominent part of the sound.
"Phil the Fluters ball" - my dad would only believe I could play an instrument if I could play "PTFB" on it. Nothing else would impress him. Fortunately I learned it on whistle just before he died. Pretty hard singing it while you're playing whistle though.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Bren
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Stew, I get to sing and play mando at the same time. My band, Celtic Stew (what a coincidence), plays a mix of traditional dance and the usual pub tune/singalong stuff. We have a wonderful guitarist, electric bass and a flute/piccolo/whistle player. With the strong rhythm/chord structure, it is pretty effortless to pick the melody and sing at the same time on songs like Whiskey in the Jar. I will play high octave in unison with the flute or the vocal line, and low unison with the whistle and piccolo. It's almost as good as having an accordion player!!.
For specific singers who play, I guess the Wolfe Tones come to mind and, of course, me!
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by Dave McGrath
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Also any one of a number of songs by Tim O'Brien. Must not forget Tim O'Brien - he is outstanding.
# Posted on January 19th 2005 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Well, we're freedom fighters, with mandolins!
Saw Doctors
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
There's also "Hobos' mandolin", recorded by Tom Rush on his "Ladies Love Outlaws" album, though it's by someone else, and ABOUT a mandolin.
Should be good, though.
# Posted on January 20th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Here's a couple more:
The Galway Girl by Steve Earle (from Transcendental Blues - also, a slightly different version is on Sharon Shannon's The Diamond Mountain Sessions).
The Raggle Taggle Gypsy by Planxty.
# Posted on January 21st 2005 by snapper
Re: Mandolin SONGS anybody know any?
Led Zep's "Battle of Evermore" and "That's the Way" w/ John Paul Jones on mando ... excellent versions on "How the West Was Won."
# Posted on February 15th 2006 by dmcallahan