Greetings, for those that play the mandolin in the Old Time Fiddling setting, do you play mostly backup as in mostly chording or do you mostly play the melody? And if you do play the melody do you primarily play in the first position? Many Thanks!
Hey Jim, we are out there. I used to be a fiddling fool, but everyone wants to be that anymore. So I play mandolin or banjo instead and love to play backup guitar because so few people understand how important that is to the band. When I play mandolin, I try to keep it interesting. I play the melody, and like the fiddle mainly in the first position to let open strings ring. I sometimes go up the neck, but mostly for harmonies or chord voicings on waltzes and slower pieces. I break it up with two finger chords in the bass, or chop chords on a round or two of the tune. I recently picked up a Pomeroy oval hole made by Don Paine and that thing cuts like a knife. It is also warm and woody on the bottom end. Prefer hybrid ovals for their sound and neck length. Love old time mandolin ever since getting to play with Kenny Hall in California many decades ago.
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