I usually start by butchering the melody until it sounds like a break. Then I butcher that.
Melody is definitely home base--once I can play that, I hum it or play it over and over and find some interesting variations. Of course, if the variations are just contrived, I try and stick with the melody. Chord patterns, rhythm, different melodies or harmonies are all tools you use to interpret the melody your way, not ends in and of themselves. Jonas Mattebo wrote: > Dear All, > > How do you people approach designing tasteful mandolin breaks for > songs? Start with the melody, or play out of chord positions, or just > opening the box o' tricks & licks? I'm trying to play in the Monroe/ > Compton vein of mandolin playing, and I find it hard to come up with > new stuff still within this style. How do I approach it? > > For example, I'm now trying to come up with a break to the Townes Van > Zandt song 'White Freightliner Blues', and it's not really coming > along. (The problem is I'm supposed to play this song in front of a > 'trusting audience' this friday, so I'm running out of time!) > > Anyway, the song is kind of fast (for me) and the chords are: > C/C/G/G/(X2) > D/C/G/G > > How would you approach this? > > Thanks, > Jonas > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
