I do play in an old time string band, its my main chance here. Ours is a big community band and we take all levels of ability and try to make it lots and lots of fun. When its good, its very very good and everyone present knows it. I try to make my neighbor sound good if I can. We do get paid gigs and we to act silly and have bad starts, loose our way once in a while, but our fans really like what we do..mainly the joy for it we project.
I don't really know anything about this topic except for the experience I have had. Don't know If there is anything useful here for you... but here goes.. For a complete newcomer, it helps to know...if you don't already that due to fiddle tunings, folks like to play say in C, then in G, then in D, then in A then in E or some combo. So, if calling tunes in turn in a circle, pay attention to what key the tune you call is in. There is a lot of variation in the kinds of groups that form and what their rules are. Strict fanatics, rude rabbits, welcoming slow jams, and everything in between, and mentors, coaches and bullys are all possible in a given group, not to mention the 'super-uber egos'. I think bluegrass groups are in general easier to figure out and either work in with or leave. In some groups singing is done and its fun, easy things like Skip to my Lou, etc. Mostly, if you have the rhythm right and can help the group keep it, that is the best thing to do. These days our band often plays fast, free and loose but it goes sloppy so anything one can do to help folks keep the thing in a steady speed, to clarify the tune is good, a bonus is when one can find a harmony line, even a very simple one that lets the mando voice be heard in the mix. Tremolo's on waltzes and in tunes like Golden Slippers, (think banjo, minstral, etc. can work). Sometimes I have to talk real hard to myself to stay in a good mood about the fiddle/ guitar thing and their sound covering mine up. I don't really play much bluegrass, but I do use Monroe's picking and double stop style chord techniques to very good effect as it seriously helps the rhythm and the tune, but no fancy licks. I find the mandolin can help the rhythm along while playing melody by using the kind of Monroe picking/right hand effort that Mike teaches. I am drawn to finding the lowest chords to avoid that E or A string ring that can sound a bit off. I do dampen the strings after chord strum by lifting fingers off the fret board but I don't use the bluegrass chop in its most abrupt way, less punch...for lack of a better way to say it. I find the fiddles play lots of notes, if there are a few of them, with a range of skill it can sound muddy, to help out, I try to play a scaled down not notey version and try to find a double stop to play and use the rhythm of the phrase with a couple of double stops from that chord, going from say I V to I III or some such variation. Sometimes I find a harmony line that works. Speed is an issue for me so removing notes can help one play something at the speed of the group. I can't be a member of a fast running, strict rule group as I just don't want to go along with em. I like it when everyone in the circle has that look on their face that says....THIS IS FUN. Best advice, try to make your neighbor sound good... linda On Jan 16, 11:57 am, [email protected] wrote: > Bill Martin is the "boss hog" of that group, he is Bubbaguitar. You won't > find a more welcoming or nicer guy anywhere. > Bill is the caller for some of the dances, plays guitar and sings some old > time bluegrass when he gets the itch and kind of runs everything. I just > might have to sneak up to Portland on Saturday or Sunday. > > Clyde Clevenger > Just My Opinion, But It's Right > Salem, Oregon > Old Circle > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "root" <[email protected]> > To: "Taterbugmando" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, January 15, 2010 11:39:17 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific > Subject: Re: Old Timey playing > > Ok I'll leave the scroll mando at home and bring the "A". I looked at last > years festival pictures and saw a lot of ukulele's, didn't think that was > part of old timey but I know very little about old timey. The only thing I > know is what I read others write, and my one visit to a local jam. Thats > where I got my first ever old timey stink eye...and it was stinky, so I don't > want to smell or see it again. It was probably for my scroll mandolin doing > chops. I just want to go have fun and learn new songs in a large group > settting. This is where I'm goinghttp://www.bubbaguitar.com/festival/
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