Great list, and I can say, my failing has ALWAYS been on step 2. But, I'm getting better at that.
Mark On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 1:33 PM, mgromkey <[email protected]> wrote: > OK, Sir Tater told me to post this here, so here goes. ... > > I recently had an epiphany -- like a flash, like a vision written > across the night sky! -- that everything I'd been doing visa vis the > mandolin was 100 percent certified bass ackward. Realizing the error > of my ways, I have written my Mandolin Player's Manifesto, which > follows. Selah. > > EL MANDOLIN MANIFESTO > > 1. LISTEN: The place to start learning any tune is listening to a > recorded version of it. Lots. Notation and tab are a useful adjunct to > working out fingering and difficult passages, but shouldn’t be used as > the primary source. > > 2. LEARN THE DAMN CHORDS: When you start playing a tune, the first > thing to do is learn the chord progression. If you haven’t > internalized the chord structure, you don’t really know the tune. > > 3. NOW, FINALLY, LEARN THE MELODY: Once you know the chords, work up > the melody line. Do not overly rely on a written arrangement. These > tunes generally are not intended to be played exactly the same every > time. Refer back to recorded versions for reference and ideas about > variations. > > 4. REGARDING SOLOS: As a general rule, solos should stick close to the > melody. There’s nothing wrong with just playing the tune when your > turn come around. The next step is to work up some variations. It is > advisable to stick close to the melody and the chord progression. A > solo is not a collection of fast notes, scales and riffs; it is an > exposition of the basic melody. * (see footnote) > > 5. PLAY NICELY WITH OTHERS: Bluegrass is not a solo endeavor. You > practice in the living room in order to get good enough to play with > other musicians in public, whether it’s a backyard jam or a paying > gig. If you and your mandolin never get off the family room couch, > you're missing the boat. > > * Solos footnote: Players should avoid coming at bluegrass solos from > a rock/blues lead guitar perspective. Many rock songs have a simple I- > IV-V chord structure and minimalist melody. For example, “Johnny B. > Good” is basically a one-note melody following a three-chord > progression. Rock/blues guitar solos generally do not stay close to > the melody to avoid being repetitious. Only Syd Barrett played one- > note solos -- and he went insane and Pink Floyd kicked him out. > > -- > 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]<taterbugmando%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. > > -- 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.
