Hi there, Question for Mike if possible to get an answer: I play and teach Irish traditional music on mandolin and tenor banjo. I've always thought it was best practice to play with the plectrum hitting the strings in parallel. In my experience this creates the 'cleanest' tone whereas hitting the strings at an angle can muddy it a bit (especially on wound strings). Perhaps my choice of plectrum (generally a Nylon Dunlop between .6mm and .88mm) has something to do with this. And, certainly, with regard to tremolo playing and back-to-back triplets (a Celtic ornaments widely used and similar to the tremolo in execution) this 'non-parallel' grip makes sense. Just wondering if it is pretty much an all-round done thing outside of Irish traditional music to play 'non-parallel'? And how do you stop the tone from muddying if so? Thanks and best regards, Patrick
I'm not Mike (ha), but just to say, bluegrass players normally use heavier picks than that, over 1mm and generally around 1.4 to 1.8, with pre-beveled edges (e.g. Dunlop Primetone, Wegen, Blue Chip).
I've wondered for a while if these pro's actually have, on their own, figured out all of these techniques and practiced them for their own sake or if its an contruction after the fact becaus they have to do a lesson video on it.
The other possibility, of course, is that they learned them from someone else. For most teachers, it’s a combination of all three, actually, but as you acquire more experience teaching, you learn to refine or otherwise alter your “construction”.
I always thought that the definition of the term tremolo as a cyclical raising and lowering of pitch. This seems to be more in line with being called vibrato which is a cyclical raising and lowering of volume.
It can be either: "tremolo: a wavering effect in a musical tone, typically produced by rapid reiteration of a note, or sometimes by rapid repeated variation in the pitch of a note or by sounding two notes of slightly different pitches to produce prominent overtones." This term has been applied to this mandolin technique forever.
Except for in guitar amps, for some inexplicable reason, tremolo is the modulation of volume and vibrato is the modulation of pitch. On amps they call the tremolo “vibrato” and the vibrato arms on guitars (sometimes called whammy bars) they call a “tremolo” arm. It’s a misnomer, makes no sense, and I blame Leo fender haha.
I can't speak for Mark but if you are new to playing an mandolin or if you are previously playing a guitar, you will likely have to rethink the type of pick you will want to use. The higher tension of the mandolin strings favors a thick and stiff pick; certainly thicker and stiffer than most guitar players prefer. I like one made by Dunlap the Ultex 1.14 mm thick (it has a rhino logo). It has a modified triangle profile which enables the player to use either a pointed edge or a rounded edge (very helpful for fluid tremolo technique). This is a rigid pick and produces great tone. I would suggest that you try a variety of picks in that different pick materials definitely change the tone of your play. As always YMMV.
Mike mainly uses a Pro-Plec 1.5mm. I've been member of his school for 5 years and recommend it highly. He's a great teacher and the ArtistWorks community is so supportive.
Recently took up mandolin and was using the same pick I've used for years on guitar -Fender Medium. A buddy with much more experience recommended a 1.5 mm pick so I switched to a Dunlop Primee Grip 1.5 and it made a huge difference. I know some players who spend a lot of money on custom handmade picks but the Dunlop are ~ $6 for a pack of a dozen, which suits my wallet.
Tremolos Herd it First , But Z.E. Now ... it was made for it ... double string's and all, really it only a four string instrument, and you have four Finger's EZ to Play nice Music, Don't Know About Hold the Pick to Herd , If I Don't , it will start spinning in my finger and thumb , I Guess it up to the Player, total control of the pick works for me... Do All Strings , Fun , nothing But your wrist and a tight grip on the pick,. A Locked Wrist and Fast very Fast, that is why we can not play for a long time like that , But Short Burst are fun.
At an average string tension of twenty five pounds you really have to pick with quite a lot of force. After trying to get better on mandolin for over forty years I have finally gotten the commo0n sense to switch to ukulele tuned to EDAG at an average tension of ten pounds. Problem solved!
In other words, just give up? Edit: I play ukulele with my fingers (classical guitar technique but without nails) not with a pick, and in my opinion that’s how it should be played. Also: the high G, C, E, A tuning of the ukulele is an important part of what gives the instrument its distinctive charm. You don’t have to play the mandolin if you don’t want-we’ll cover for you-but please don’t spoil the ukulele on account of your shortcomings with the mandolin.
@@herbertwells8757 I never would consider that making adjustments is the same thing as giving up. I have this little banjo that sounds a hundred times as good as any of the five different mandolin banjos that I have owned. Wayne Rogers designed it. It only cost me a hundred and fifty dollars. I would rather play this than any of your ten thousand dollar plus bluegrass mandolins.
Thank you for mentioning about holding the pick at a slight angle . That really help me and makes a big difference .
Watching this and playing along is like therapy man.. love it!
Huge building blocks that enable one to play free enough to keep rising to the next level. Huge thanks for all that, and for free!
Thank you Mr. Marshall, I found this extremely helpful.
Beautiful tone
ONE HUNDRED THANKS FOR YOUR LESSON !!! :)
Thanks, Mike! You're great.
Hi there,
Question for Mike if possible to get an answer: I play and teach Irish traditional music on mandolin and tenor banjo. I've always thought it was best practice to play with the plectrum hitting the strings in parallel. In my experience this creates the 'cleanest' tone whereas hitting the strings at an angle can muddy it a bit (especially on wound strings). Perhaps my choice of plectrum (generally a Nylon Dunlop between .6mm and .88mm) has something to do with this. And, certainly, with regard to tremolo playing and back-to-back triplets (a Celtic ornaments widely used and similar to the tremolo in execution) this 'non-parallel' grip makes sense. Just wondering if it is pretty much an all-round done thing outside of Irish traditional music to play 'non-parallel'? And how do you stop the tone from muddying if so?
Thanks and best regards,
Patrick
I'm not Mike (ha), but just to say, bluegrass players normally use heavier picks than that, over 1mm and generally around 1.4 to 1.8, with pre-beveled edges (e.g. Dunlop Primetone, Wegen, Blue Chip).
Such a good teacher.
Wonderful teacher!
yes he is
Great lesson. Thanks for sharing.
Muy bien explicado. Muchas gracias.
Great lesson
just 30sec pasted and I already enjoy it
Nice lesson. Thanks from Russia.
Great lesson!
Excellent advice. Thank you
I've wondered for a while if these pro's actually have, on their own, figured out all of these techniques and practiced them for their own sake or if its an contruction after the fact becaus they have to do a lesson video on it.
The other possibility, of course, is that they learned them from someone else. For most teachers, it’s a combination of all three, actually, but as you acquire more experience teaching, you learn to refine or otherwise alter your “construction”.
hello, any tips to who plays the mandolin standing on his feet?
like this: CUCA - Escadas dos Guindais
That's a great question to submit as a Video Exchange, Mike will be happy to give tips on that - he plays standing up all the time!
i'm on the second row of that group but playing the mandolin stayed up affects my tremolo. thanks a lot.
I always thought that the definition of the term tremolo as a cyclical raising and lowering of pitch. This seems to be more in line with being called vibrato which is a cyclical raising and lowering of volume.
It can be either: "tremolo: a wavering effect in a musical tone, typically produced by rapid reiteration of a note, or sometimes by rapid repeated variation in the pitch of a note or by sounding two notes of slightly different pitches to produce prominent overtones." This term has been applied to this mandolin technique forever.
Except for in guitar amps, for some inexplicable reason, tremolo is the modulation of volume and vibrato is the modulation of pitch. On amps they call the tremolo “vibrato” and the vibrato arms on guitars (sometimes called whammy bars) they call a “tremolo” arm. It’s a misnomer, makes no sense, and I blame Leo fender haha.
What size or weight pick do you use? Thanks
Excelent! Very pedagogic.
What is the song he plays in the beginning?
I was going to ask the same question. It's on the tip of my tongue.... Someone please help!
I don't think it's a song. He's just demonstrating a series of tremolo passages.
It was a demonstration of tremolo, but the very first bars were from Raffaele Calace’s Prelude XV
Thank you somuch sir 👌👍🙏🙏
Hold the pick at an angle! Why didn't that part of my brain develop? Thanks for the tips.
Thank you!
what kind of pick would you recommend? material and thickness. Thanks! great tutorial
I can't speak for Mark but if you are new to playing an mandolin or if you are previously playing a guitar, you will likely have to rethink the type of pick you will want to use. The higher tension of the mandolin strings favors a thick and stiff pick; certainly thicker and stiffer than most guitar players prefer. I like one made by Dunlap the Ultex 1.14 mm thick (it has a rhino logo). It has a modified triangle profile which enables the player to use either a pointed edge or a rounded edge (very helpful for fluid tremolo technique). This is a rigid pick and produces great tone. I would suggest that you try a variety of picks in that different pick materials definitely change the tone of your play. As always YMMV.
mandobob thanks for the tip man!
Mike mainly uses a Pro-Plec 1.5mm. I've been member of his school for 5 years and recommend it highly. He's a great teacher and the ArtistWorks community is so supportive.
Blue Chip! Find the shape and thickness and go with it!
Recently took up mandolin and was using the same pick I've used for years on guitar -Fender Medium. A buddy with much more experience recommended a 1.5 mm pick so I switched to a Dunlop Primee Grip 1.5 and it made a huge difference. I know some players who spend a lot of money on custom handmade picks but the Dunlop are ~ $6 for a pack of a dozen, which suits my wallet.
Thank you :)
great thanks
very nice 👍
Tremolos Herd it First , But Z.E. Now ... it was made for it ... double string's and all, really it only a four string instrument, and you have four Finger's EZ to Play nice Music, Don't Know About Hold the Pick to Herd , If I Don't , it will start spinning in my finger and thumb , I Guess it up to the Player, total control of the pick works for me... Do All Strings , Fun , nothing But your wrist and a tight grip on the pick,. A Locked Wrist and Fast very Fast, that is why we can not play for a long time like that , But Short Burst are fun.
Great video tutorial! Quick question: Would you recommend a light or heavy plec? Thanks in advance
heavy
1.2 to 1.5 mm
Yes, and are they guitar pick size, or the smaller tear drop size ?
good
At an average string tension of twenty five pounds you really have to pick with quite a lot of force. After trying to get better on mandolin for over forty years I have finally gotten the commo0n sense to switch to ukulele tuned to EDAG at an average tension of ten pounds. Problem solved!
In other words, just give up? Edit: I play ukulele with my fingers (classical guitar technique but without nails) not with a pick, and in my opinion that’s how it should be played. Also: the high G, C, E, A tuning of the ukulele is an important part of what gives the instrument its distinctive charm. You don’t have to play the mandolin if you don’t want-we’ll cover for you-but please don’t spoil the ukulele on account of your shortcomings with the mandolin.
@@herbertwells8757 I never would consider that making adjustments is the same thing as giving up. I have this little banjo that sounds a hundred times as good as any of the five different mandolin banjos that I have owned. Wayne Rogers designed it. It only cost me a hundred and fifty dollars. I would rather play this than any of your ten thousand dollar plus bluegrass mandolins.
Now put on some Blast beats and distortion and you got yourself some Black Metal