Hey Mr. Hank

[RobertD]

Oh, never mind. I'm only kidding. I got a mandolin the other day now what the hell do I do with it. Tell me about tuning and playing. You'd think I would know about these things living in Tennessee and all.

[DrewBlanc]

Hank, it looks like you will be less lonely here in the cafe. I just ordered a mando last night from FOTW. I got a Kentucky KM150S. It was the cheapest all solid wood mando I could find. I was looking at Mid-Missouri but funds are short and I have a hard time spending real money on an axe that I don't know how to play.
Any helpfull hints like how to avoid cramping while playing on those little frets? ;) Do you recomend sticking with a standard tuning or do you have a favorite? What kind of socks should I wear? I would ask for advice on how to get a good bark but my dog said she would help me with that. :rolleyes:

[hank]

Hot Damn! Fresh meat!

Seriously, welcome to mandolandhankstyle.

hank's a self-learned individual with limited theory background.

Anyway:

RobertD - I'm in Knoxville. You close? Tuning from bass side is G, D, A, and E. Obviously tuned in unison, in fifths (they tell me). I fell in love with the sound of mandolin through Bill Monroe and bluegrass music. So, hank's style is based on Monroe's. His style is somewhat derived from fiddle style where double-stops are utilized a lot from starting and ending phrases. When I "really" started to get it was when I started playing along with the vinyl. btw, note that rhythm parts on bg mando are played on the off beat, sorta like a snare drum. It's a percussive "chop". I recommend everyone go to www.mandolincafe.com to wet your feet in the mandolin community. If you see hank there it'll be a miracle. Actually, I'm f5joe over there.

DrewBlanc - Congrats on the Kentucky. That's a good choice. hank stays in standard tuning because the genre of bg sorta dictates that. hank's not too smart either and any deviation friggs up the noggin', iykwim. Cramping? ............. oh, your fingers! I get it. Anyway, think of mandolin playing as exercise and guitar playing as cable TV surfing. Now you get the picture? It's a little bit of extra work. Chord-wise, to avoid cramping, lay the neck in your palm and roll the fingers onto the frets. This relieves cramping in the hand. Socks? I wear white with shorts, usually low-cut socks. Dressed up, I try to wear dark blue to go with my white pants and pink shirt. Bark? Chop? samething.

Good luck guys. Keep it coming. and visit mandolincafe.com

hank

[DrewBlanc]

Thanks Hank. I'll set my aim on bluegrass but drew don't play by the rules very well so God help the soul of poor Mr Monroe. Who knows what I will come up with. Oh well, I just play for my own enjoyment so if I come up with any kind of pleasing noise I will be happy. I've already checked out mando cafe, it was a big help and will continue to be I'm sure. Any other good sites to get me headed in the right direction? No, I don't mean mapquest. :rolleyes: Any recomendations for a good cheap pick up? Sick of my questions yet? :nut

[hank]

Sick? nope. noprob.

There are very few "quality" sites for mando. Look at the links at mandolincafe.com. Most of the ones I frequent are listed there.

Also, DVD/video lessons are very helpful. Homespun Tapes has a huge selection.

Also, if you like bg, try to go to concerts and/or festivals. Mingle in the jams in the campground/parking areas. Listen with the mando in hand.

I sold a Flatiron Festival F mando recently that had a Fishman in the bridge top. Don't know the specific pickup. Check out First Quality Banjos for their product catalog. They're a multi-instrument sales and service outlet. Very good company.

hank

[DrewBlanc]

Thanks Hank. The video/DVD isn't much good to me right now, I haven't owned a VCR for many years and have never had a DVD. This might be a good enough reason to get one. There used to be a pretty good old time music scene around here but most have moved on to bigger and better things. I'll check around and see if there are any stragglers.

[RobertD]

Thanks for the info Hank. I'm down in Nashville. It's hard getting used to that little neck.

[hank]

I love Nashville. Going to visit my son there in early October.

Always go to Gruhn's and the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase at Opry Mills.

Where's Corner Music? thankshank

[DrewBlanc]

I went to Nashville last spring to visit my brother. We took in a few clubs downtown and saw Ratdog at the Rymann. I never did make it to any good music stores but then I didn't have any spare money so it would have just been torture to look and not buy.

[RobertD]

Hank, Corner Music is at 2705 12th Avenue South. Phone 615-297-9559.
www.cornermusic.com

I usually walk down to Gruhn's about once a month during my lunch hour and dream of what might be.

[hank]

Cornermusic thanks!

When you get to Gruhn's tell Keith and Paul hello from Knoxville. hank

[Nelson F]

Hank i just picked up a Mando for 75.00 its a Gibson & i can't read the label but i see lo r in the label! any help?

[Ed Rafalko]

I think that label might be missing an 'se' in it, Nelson.;)
(* SOrry, couldn't resist)

[Nelson F]

Eddie i like you and i still think you build the best 59 reps

[hank]

1. Nellie: I won't fall for that ploy. Heard it before.

2. Eddie: You're being mean to Nellie. According to Lily's rules, 'yer fired!

:^) ;) :bh

[Nelson F]

Yea eddie ya fired!