Bluegrass, Newgrass and Mandolins!

**riffer** · 16th July 2007, 15:39

I love my mandolin.

There's a cool mandolin track on the new White Stripes album.

And for the record - you can definitely strum a mandolin. There's heaps of chords. Just takes a bit of learning as they're totally different to guitar.

With standard tuning on the gat its EADGBE from thick strings to thin.
On the mandolin. Its GDAE from thick to thin.

Paul - I'm going to have to come raid your bluegrass collection. I didn't know much about Alison Krauss until I saw the Coen Brothers excellent movie "O brother where art thou?" but after that I downloaded some of here stuff and must admit I'm pretty impressed.

**Curious_AJ** · 16th July 2007, 15:42

yep, this is very true!

the strumming indeeds.. but i think they ere referring to the mechanical process of actually strumming?

**Hitcher** · 16th July 2007, 15:43

Originally Posted by riffer

It's GDAE from thick to thin.

Is that like My Dog's Got Fleas?

**pritch** · 16th July 2007, 15:47

Bela Fleck plays banjo but he'd be worth a listen as his bands do bluegrass, newgrass, and stuff you never thought of

**riffer** · 16th July 2007, 15:49

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Is that like My Dog's Got Fleas?

Actually its more like a Yodia-ism. You know - "Fleas has my dog".

**Curious_AJ** · 16th July 2007, 15:51

if in doubt! always get yourself a chord sheet! those things can be life savers!

**Paul in NZ** · 16th July 2007, 16:45

Originally Posted by riffer

Paul - I'm going to have to come raid your bluegrass collection. I didn't know much about Alison Krauss until I saw the Coen Brothers excellent movie "O brother where art thou?" but after that I downloaded some of here stuff and must admit I'm pretty impressed.

EDIT - you better do that when Vickis not around - she really hates bluegrass....

Actually - theres a bunch of other wierd stuff in there you will like. The Drive by Truckers and Big John Bates are 2 that spring to mind....

Honestly - Check out Steve Earles 'The Mountain' if you like new blue grass, again, Steves ahead of the pack and sets the benchmark. he is one hell of a talented sob. Without kidding - the Dixie Chicks are bloody sensations as well. I genuinely admire their guts (and the bits above their guts just quietly)

That said - Del and the Boys are the shiz when it comes to Bluegrass - After Bill Munroe passed away they took on the crown - no question.... Nothing else comes close...

I have a few CD's by a guy called Tim O'Brien as well - interesting guy - Yankee boy playing a range of instruments including mandolin and mandocello but he has drifted to sounding like an irish folk muso and it demostrates the connection between celtic music and american hill music. Interesting...

For shits and giggles (and a little bit of awe at their casual talent) the Chieftains (yes yes I know) 2 CD's, 'Down the old Plank Road' and 'Further Down the old Plank Road' again show the ability of celtic musicians to translate well into bluegrass - it features a supurb vocal by ms Krauss and is really worth a listen.

If you really want the real deal - Earl Scruggs - the man reinvented the banjo (theme of the bevely hillbillies), got his start with Bill Monroe and was a legend with his mate Lester Flatt (another Bill Monroe dude and no I'm not making these names up). Flatt and Scruggs won a grammy in '69 for 'Foggy Mountain breakdown btw but we are now a ways from mandolins eh?

Unfortunately - I lent a prized Marty Stuart CD and it's never come back but he is a fine mandolin player as well.... Worth searching out...

**Curious_AJ** · 16th July 2007, 17:37

will take note of the above said, sounds interesting!

**Curious_AJ** · 16th July 2007, 23:41

was listening to some blue and new grass today.. its quite relaxing....

now i'm onto nirvana... the zone out/angry music... too bad i cant put it really LOUD ... damn sleeping people... and i ran out of vodka ...

**Hitcher** · 17th July 2007, 09:01

Originally Posted by Curious_AJ

and i ran out of vodka...

There's your problem: Bluegrass music can only truly be appreciated through a haze of single malt whisky.

**Curious_AJ** · 17th July 2007, 14:09

vodka was what i had left over from a few weeks ago haha... but i wasnt listening to bluegrass at that point anyways...

i reckin its also muchly appreciated when you're in a good mood... its definaterly feel good music though, so i guess it'd make your mood better anyway!

**Paul in NZ** · 17th July 2007, 14:37

Originally Posted by Hitcher

There's your problem: Bluegrass music can only truly be appreciated through a haze of single malt whisky.

Dang - when I listen to bluegrass I always drink 'shine out of a mason jar.... Aint so much of a haze and full on pea souper....

Check out Ricky Skaggs as well - pretty sure theres a CD or 2 of his at home someplace - interesting guy!

**Curious_AJ** · 17th July 2007, 14:41

heard much about that guy actually _b

**Toaster** · 17th July 2007, 14:46

Originally Posted by Beemer

No, no, no, Hitcher! You are confusing the sound of this word with a small fruit - a mandolin is actually a vegetable slicer consisting of a flat stainless steel frame with adjustable cutting blades. I know because I own one. However, I would NOT advise anyone to attempt to play the mandolin by strumming it as it would most definitely fuck your fingers.

Do remind me to give you bling later....... between you and Hitcher I have been giggling like a spazzy little girl today.