sixwatergrog - Posted - 02/05/2014:  09:57:58

Does mandolin fulfill all of your musical needs, or do you like to play other instruments as well?  I started as an adult and I only know stringed instruments tuned in 5ths like mandolin and tenor banjo.  Although it seems like knowing how to also play guitar, for example, would also be a good idea.

My musical knowledge is starting to the advance to the point where I think I could easily grasp a different tuning and know how to find chords, scales and melodies through trial and error.  But is it worth it?  I'm a lefty, so I don't have the benefit of just being able to pick up someone else's guitar at a jam and noodle around on it, so that's another factor. 

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/05/2014:  11:51:00

I find a guitar to be more versatile than banjo or mandolin.  If I were to do a solo show with only one instrument, it'd probably be guitar, but everybody and his brother plays guitar and I love to have a mandolin or banjo to whip out when I'm playing with a couple of guitars.

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 02/05/2014:  13:09:40

You can play solo on any instrument ..and pretty much any kind of music can be played on a mandolin . but as J.Y. points out "it'd probably be a guitar" if you are going to provide your own rhythm and melody playing for an evening. . I keep thinking a show playing several instruments with the help of a Looper might be a lot of fun. But gadgets generally exist in a level outside my understanding . Someone that is proficient could put a show together playing several solo instruments three or four tunes at a time. But if I had to choose one my guitar would be my partner. Insofar as being a lefty I have no clue. Lefties play upside down, backwards and like right handed people a good solid wood guitar like a used Blueridge can be purchased w/o involving a bank so look around you'd be surprised what folks get rid of.... Luck ....... R/

mandoteacher - Posted - 02/05/2014:  14:54:16

I studied classical violin at the NEC until 1980, then started playing bluegrass fiddle in college. I picked up a Kentucky mandolin at the same time and taught myself because I wanted to be able to sing and play at the same time, something that's very hard to do on the violin. A fellow student taught me G,C,D shapes on the guitar and showed me how to use a capo. I also play viola (classical), bass and cello - but my main instruments are fiddle and mandolin

Weber F - Posted - 02/05/2014:  16:20:52

I also started late in life, on mandolin. I have since purchased a Martin tenor guitar that I have strung GDAE. Makes it much easier to use for self accompanyment while singing. Still use mandolin for a back up instrument. Too old and lazy to try a guitar with all those strings attached, have enough trouble with 4.

sixwatergrog - Posted - 02/05/2014:  17:05:09

Consensus seems to be that mandolin is great in an ensemble or as a melody instrument, but for solo strumming and singing songs, something with a lower register (six-string guitar, tenor guitar) might be more desirable.

TeachinMandolin444 - Posted - 02/05/2014:  17:09:41

I'd have to say my main instruments are mandolin,banjo,and autoharp. I also knock about with fiddle,but am truly a student of the instrument. My 1st instrument is guitar,which I still play. In addition,I also play ukulele. 

glennc - Posted - 02/05/2014:  18:31:13

I played guitar and keys for decades, but about four years ago bought a mandolin, banjo, and fiddle with some bonus money.  It really inspired me to spend a lot more time playing, I have been having a great time ever since.  I have definitely made the most progress with Mandolin, and pretty reasonable progress with Banjo.  Fiddle still intimidates me. :-)   Musical friends still know me as a guitarist and when they ask for a lead track they're talking guitar or want some keys, but I'm starting to throw a little mandobanjo love in there now and then.   To me it's not the instrument, but the musical context, and the amount of time I have put into the instrument (i.e. my ability...).  You can play anything on anything if you're motivated.

abinigia - Posted - 02/06/2014:  08:29:26

Though I do play other instruments my main instrument is the mandolin. It's both a good chord and good melody instrument to play. And as has been pointed out everybody plays guitar already. Fiddle is becoming a close 2nd for me because it's a wonderful melody instrument, but it's a lousy chord instrument so it can't do it all.

kennyb - Posted - 02/06/2014:  12:31:26

sixwatergrog:
If you already play mandolin, and want something in a lower register in fifths tuning, you could try an octave mandolin.

TSSN - Posted - 02/07/2014:  06:29:46

I own a guitar, and I play at it, but I don't consider myself good at it.  One big benefit I have found in knowing how to play the guitar some is when I am working a new tune.  The guitar player I play with is rock solid, so I just watch his hands.  I can recognize him playing, say Dm, and I just go to that chord shape on my mandolin.

Blue - Posted - 02/14/2014:  10:35:43

I think mandolin can do it all if that's all you want. :-) Seriously, there are those who can make solo mando or mando and voice incredibly entertaining to me. This can also be accomplished with the fiddle, guitar, banjo and etc.. Tim O'Brien puts on a great one-man show with either mandolin family instruments, fiddle or guitar; Bruce Molsky does a great job with fiddle and singing. I enjoy good ensemble playing but there's something simple and pure about solo performances that really appeals to me.

phiddlepicker - Posted - 04/14/2014:  15:19:38

I play other instruments as well. If I had to play only one I'd play fiddle.......until I found the so and so that said I had to pick just one and disposed of him.

SteveZ - Posted - 04/14/2014:  18:28:32

I wish I knew what my musical needs are.  After five decades of acoustic guitar (and not very good at it) have spent the last year experimenting with mandolin (several of them) and am adding tenor guitar in a couple days thanks to a trade.

The mandolin has been a blast and have found I can do everything I did on guitar on it, and then some.  I'm not into bluegrass (appreciate it, but don't lean to it) and have found that F-style is not for me.  A-styles (oval, preferred) give a deeper, throatier sound I like better with rock, Gulf & Western and some old blues.  I got a MandoBird VIII that I really haven't fooled around with much, but plan to match up with another person who'll be on electric guitar - and that should be fun.

How long this fascination will last is anyone's guess, but part of the fun is in the learning.

bruce b - Posted - 04/15/2014:  10:44:57

Sarah Jarosz often plays an octave mandolin, taking the role that an acoustic guitar would fill. I think it sounds amazing. As others have pointed out, there are a million guitar players around, so something like an octave mando can fill that role as well and yet be far more unique. The Fletcher Brock GOM she plays sounds somewhat like a guitar. I play tenor guitar, which also works in this role. I tune GDAE so the range is almost exactly the same.

GuitarDogs62 - Posted - 04/25/2014:  08:14:32

I am a Bluegrass Guitar Player and have been learning and playing the Mandolin which I am loving more than my guitars. Now in Jams at times I need my guitar for songs and other times pull out the Mandolin for songs like Cripple Creek, or when singing Amazing Grace and I'll Fly away and Will the Circle be unbroken. I always played those songs on guitar and now switching over to Mandolin. Guitar has always been my primary go to instrument but now I am starting to see that my Mandolin can be a primary as well in Bluegrass music. Also some country songs I see I can use my mandolin too. I feel for ME it comes down to what I want to play and fell like at the time. I can't tell you enough how much I love the sound of the mandolin in Bluegrass and Bluegrass Gospel songs. What's great is I see since I can play both instruments, I will not limit myself to just one instrument and will enjoy playing both.