TeachinMandolin444 - Posted - 02/10/2017:  13:03:36

I haven't stopped by for a  long time,as I'm usually on the banjo hangout. Good grief- it's looking pretty deserted here! Did people find another mandolin forum or something?

danjo - Posted - 02/10/2017:  13:13:53

I just logged in,haven't been here in awhile.maybe it's to early....danjo

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/11/2017:  04:40:39

There are other, bigger mandolin forums but this one has never been real busy, just an occasional post now and then.  However, we do have some very knowledgeable people on here who will gladly answer questions and give suggestions and ideas. 

DHopkins - Posted - 02/13/2017:  20:54:14

I used to check in every day or so.  Now it's maybe once a week.

DHopkins - Posted - 02/13/2017:  20:55:26

I used to check in every day or so.  Now it's maybe once a week.

TSSN - Posted - 02/22/2017:  12:06:11

I used to post a lot as well, but that didn't get a lot of traffic.  So I spend most of my time practicing, rehearsing, and playing out.  

I check every month or so.  

DHopkins - Posted - 02/22/2017:  15:11:03

quote:

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Originally posted by TSSN

 

I used to post a lot as well, but that didn't get a lot of traffic.  So I spend most of my time practicing, rehearsing, and playing out.  

 

I check every month or so.  

 

---

I know how you feel.  I've responded to questions from individuals who never came back after their queries. 

kennyb - Posted - 02/23/2017:  05:13:24

I look in once in a while, I spend more time on the banjo hangout and the "other" mando site.
Maybe Eric needs to give away more stuff here. That might generate more traffic, which could make it more attractive for advertisers to donate more stuff to give away.
There might be an opportunity for someone to develop a super site, some kind of crawler to gather the latest posts/news/info from multiple sites and put it in a single search/sort application.

phiddlepicker - Posted - 02/25/2017:  23:50:02

I still check in regularly, but when I don't see much happening I just tend to move along. On the bright side, I haven't been kicked off just for telling a joke either.

TSSN - Posted - 02/27/2017:  11:40:48

We do a pretty good job of posting about how we don't post!  Lol. 

Maybe I'll try a new thread.  See what happens...

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/02/2017:  16:48:20

Boo!

janolov - Posted - 03/04/2017:  02:57:17

I think most of the visitors here comes from BanjoHangOut. Other mandolin players have Mandolin Cafe (mandolincafe.com/) or Mandozine (mandozine.com/)

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/11/2017:  15:01:48

I just joined up. My new Mando-Banjo came yesterday, and I've been plunkin' away, but I don't know enough to even ask a question. I've belonged to Banjo Hangout for 2 or 3 years, learning clawhammer and Irish. Irish music is my favorite and I play Irish tunes on a bunch of instruments. I hope to learn more stuff here.

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/19/2017:  06:21:33

Welcome Richard...how are you liking that mandobanjo? I play tenor in irish tuning(GDAE), but never actually tried the mandolin banjo.

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/19/2017:  10:05:11

Well, the strings were really tight when I first got it, but they're better now.  Maybe my fingers are getting' stronger.  I like playin' it now.  I'm a novice with both the mandolin and my GT Irish Tenor, but I'm. Improving.  I'd like to pick up a little speed.

I removed the resonator.  It was very loud and heavy (I'm an old guy.).  I like it off better, but I left the clips on so far.  I'm also testing picks.  I use a Dunlop .60 mm on my tenor, and I've moved up to a .73 mm for the mando.  I have some stiffer Dunlops, but they're too stiff for me now.  

I like both instruments very much so far.  I play Irish music a lot.

Edited by - Picking Dick on 03/19/2017 10:07:35

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/21/2017:  14:51:55

Picking up speed. That seems to be a sticking point for me too on tenor banjo. I can't pick it as fast I can the mandolin or guitar. Not sure if it's the string spacing of just lack of practice.

Well, sounds like you're having a good time with it.

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/24/2017:  10:39:08

Do you read music or tabs or do you play by ear?  I do all of 'em, but I'm having trouble reading and fretting at the same time.  Hand - eye coordination problem?  I dunno.  I guess I'll just keep slogging along.  I'm concerned about my lack of speed (in everything) though.   

Wilbur - Posted - 03/25/2017:  16:12:51

To answer the the OP question, I just came from the Cafe. There are over fifteen hundred viewers at the present time. Yep, it's dead over here!

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/25/2017:  16:49:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by Picking Dick

 

Do you read music or tabs or do you play by ear?  I do all of 'em, but I'm having trouble reading and fretting at the same time.  Hand - eye coordination problem?  I dunno.  I guess I'll just keep slogging along.  I'm concerned about my lack of speed (in everything) though.   

---

All of the above, but a lot of my learning has more recently been using video lessons from youtube or commercial sites. I never was good enough to sight read a piece I never played up to speed the first time, but I never faced a situation in which that was actually mandatory. Closest thing to that was in High School stage band tryouts. Wasn't much point to that endeavor even then, because we never played any numbers like that anyway. Thank goodness.

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/26/2017:  17:47:37

Well, I've been using regular music and whatever general knowledge I have about music.  But my wind instrument experience doesn't seem to be helping a lot with the mandolin.  Usually one uses one finger at a time on horns or a few with woodwinds, but now I'm using two hands, doing different things at the same time to produce music.  It killed me on keyboard, but I'm doing better this time.  I seem to be improving with clawhammer, but it's early days for Irish tunes.  

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/27/2017:  13:49:48

quote:

---

Originally posted by Picking Dick

 

Well, I've been using regular music and whatever general knowledge I have about music.  But my wind instrument experience doesn't seem to be helping a lot with the mandolin.  Usually one uses one finger at a time on horns or a few with woodwinds, but now I'm using two hands, doing different things at the same time to produce music.  It killed me on keyboard, but I'm doing better this time.  I seem to be improving with clawhammer, but it's early days for Irish tunes.  

---

IME: Time and patient practice will yield the results desired. Check out some of the youtube videos. There are a lot of really good people out there dedicated to helping spread the musical performance plague.

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/27/2017:  14:17:50

Yes, I watched some videos this morning.  I found out that I should use the thickest picks that I can handle, and that I was holding them too tightly.  So got out my Jim Dunlop Prime Tone 1.4mm, barely held it and voila! -- improvement!  I did some other stuff that I learned too.  Fretting is getting a little easier, but the G and D strings are still a bit of a squeeze.  I don't think the G string is used much anyway though. I guess fretting it is good exercise.    

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/27/2017:  16:33:58

Is the action a bit too high on your instrument? taking the strings down a little can make a lot of difference in how much easier it is to push the strings down...not too much though or you'll bottom out on the lower frets

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/27/2017:  17:52:10

Yeah, it was set up by Gold Tone before I got it, and it's getting easier all the time. It's just different from my banjos and not what I'm usta. I can fret the first fret, and the first three strings are okay. BESIDES, I hate to change strings, especially on a brand new instrument. The tight 4th string will build up my finger strength.

phiddlepicker - Posted - 03/30/2017:  15:04:36

Gold tone, eh? I have one of their tenor banjos. Solid instruments, but yes I had to tweak the action. It was a lot higher that my Orpheum. Solid instrument though and sounds good.

 

Picking Dick - Posted - 03/30/2017:  17:14:52

Yeah, I really like my GT Irish Tenor banjo. It's really good looking, and, if i ever learn how to play with some more speed, I'm sure I'll have a good time with it. The Mando-Banjo matches it pretty close. They sorta look like a matching pair. Today, i played clawhammer on my 5 strings to keep my hand in. I have an old man's memory.

MandoTom2 - Posted - 09/19/2017:  00:54:58

For any site to be successful (measured in visitors AND participants), you have to have folks willing to contribute.

Even if the contribution is just words (typed)...

Look at the busy-ness of the Banjo Hangout's "Off Topic" forum...

A lot of people, now on line friends, that go there to make comments, post news and generally interact with other like-minded folks...

Without the computer, a social club like that would not exist...

You have the chance to meet people from everywhere in the world, it seems, and share ideas and comments...

This site has every bit of the potential that the Banjo Hangout and the Mandolin Cafe has...

I have to admit, I don't come here much myself, but that has changed in the last couple of weeks...

I burned myself out in a serious way aranging an posting banjo tabs on my own site...

I also haven't had a mandolin at home for a while...

Just at the studio...

So... I brought the mandolin home and keep it hanging on the wall within reach of my computer, in the kitchen, where I do all of may arranging...

Because of that, I am playing my mandolin every day day now and love it...

No one comes to my banjo site for mandolin tabs, so the mando tabs get ignored over there...

That got me looking at this site again...

I've got close to 42 years of experience in studying and playing various instruments including guitar, madolin, banjo and fiddle...

Once I started arranging and posting for the mandolin here on the MandoHangout, it was like a gumball machine...

As soon as I finish one tune, another one comes to mind...

I enjoy writing, so writing blurbs like this is entertaining and fulfilling to a large degree...

When I came back recently, there were about 482 tabs in the tab archive and now, with my new contributions, there are about 517...

As long as I'm welcome to post here and not stepping on anyone's toes, I will continue to contribute tabs and occasional word posts...

Since WE are not ghosts...

Let's not ACT like ghosts!

Right?

Participate, participate, participate...

I'm planning on it, big time...

Tom Arri, alias BanjoTom2

TSSN - Posted - 09/23/2017:  05:43:09

Well said Tom. Thanks.

ukenukem - Posted - 10/17/2017:  12:18:10

Well, I just joined and am a member at Banjo Hangout. But my band leader asked I focus on either tenor banjo (Chicago) or mandolin and I picked mandolin.

Then bought a new one! Loar LM310F, btw.

TSSN - Posted - 10/26/2017:  20:11:31

Loar LM310F is a good looking instrument. How does it sound?

MandoTom2 - Posted - 10/29/2017:  15:19:04

It's a beautiful mandolin...

TeachinMandolin444 - Posted - 11/02/2017:  13:58:50

Well said,Tom. I'm going to be hanging out here more as I fell & broke my left knee early this month-am healing at home after having permanent hardware put in. I'm on a walker so I can't carry a banjo or guitar for awhile,but can strap a mandolin,ukulele,or fiddle case over my back and carry one of those thru the house. The smaller instruments are just easier to play right now. Had to go on a banjo teaching hiatus until I can start putting weight on the leg and get off the walker.

MandoTom2 - Posted - 11/02/2017:  23:15:02

Wow Sherrie...

Sorry to hear about your knee...

It's very difficult to get along with such an important ambulatory body part less than 100%...

Well, I will put you on MY prayer list...

Keep your chin up...

Drop me a line any time...

tomarri2 (@) gmail.com

Tom

TeachinMandolin444 - Posted - 11/04/2017:  18:40:31

MandoTom2,Thank you for keeping me in your prayers and yes,am keeping my chin up! Friends and neighbors have been helpful. Will be even better once someone lights the pilot to the wall heater. Getting chilly out here.

MandoTom2 - Posted - 11/04/2017:  21:27:09

Thank goodness for those friends and neighbors!

MandoTom

TSSN - Posted - 11/08/2017:  20:25:00

Sorry to hear about your knee Sherrie. +1 on the prayer side for you.

Been playing a lot of guitar lately, but am getting back to my more regular mandolin practice regimen. Working on "Ice on the Road" these days.