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Post by zontar on Dec 22, 2021 6:26:13 GMT
Well I didn't feel right about putting this in a guitar sub forum, so I'm putting it here, but feel free to move it if that makes more sense.
So after looking at 5 best & worst things about different guitars & basses--both specific & general--how about mandolins?
Again some of the worst things may sound like I'm nitpicking--and in a sense I am, because I like mandolins--and enjoy playing mine.
5 best things about mandolins:
1-They sound cool
2-They have a short scale so you can really stretch to get some cool voicing on chords.
3-while they are tuned differently than guitars & basses--they are tuned upside down to the bass (& four lowest strings on a guitar) in a way--so that makes learning the notes a bit easier.
4-they add a different ingredient to your playing--and can help you with guitar as well.
5-They're fun to play.
5 worst things
1-the short scale can get crowded, especially if you have large has and/or long fingers
2-More strings to change
3-the tuning is different, so there is a learning curve if you're coming at it rom guitar
4-due to the small size some technique things may be more important than on larger instruments--which can cause cramping or other had/finger issues. (I experienced some of that until I changed some of my technique)
5-Sometimes it's hard to get the higher pitches to work on some songs.
but all of those 5 can be worked around most of the time, for most people.
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Post by johnreardon on Dec 22, 2021 10:00:31 GMT
Not all mandolin type guitars are short scale. I used to have an Ozark 2244E, which technically is a Bouzouki, but effectively a long necked mandolin. Although the neck was still narrow, most guitarists would find it easier to play the longer scale.
I sold it only because I hardly used it and needed room
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Post by laristotle on Dec 22, 2021 11:55:36 GMT
For one, you can tune any way that you desire. I had a Fender FM62 years ago that I didn't have for long. I couldn't get used to the narrow neck. Fat, stubby fingers no likey. A little while later, I got a mini Strat that's been sitting around for years waiting to be converted into one though. Just have to acquire/fabricate a bridge for it.   |
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 22, 2021 13:43:36 GMT
Not all mandolin type guitars are short scale. I used to have an Ozark 2244E, which technically is a Bouzouki, but effectively a long necked mandolin. Although the neck was still narrow, most guitarists would find it easier to play the longer scale.
I sold it only because I hardly used it and needed room
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That's pretty cool looking! |
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 22, 2021 13:45:37 GMT
For one, you can tune any way that you desire. I had a Fender FM62 years ago that I didn't have for long. I couldn't get used to the narrow neck. Fat, stubby fingers no likey. A little while later, I got a mini Strat that's been sitting around for years waiting to be converted into one though. Just have to acquire/fabricate a bridge for it. What kind of bridge does it have now? Hard to tell from the pic. |
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Post by laristotle on Dec 22, 2021 14:26:04 GMT
What kind of bridge does it have now? Hard to tell from the pic. It's a standard hardtail bridge. |
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Post by johnreardon on Dec 22, 2021 18:46:22 GMT
Not all mandolin type guitars are short scale. I used to have an Ozark 2244E, which technically is a Bouzouki, but effectively a long necked mandolin. Although the neck was still narrow, most guitarists would find it easier to play the longer scale.
I sold it only because I hardly used it and needed room
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That's pretty cool looking! It sounded like a mandolin as well. Here’s a very rough demo of one of my songs. It was the first time our singer had heard the song so took him a while to get into it, so please excuse the language at the beginning. If you fast forward to around 2:03, you can hear it when I dubbed the solos in. |
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Post by northernboy on Dec 26, 2021 6:18:20 GMT
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Post by Sgt Rock on Dec 26, 2021 7:03:21 GMT
I've tried to play mandolin a few times, but my fingers are too big to play it properly.
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Post by spellcaster on Dec 26, 2021 16:32:26 GMT
I think if I was going to choose a different stringed instrument to learn to play, mandolin interests me more than any other, and I find the sound pleasing to listen to, but I have the same problem....It's just too small and my fingers are too big.
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Post by zontar on Dec 28, 2021 19:56:49 GMT
I've tried to play mandolin a few times, but my fingers are too big to play it properly. Well, as John pointed out--try a larger version. Such as a Mandola, Octave mandolin, etc. Not as high pitched--but similar sound. And then maybe use an octave pedal. |
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Post by zontar on Dec 28, 2021 20:03:23 GMT
Not all mandolin type guitars are short scale. I used to have an Ozark 2244E, which technically is a Bouzouki, but effectively a long necked mandolin. Although the neck was still narrow, most guitarists would find it easier to play the longer scale.
I sold it only because I hardly used it and needed room
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Well typically the larger ones are members of the mandolin family, but are octave mandolins, mandalas, etc. there used to be mandolin orchestras with everything thing from a regular mandolin to a large mandobass. (Note the frets--on a bass instrument) They're all cool--and I have considered a mandola & octave mandolin as well. A mandobass would be cool, but I don't know that I have the space for one. If I had more experience with one I might do one of these lists for them. And with all of these lists I am mostly having to almost make up stuff to have 5 things I don't like. (Although there are some instruments I could easily find 5 things I don't like--but others still like them) |
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