I played acoustic guitar, mandolin, electric guitar and baritone electric on this film....
Showing posts with label mandolin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mandolin. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Friday, October 17, 2014
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Reading in the Studio
Just last week I got called for a quick session for a short film (10 minutes). Quick is my specialty. Between lower budgets and greater numbers of wannabe directors makes for many opportunities for the musician who can get things done in a timely manner.
Below is the lone chart for the session. A very simple melody in 3/4. But here's the rub: there was no click, it was suppose to be played free but in a call and response to a sparse vocal. So 120bpm was just a rough guide tempo. The composer wanted this melody on slide. And wanted options to pepper throughout the movie. First on acoustic with a slide, then on dobro with a slide and lastly on mandolin with a slide (that was my idea).
The first thing I did was memorize the melody. It's kind of difficult to play slide while staring at a chart. I like to lock in my pitches visually, as well as with the aid of a clip on tuner - Intellitouch Tuner
The acoustic was in standard tuning, EADGBE. The dobro however was in open G, DGDGBD. And the Mandolin was in standard tuning, standard for a mandolin, GDAE. So the melody laid differently on each instrument. The composer wanted everything with lots of feeling and slide noise. Then we did passes on each instrument of just making random noises. All done in less than an hour so we had time to go to In-N-Out for lunch!
So get out your slide and read though this one!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Say "Yes!". Sometimes.
When I was still a very young guitarist and still living in Indiana, someone higher up the "food chain" advised me to never say "no" when asked if I could play something. Instrument or style. That advice got me into trouble almost right away when I agree to play banjo on a bluegrass gig. I played neither. Fortunately for everyone's sake I mustered up the courage to bail early. I think I even told them the truth, always a good thing, that I was foolishly taking some advice when I agreed to do something I wasn't qualified to do.
Flash forward about ten years and a composer I really wanted to work for asked me if I played mandolin. To get the gig I said I did and asked, "when is the session?" Thinking I could get one, practice, maybe take a couple lessons, etc.
"The day after tomorrow."
The day after tomorrow! Immediately I went into panic mode. I bought a no name mandolin from a friend for $50. Found a beginner book about mandolin at the library (this was before youtube and the internet). And started mapping out chords and scales on the tiny neck like I was cyphering reentry calculations to save my life.
I learned more in that 48 hour period then I had in any other prior. When I showed up to that session nervous and sweating, I learned I was way over-qualified. Yes, way over-qualified. Now was this because I had obtained sick David Grisman-type skills through pure tenacity or through the sale of my soul? Neither. All the composer wanted me to do was a couple of lines of tremolo.
Done. $50. I'd broken even and worked on music that would appear on television all over the world with a composer that I would now work for for years to come. And I got started on a instrument that I would utilize on many occasions.
The lesson? Have a qualified yes handy. Ask a couple of questions. Make sure you aren't going to burn a bridge if you say "yes" and blow it big time. A while ago a composer I work for quite a bit asked me if I played oud. I told him "no". I barely even knew what one was. Then he asked if I could get one and learn it in a couple of months. That I could do. I did. And now I've got another weapon in my arsenal that I've used at least a dozen times and will pull out every now and again just cause it's a flippin' crazy fun instrument to play!
Cheap instruments to have around for fun and the occasional session...
Egyptian Deluxe Oud w/ Soft Case & CD & Oud Pick
Oscar Schmidt OB5 5-String Banjo
Fender FM-53S Mandolin, Sunburst
Flash forward about ten years and a composer I really wanted to work for asked me if I played mandolin. To get the gig I said I did and asked, "when is the session?" Thinking I could get one, practice, maybe take a couple lessons, etc.
"The day after tomorrow."
The day after tomorrow! Immediately I went into panic mode. I bought a no name mandolin from a friend for $50. Found a beginner book about mandolin at the library (this was before youtube and the internet). And started mapping out chords and scales on the tiny neck like I was cyphering reentry calculations to save my life.
I learned more in that 48 hour period then I had in any other prior. When I showed up to that session nervous and sweating, I learned I was way over-qualified. Yes, way over-qualified. Now was this because I had obtained sick David Grisman-type skills through pure tenacity or through the sale of my soul? Neither. All the composer wanted me to do was a couple of lines of tremolo.
Done. $50. I'd broken even and worked on music that would appear on television all over the world with a composer that I would now work for for years to come. And I got started on a instrument that I would utilize on many occasions.
The lesson? Have a qualified yes handy. Ask a couple of questions. Make sure you aren't going to burn a bridge if you say "yes" and blow it big time. A while ago a composer I work for quite a bit asked me if I played oud. I told him "no". I barely even knew what one was. Then he asked if I could get one and learn it in a couple of months. That I could do. I did. And now I've got another weapon in my arsenal that I've used at least a dozen times and will pull out every now and again just cause it's a flippin' crazy fun instrument to play!
Cheap instruments to have around for fun and the occasional session...
Egyptian Deluxe Oud w/ Soft Case & CD & Oud Pick
Oscar Schmidt OB5 5-String Banjo
Fender FM-53S Mandolin, Sunburst
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
One a Year
For a period of about ten years I bought one new instrument each year. Not a new guitar. A completely new instrument. And as a rule I would learn it in it's native tuning. Much easier to think and sound idiomatically that way.
I think it started with a mandolin. Not a guitar. Not even close. A guitar is largely tuned in fourths. A mandolin is 4 pairs of strings tuned in fifths. Like this one... Fender FM-52E Mandolin, Sunburst
And so it was on. Here are some other stringed instruments I've picked up. Not in this order.
A Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar - Fender FS-52 Lap Steel
Then I got a five-string banjo. It's tuned like... oh, never mind, let's not go there right now. Not as nice as this one... Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo
Then a baritone electric. Tuned down a fourth from standard tuning
An auto harp - kind of like this one... Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Autoharp
Then a uke. - Mine's the flea.
Here's a nice one... OXK Ukulele
An oud. - Similar to... Egyptian Deluxe Oud w/ Soft Case & CD & Oud Pick
A bajo sexto. It's a mexican instrument that is kind of a cross between a baritone and a 12-string. Something like this one... Oscar Schmidt OH52SE Acoustic Electric Guitar, Bajo Sexto
An electric sitar. This Jerry Jones one.
Just added this Gretsch round neck resonator guitar to the collection.
Check out Lark in the Morning for a great source of cheap instruments you might only use once a year.
I think it started with a mandolin. Not a guitar. Not even close. A guitar is largely tuned in fourths. A mandolin is 4 pairs of strings tuned in fifths. Like this one... Fender FM-52E Mandolin, Sunburst
And so it was on. Here are some other stringed instruments I've picked up. Not in this order.
A Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar - Fender FS-52 Lap Steel
Then I got a five-string banjo. It's tuned like... oh, never mind, let's not go there right now. Not as nice as this one... Deering Goodtime 5-String Banjo
Then a baritone electric. Tuned down a fourth from standard tuning
An auto harp - kind of like this one... Oscar Schmidt 21 Chord Autoharp
Then a uke. - Mine's the flea.
Here's a nice one... OXK Ukulele
An oud. - Similar to... Egyptian Deluxe Oud w/ Soft Case & CD & Oud Pick
A bajo sexto. It's a mexican instrument that is kind of a cross between a baritone and a 12-string. Something like this one... Oscar Schmidt OH52SE Acoustic Electric Guitar, Bajo Sexto
An electric sitar. This Jerry Jones one.
Just added this Gretsch round neck resonator guitar to the collection.
Check out Lark in the Morning for a great source of cheap instruments you might only use once a year.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Why I use Elixir Strings.
PLEASE NOTE: I endorse Elixir strings. They didn't come to me though, I went to them because I really like their product.
There is, or at least was, a bit of a debate about coated strings. Which I completely understand on two levels, first, coated strings, especially early on were not as bright as non-coated strings. And second, one method of advertising is to disparage your competition. That quieted down significantly when many other manufacturers offered up their own versions of a coated, long lasting string.
So why do I use them?
1. I have acidic hand sweat. You should see up close some of the hardware on my guitars. Particularly the gold ones. Not pretty. You know the alien blood from the movie Alien? Now you know what I'm taking about. Prior to Elixirs I used Ernie Ball strings on electric, and within and hour of playing time they became tetanus wires. I was always changing strings. At a few bucks a set it wasn't that big of a deal, just the time it took to change them, but time is money and once I switched to Elixirs I found that I could keep strings on my main electrics for weeks instead of days.
2. They don't corrode in storage. I have a lot of guitars. Many are rarely played. But the last thing I want to do is restring my Rickenbacker 12-string the night before a session. Especially if, despite being told to bring it, I never actually use it. But with it strung up with Elixirs I know I can confidently grab it on my way out the door and if needed it will be ready to track. I always keep extra sets in every case just in case. Pun not intended.
3. The immediate vintage tone. Truth be told, as nice as brand new strings feel, they can sound a little brittle or bright. Normal strings sound better once worked in. For me that may only take an hour, for others a week. Even still I change strings on my acoustic(s) the night before a session so they have time to settle in. With Elixirs they immediately have that worn in sound and I like that. Many players don't and that's why they came out with the nano-web versions to provide that closer to non-coated experience. To me both the electrics and acoustic sets are ready for the red light (to record) as soon as they are on the guitar.
4. They tune up fast. You know how when you string up a guitar you have to tug the strings and tune them a bunch of times until they settle? Maybe between every song for a set? Not with Elixirs. Tune, tug, tune, play, tune... and that's pretty much it from my experience. This is important when you have several guitars out for a session and you are going from one to the other twenty times in an hour.
5. They are quieter. When I'm in the studio recording acoustic instruments, ie. acoustic 6 or 12 string, nylon/classical guitar, mandolin, etc., I am often playing before a very sensitive condenser mic or maybe two. They pick up everything: heavy breathing, toe tapping, chair squeaking, humming, counting aloud, a hole in your septum (that's another story for later) or SQUEAKING STRINGS. Well Elixirs can't help with any of those except those pesky squeaks one creates when one slides fingers up and down the fretboard. There are ways to reduce that noise; mic placement, lightness of touch, swiftness of hand movement. But another tools to reduce this unwanted noise is to string up your instrument with coated strings. I prefer the polyweb (classic) over the nanoweb for this reason.
6. They are easier on the finger tips. There are days where I have a guitar in my hands for 14 hours and Elixir strings really allow me to play longer without pain or discomfort. Often I'll pick up someone else's guitar and within minutes be feeling the deep ridges of a non-coated set of string. Ouch. OK, I'm a baby. This is also a reason why I prefer polyweb over nanoweb.
Do I have something, anything bad to say about Elixirs? Hmmm, the packaging hurts my eyes. Oh yeah, and that they discontinued the classical guitar sets. They are well aware of my objections.
Elixir Strings Electric Guitar Strings, 6-String, Light NANOWEB Coating
There is, or at least was, a bit of a debate about coated strings. Which I completely understand on two levels, first, coated strings, especially early on were not as bright as non-coated strings. And second, one method of advertising is to disparage your competition. That quieted down significantly when many other manufacturers offered up their own versions of a coated, long lasting string.
So why do I use them?
1. I have acidic hand sweat. You should see up close some of the hardware on my guitars. Particularly the gold ones. Not pretty. You know the alien blood from the movie Alien? Now you know what I'm taking about. Prior to Elixirs I used Ernie Ball strings on electric, and within and hour of playing time they became tetanus wires. I was always changing strings. At a few bucks a set it wasn't that big of a deal, just the time it took to change them, but time is money and once I switched to Elixirs I found that I could keep strings on my main electrics for weeks instead of days.
2. They don't corrode in storage. I have a lot of guitars. Many are rarely played. But the last thing I want to do is restring my Rickenbacker 12-string the night before a session. Especially if, despite being told to bring it, I never actually use it. But with it strung up with Elixirs I know I can confidently grab it on my way out the door and if needed it will be ready to track. I always keep extra sets in every case just in case. Pun not intended.
3. The immediate vintage tone. Truth be told, as nice as brand new strings feel, they can sound a little brittle or bright. Normal strings sound better once worked in. For me that may only take an hour, for others a week. Even still I change strings on my acoustic(s) the night before a session so they have time to settle in. With Elixirs they immediately have that worn in sound and I like that. Many players don't and that's why they came out with the nano-web versions to provide that closer to non-coated experience. To me both the electrics and acoustic sets are ready for the red light (to record) as soon as they are on the guitar.
4. They tune up fast. You know how when you string up a guitar you have to tug the strings and tune them a bunch of times until they settle? Maybe between every song for a set? Not with Elixirs. Tune, tug, tune, play, tune... and that's pretty much it from my experience. This is important when you have several guitars out for a session and you are going from one to the other twenty times in an hour.
5. They are quieter. When I'm in the studio recording acoustic instruments, ie. acoustic 6 or 12 string, nylon/classical guitar, mandolin, etc., I am often playing before a very sensitive condenser mic or maybe two. They pick up everything: heavy breathing, toe tapping, chair squeaking, humming, counting aloud, a hole in your septum (that's another story for later) or SQUEAKING STRINGS. Well Elixirs can't help with any of those except those pesky squeaks one creates when one slides fingers up and down the fretboard. There are ways to reduce that noise; mic placement, lightness of touch, swiftness of hand movement. But another tools to reduce this unwanted noise is to string up your instrument with coated strings. I prefer the polyweb (classic) over the nanoweb for this reason.
6. They are easier on the finger tips. There are days where I have a guitar in my hands for 14 hours and Elixir strings really allow me to play longer without pain or discomfort. Often I'll pick up someone else's guitar and within minutes be feeling the deep ridges of a non-coated set of string. Ouch. OK, I'm a baby. This is also a reason why I prefer polyweb over nanoweb.
Do I have something, anything bad to say about Elixirs? Hmmm, the packaging hurts my eyes. Oh yeah, and that they discontinued the classical guitar sets. They are well aware of my objections.
Elixir Strings Electric Guitar Strings, 6-String, Light NANOWEB Coating
Monday, February 28, 2011
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