Chopping is the name for rhythm -- when you pay the chord, then dampen the strings immediately with your left hand so they don't ring out. This gives the chord played a percussive quality.
Mandolin and banjo pickers both chop a lot in bluegrass songs while some other person is taking the lead break, or singing.
A real fiddlehead. Vassar's fiddle. Sadly, he passed away recently. I wonder if his fiddle will ever be played again, or just hang in some museum somewhere?
Click the pic for what the rest of this fiddle looks like, and the story behind it.
This is a pic of a 1917 Gibson F-2 mandolin, identical to mine. The serial number on this one is a few hundred numbers before the serial number mine has -- but other than that they look identical. :)-->
And a closer look at the tuners. Little flowers on vines inlaid into the tuner buttons. The vines are gold wire, and the flowers are mother-of-pearl inlay. :)-->
1917 was the last year that Gibson offered these inlaid tuners as a *stock* item.
I wonder if his fiddle will ever be played again, or just hang in some museum somewhere?
I hope that it gets played again, some instruments, especially violins or fiddles, are like some sort of gifts to mankind. This one has passed through history and apparently produced great music for generations---I hope that it continues on.
That is one beautiful fiddlehead
o and the mando ain't bad either!
(shouldn't have taken my breath away with the fiddle first i guess
Bill Monroe's 1923 Gibson F5, master model mandolin signed by Lloyd Loar. The Kentucky-based group, Bill Monroe Bluegrass Music Foundation. had tried to purchase the instrument for $1.125 million. James Monroe, son of the late “father†of bluegrass music, argued it should remain with him. But the foundation claimed it still had a valid contract to buy the mandolin. As the ownership issue had been entangled in legal battles for two years, the mandolin sat in a vault at an undisclosed location. As part of a confidential settlement reached January 8, 2005 in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville, Monroe's son James will retain possession of the mandolin.
Damn lawyers, and all involved!! An instrument was meant to be picked, not haggled over, regardless of how important it was.
But then again I've met James Monroe. He wouldn't do it justice either. He's out for the money just like Bill (his father) was -- and if the mandolin that made history being in a museum served him best monetarily, that it where it would end up.
Mstar -- sadly, I think it will never be played again. I hope I am wrong, but I think it is *museum-bound* to be on display -- visually rather than audibly. :(-->
One more question for now.............. I am looking for the chords or notes to the song "Let It Be You" by Ricky Skaggs and I have done quite a search on it in the past but haven't found anything on it as of yet. Anyone have any ideas?
OK, for better or worse, I'm gonna post this. I just bought a mandolin this year. Have been playing guitar since 1971, KB since 77 and can pretty much play any stringed instrument. Just a knack I guess. But anyway, my second day with the mandolin, I was looking for a Zepplin-ish kind of tune and came up with THIS. Now I'm sure ya'll are much better than me on Mandolin, but before you laugh too much, keep in mind, this was my second day of working with mandolin. :)-->
Thought I'd post this also. This is my newest instrument. This picture doesn't do it justice though. It's a Dean Resonator, chrome body, and I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the tone is. I alternate between brass and glass slides, depending on the type of music.
Hey Bluzeman, that sounds great!!! You are way ahead of me when it comes to the mandolin!! If you don't mind me asking what kind of mandolin are you playing?
COWABUNGA!!!!! I finally, after an exhaustive search found the CHORDS to "Let it Be You" I have heard the song so many times I am sure I can come up with the invidual notes for it.
A very cheap one. :)--> A Rogue. Didn't want to spend a lot of money since I had never played one before. But I might get a better one. Right now I'm really into the resonator. I play more blues than anything else, but every time I pick up the resonator, this cool bluegrass stuff just seems to come out. :)-->
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Cowgirl
What is meant by G, C, & D "CHOP" chords?
Cowgirl
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dmiller
Chopping is the name for rhythm -- when you pay the chord, then dampen the strings immediately with your left hand so they don't ring out. This gives the chord played a percussive quality.
Mandolin and banjo pickers both chop a lot in bluegrass songs while some other person is taking the lead break, or singing.
.
.
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dmiller
A real fiddlehead. Vassar's fiddle. Sadly, he passed away recently. I wonder if his fiddle will ever be played again, or just hang in some museum somewhere?
Click the pic for what the rest of this fiddle looks like, and the story behind it.
David
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dmiller
Ps -- any chord can be *chopped*, not just G, C, and D.
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dmiller
If you need the tablature for tunes, THIS PAGE of the mando cafe has many to offer, and in lotsa styles of music.
:)-->
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dmiller
This is a pic of a 1917 Gibson F-2 mandolin, identical to mine. The serial number on this one is a few hundred numbers before the serial number mine has -- but other than that they look identical.
:)-->
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dmiller
Here's a closer look at the peghead.
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dmiller
And a closer look at the tuners. Little flowers on vines inlaid into the tuner buttons. The vines are gold wire, and the flowers are mother-of-pearl inlay.
:)-->
1917 was the last year that Gibson offered these inlaid tuners as a *stock* item.
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dmiller
And lastly -- a pic of the front. Has the oval sound hole (which I have really taken a liking to), and not the f-scrolls
David
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mstar1
This is a refreshing thread
I hope that it gets played again, some instruments, especially violins or fiddles, are like some sort of gifts to mankind. This one has passed through history and apparently produced great music for generations---I hope that it continues on.
That is one beautiful fiddlehead
o and the mando ain't bad either!
(shouldn't have taken my breath away with the fiddle first i guess
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dmiller
Father Bill's mandolin:
A 1923 Lloyd Loar (signed) Gibson F-5. This is the cream of the crop, bar none.
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dmiller
Damn lawyers, and all involved!! An instrument was meant to be picked, not haggled over, regardless of how important it was.
But then again I've met James Monroe. He wouldn't do it justice either. He's out for the money just like Bill (his father) was -- and if the mandolin that made history being in a museum served him best monetarily, that it where it would end up.
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dmiller
Mstar -- sadly, I think it will never be played again. I hope I am wrong, but I think it is *museum-bound* to be on display -- visually rather than audibly.
:(-->
David
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Cowgirl
I must say that mandolin sure is a beaut !!
Here is a shot of a "mandolin maker" in action.
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Cowgirl
DMiller,
How did you ever get your hands on a 1917 Gibson F-2 mandolin?
Hey anybody recognize these boys?
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Cowgirl
One more question for now.............. I am looking for the chords or notes to the song "Let It Be You" by Ricky Skaggs and I have done quite a search on it in the past but haven't found anything on it as of yet. Anyone have any ideas?
Cowgirl
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dmiller
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dmiller
((cough!!)) It was available!!!
:D-->
(it's my baby -- if you will)
David
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dmiller
"Let It be You" can be found on Ricky's Country Gentleman album.
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Bluzeman
OK, for better or worse, I'm gonna post this. I just bought a mandolin this year. Have been playing guitar since 1971, KB since 77 and can pretty much play any stringed instrument. Just a knack I guess. But anyway, my second day with the mandolin, I was looking for a Zepplin-ish kind of tune and came up with THIS. Now I'm sure ya'll are much better than me on Mandolin, but before you laugh too much, keep in mind, this was my second day of working with mandolin.
:)-->
Rick
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Bluzeman
Thought I'd post this also. This is my newest instrument. This picture doesn't do it justice though. It's a Dean Resonator, chrome body, and I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the tone is. I alternate between brass and glass slides, depending on the type of music.
Rick
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Cowgirl
Hey Bluzeman, that sounds great!!! You are way ahead of me when it comes to the mandolin!! If you don't mind me asking what kind of mandolin are you playing?
Cowgirl
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Cowgirl
COWABUNGA!!!!! I finally, after an exhaustive search found the CHORDS to "Let it Be You" I have heard the song so many times I am sure I can come up with the invidual notes for it.
Cowgirl
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Bluzeman
Hi Cowgirl
A very cheap one.
:)--> A Rogue. Didn't want to spend a lot of money since I had never played one before. But I might get a better one. Right now I'm really into the resonator. I play more blues than anything else, but every time I pick up the resonator, this cool bluegrass stuff just seems to come out. 
:)-->
Rick
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