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Several instructors have recommended that I video my playing. A lot can be learned from watching yourself. It’s easy to see if you’re relaxed while playing or if you’re tense. Tension is...

We’re A-00 carved top, flat backed and oval sound hole?

We’re all A-40s carved top with flat backs?

I endured and with professional extermination eradicated a b.b infestation of 1500 sq dwelling. We threw away everything that we could afford to dispose of which some badly infested upholstered...

When you bought a J40, you bought a fine guitar!

We’re all hardwired differently. I keep a log of my practices. I can watch my improvement from regular practice or if I miss some days I excuse myself and keep after it. Chet Atkins said that if he...

I find it much easier to memorize music from notation than from tab. I think the visual of the melody and the intervals between the notes is helpful.

I have great respect for all the jazz woodwind players that can play in all of the keys and freely improvise over any of the progressions.

Think of it as a capo. If you’re playing in D major on the mandolin but a guitarist only knows how to play in C major, the guitarist will use a capo on the 2nd fret and read music written in C major...

I’ve taught a lot of guitar and mandolin students to sight read. Mel Bay and Hal Leonard have beginner books for children and adults. I would suggest learning to read be done in addition to your...

Silk & steel strings and a very heavy pick (3.0 mm) will tone down the brashness in an inexpensive mandolin.

Are the mics directly in front of the sound holes? Try positioning the mics 12 in in front of where the neck joins the body and then try 12 in in front of the tail piece. More experiments. Another...

I think the Kentucky 1050 and 1500 have different width nuts. This is a significant specification to consider.

It's my understanding that the tonal intervals are not the same as our musical intervals. If that's the case it might prove difficult playing with mandolins and guitars though it would be possible...

Humming the the tune as I play it helps me remember it. I've always found it difficult to memorize a tune from tab. I learned to music notation several years ago and I find it easier to memorize from...

Video and audio recording of my practice has been one of the recommendations of instructors at the camps I've attended. Listening to the recording while counting ymy timing revels any issues.

Sherry, I agree with bigskygirl; there's a lot to be gained by listening or even thinking about music. I'm acquainted with some of your musical tastes. You might enjoy and be inspired by Peter...

In my opinion, it would only important to memorize fiddle tune or any music for that matter if it's important to you to do so. If you plan on jamming with others playing fiddle tunes, I think it is...

My understanding is: there are two types of tremolo, measured and unmeasured. Measured is metronomic with a specific number of notes per beat while unmeasured is "by feel", increasing and decreasing...

Hey Sherry! Don Julin recommends a measured tremolo of 1/16th notes should be played 100 - 130 bpm on page 81 of his Mandolin for Dummies. This is an excellent book that I have read and reread for 8...

I don't think Fiddler's Green is still in Austin. The ownership has changed and it's actually closer to Houston but I'm not certain of the location. There was an article here at the Cafe regarding...

Be careful what you wish for!;) The Boss TU-01 Chromatic Tuner is very accurate. I have to be very patient using it because it is so accurate.

From my experience, some of the higher quality and consequently higher priced instruments have: better tone across all of the strings and in all positions up the neck: they're louder; and more...

I own Martin 000Jr. I think it's a great guitar for fingerstyle. It's not very expensive, and it's all solid wood. The model I have has a cut-away and and a Shure pickup. I have several small body...

I would go with the Kentucky. If both are new instruments and are priced comparatively the same, I cannot imagine that the F style is of the same quality as the A model. In the Kentucky line there is...