watch the smooth glide like action of Mike Comptons fingers

[darylcrisp]

especially at 2:16, his fingers barely move out from the strings and glide from place to place. that to me is amazing efficient playing. sounds just right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV6pJVlGb80

[David Lewis]

Mike is an amazing player, great teacher and nice guy. Watching him is always revelatory. Thanks for posting.

[bigskygirl]

Thanks for posting Daryl, I love that Monroe slidy stuff, it makes it sound like so much more is going on in the tune and just plain looks cool.

[Northwest Steve]

I have watched his left hand, both actually. It is impressive when you see a really good musician and their is not wasted movement in their hands/fingers. Makes it look effortless.

[George R. Lane]

Did you notice that he pivots on the base of his left thumb when does the slides. Very cool.

[darylcrisp]

i had youtube going last night and this video popped up, had watched/heard it while i was doing something, but last night at that 2 min mark, Mikes hands caught my attention. i rarely see someone with his style of efficient movement. its captivating when you see a player with this skill level.

d

[MissingString]

Thanks for posting this Daryl, That is some awesome pickin' for sure ... the huge Marshall head and cab behind Mr. Compton gives me a good laugh. I might have to buy me some overalls!

[Demetrius]

I’m glad someone else caught this and posted it. I agree I’ve watched this video over and over again and that particular spot is my absolute favorite. I have no idea how he does that so smoothly and I don’t think his action is even low but when he plays like that it makes it look like his strings are flush to the frets.

[Mark Wilson]

Thats pure light touch right there. Hard to glide around that easily fretting as hard as I tend to do. It's top of my list to play with lighter touch.

[jab]

hmm, after watching that I think I'll take up gardening. Been playing for over ten years and not sure I could even chop along to those guys.

[loess]

Mike Seeger was another one of those folks who could get around on a mandolin as if the strings were buttered. This entire film ("Homemade American Music") from 1980 is a treasure, but take a look at the tune and commentary beginning at 30m30s:

http://www.folkstreams.net/film-detail.php?id=153

[LadysSolo]

The best part of the video was all three looked to be having a great time! Made it as fun to watch as it apparently was to play!

[Doc Ivory]

He's got his fingers way low to the strings, no wasted movement what-so-ever.
Sierra is still pretty dang good as well.

[gtani7]

Also, he's playing right over that unscooped Florida, no pick click

[G7MOF]

The action on that mandolin must be set up to perfection.

[Bob Buckingham]

Sierra's love of inversions sure comes out in that video too.

[EvanElk]

Fun watching the boys shake their heads in awe of Sierra's last solo. Inspiring video, thanks for posting

[Don Grieser]

I heard someone describe Roland White's left hand like this: "Looks like a varmit crawling around on the fretboard." I think Compton's left hand fits that description too.

Casey Campbell's playing is tasty too.

[Bernie Daniel]

...I.Casey Campbell's playing is tasty too.

I'm glad this thread was started - I've long felt that Mike Compton was the most fluid mandolin picker ever -- it is like there is liquid teflon between his finger tips and the strings. This is a good example of it but there are many others on YouYube to look at.

And Plus One on Casey! Of the three pickers here I thought Mike sounded the most "Monroe-like" and Casey had the best improvisations that still managed to hand on to the original tune. As usual I thought Sierra Hull gave a very impressive and "notefull" presentation but her work always seems to lack "soul" -- at least to my ear? (So sue me! I thought exactly the same about Tony Rice when he used to go off into the stratosphere on his breaks). She gets some great tone out of the Gibson though?

[Br1ck]

That was maybe the most impressive mandolin from Mike Compton I think I might have ever seen.No wasted motion at all.

[Charles E.]

The only other mandolin player that (I think) has that much efficiency, is Tim O'brian. You hear the notes and look at his fingers and wonder how it is done.

Great post.