I'm now a number of weeks into playing mandolin (after other instruments), and I have a selection of method and exercise books recommended by the Forum - thanks for that, they're great. One thing I've noticed is that there does appear to be a leaning towards NVNVNV... (down up down up down up...) being the default picking pattern recommended for quavers and shorter notes, when there isn't an obvious reason for using something different. However I find myself often starting tunes (the first full bar note, not just lead-ins) on an up pick stroke, and starting tricky groups of notes or syncopations on an Up.
So - I understand that at least some classical mandolinists aim to play a lighter stroke on the Up, or to hit just one string on an up stroke. Is the Up stroke inevitably lighter sounding, or are there other good reasons to revert to NVNVNV when there isn't an obvious reason to play something else?
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