I thought it might be cool if we talked a little about what rock songs we like to play on mandolin. Since the mandolin does not have a defined role in rock the way it does in bluegrass, I thought it would be interesting to talk about what roles we assume, what songs we play, and how we adapt them to mandolin (as mandolin is an underused instrument in rock genres). I will start with a quick, simple example.
I do an acoustic version of Casey Jones (Grateful Dead) where my friend plays rhythm (simple, basic chords)and I play a lead line over it. Neither of us sing well so I play the entire melody line, verse and chorus over his strummed chords. I am, in effect, assuming the role of lead vocalist. Its fun and easily recognizable. I actually do the same thing with Ripple.
So, what do you do? Do you play melody lines like that, do you strum or chop chords, or do you play a counter-melody? I am sure most players do all of the above (although not, perhaps, in the dame song). Where and how do you fit the mandolin into rock songs?
If this topic is of interest, I have other examples; I spend alot of time listening to keyboard players and try to mimic what they do and fill the same sort of role.
Northfield Artist Series F5 (2 bar, Adirondack)
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