Re: Playing Slow Is Hard
Playing slow does require doing something other than slinging a lot of notes around, so you lose the ability to impress listeners that way. You have to rely on your talent, which may be daunting for those who have relied too heavily on their high notes per minute ratio. Thus exposed, one searches for other methods.
It's difficult to play single notes in this context without sounding overly plinky. That's why the most common approach is tremolo. This doesn't work in all situations, and also tempts one toward schmaltziness or corniness. (I tend toward ironic corniness, which often becomes a kind of in-joke for my bandmates, and probably does not translate to the audience, so I have to be careful not to overdo it.) Another approach is cross-picking or arpeggiating chords. An occasional bent note provides some variety, but you can't build a whole solo that way. But you can put one together using all these methods, plus whatever else I've temporarily forgotten. So, yes, it is hard, but not impossible - plus look at all these ways to play that you often don't get a chance to use!
But that's just my opinion. I could be wrong. - Dennis Miller
Furthering Mandolin Consciousness
Finders Keepers, my duo with the astoundingly talented and versatile Patti Rothberg. Our EP is finally done, and available! PM me, while they last!
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