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 May 08, 2006 | Rhythm Guitar/Mandolin
We like to think the mandolin wields untapped potential outside of its conventional ensemble settings. You've heard of the Bluegrass/Folk G-chop chord, a powerful rhythmic pulse or throbbing cue in acoustic environments that provides a subdivision backbeat. Listen to a good R & B rhythm guitarist, especially complex but repetitive background rhythm. It's that same choked, treble-ish sound that can drive the rest of the band, much like a good hihat beat in jazz...
Why not use this approach occasionally to drive a pop or rock band? The mandolin is quite adept at a percussive drive, so by all means, exploit this feature. The trick is in right (and sometimes left) hand muting or choking. A solid downstroke with a series of syncopated muting upstrokes can offer an ensemble a subliminal energy as good as any rhythm guitar.
Get funky...
Posted by Ted at May 8, 2006 05:27 AM
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