Establishing Mandolin Chopping/Rhythm Techniques

[@GinaInCA]

Best single explanation of the chop that I've ever seen!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

You are very kind! It is a difficult concept, though it sounds like it should be very easy. I am glad you got something out of the video. Also, I appreciate your comment!

[@GinaInCA]

@@ShawnBrockMusic Well, if one has been practicing it with the wrong concept in mind, no amount of practice will produce the right effect. But this really seems to explain the technique of HOW to properly produce the sound, rather than just showing what the chop should sound like.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@GinaInCA I always felt like there were many really good players who would avoid describing exactly how they do something, as if holding such a trade secret might be beneficial. The way I see it, I may not be much, but I will try to explain to someone as best as I can how I do things, as I hope my passion for music can inspire others to continue honing their craft. Then, I can come back and learn something from them lol, and thus I will have the opportunity to become better through the information of others.

[@GinaInCA]

@@ShawnBrockMusic The single most important -- and new to me -- thing in the lesson was your demonstration of the LH-RH sequencing. Almost all other lessons stress things like not letting the strings ring, emphasizing the bass strings, and lifting the all the fingers at the same time. And those things alone sort-of produce the woofing effect. But the moment I tried starting with the LH and releasing just before the stroke, I heard my first real chop. Unfortunately, now I need to almost re-learn my chop because my coordination is off from the way I was doing it before.

[@FindingAlabama]

New sub👍🏻

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@FindingAlabama just don’t give up on me, we need to have more mandolin videos, and I plan on starting to do that.

[@redlinemando]

That's some excellent advice from a great musician!!!!!!! There's only one thing I'd like to add to that. Stay away from any old campers in Cabot, Arkansas. We might have left a very bad memento (of spicy burritos) to bake for a few days.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Lol you're a site Son... Can't take you anywhere! :) Give me a holler some time... I miss you old buddy!

[@redlinemando]

@@ShawnBrockMusic I miss you too!!!! We need to get together sometime!!!! I'm going to try to get back to picking this coming year. Maybe get back up to snuff on banjo too. I've been recording some more, but hardly played any shows at all this year. I expect it's been similar for you. I'm ready for 2020 to move on out!!!!!!! Give me a shout on FB & I'll send you some tracks I've been working on. They're not perfect by any means, but they're good enough to scare crows out of the cornfield. lol

[@karolinethefreefolks9037]

Thank you so much for this great explanation ! :D

[@robertshorthill6836]

I was a member of an old time fiddler group. I had to quit because of a disagreement with the "officers" over who could play on stage. They required at least one fiddler and one guitar player. I must say I play mandolin fiddle tunes. I seek out old, obscure and catchy / interesting tunes to learn. My trouble is there are no fiddlers or guitar players that want to learn some or even a few of these tunes. I refuse to play Cluck Old Hen, Old Joe Clark and Red Wing at every jam. Great tunes, no doubt, but not all the time. While on stage with a new tune nobody knew and with 3 or 4 fiddlers and 6 or 7 guitar players banging chords, the mandolin was not being represented as a solo, stand alone instrument. It had to be overpowered by the fiddlers that didn't know the tune. I got to where I refused to participate, even with Cluck Old Hen. So I save the gas to travell and pretty much dropped out, sadly. I will busk during the summer time in a tourist town an hour away for people that appreciate "fiddle" music played on a mandolin with one guitar player, if one shows up.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

I will tell you, I have done this stuff professionally since back in the mid-90s, and I have been in the situation you described many times, worked for good and bad players, people with good and bad attitudes, and so on. I was listening to an interview the other day, featuring the guitarist Pete Anderson, and they asked him what advice he would give anyone who is starting out, or that he wish he had known when he was starting. he said that he never would have entered into any partnerships, but rather would have always ran things his own way. That is pretty much the truth, in my experience. Music is one of those things that should be based on equality, and everyone in an ensemble having a say, but it rarely works that way. I don’t regret any job I have ever had, but…

[@KatinaHayter-oi3uf]

Thanks man. I still cant chop worth sh-t. but i know a bird didn't always sing. Lol. Thanks.

[@f5mando]

Bless you for doing this, Shawn. So many will find this material invaluable. You're a Giant Heart. Peace and Love

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Bless you my friend, my only hope is that people will get something out of all of this. I sure appreciate your kindness, and thank you for watching.

[@michaelplumley7744]

Solid advice

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Man I really appreciate you taking the time to watch!

[@chrismotreble]

Extremely helpful! Thanks man. Very new mandolin player up here in Canada.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Man I’m glad you got something out of it! You have to watch the mandolin, it’s dangerously addictive lol.

[@djba]

Thanks for this helpful video. I am a beginner and am able to stretch to make the classic 4 finger G chord but I guess I need to work on it ringing out before I “chop” it off. Right now it sounds like a chop all the time.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

That’s a rough one man, it’s hard at first to use all four fingers, in such an odd shape. For ringing out, try an alteration, where you only use your pinky and ring finger, and don’t plant your first and second finger, then reverse the task and only use your first and second fingers, without your pinky and ring finger on the fingerboard. then try your first, second and third fingers together without the pinky, and eventually your hand will learn just how much distance your fingers need to arc to make things comfortable and allow them to ring out.

[@luvbgrass]

I have only been playing a couple of years. I know my chop isn't right, but didn't know what to do to fix it. I think this is exactly what i needed to maybe get my chop straightened out. I do really appreciate your time for doing this. Pray I can get it down right. I love a good mandolin chop. Thanks, EE

[@absoluteelectricandmainten7432]

This is SO helpful. Thank you very much for sharing this video. BTW. Very nice sounding, and looking, Click mandolin! Butch does great work.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Glad to do it my friend!

[@Shotzeethegamer]

Really pretty mando there. Would appreciate seeing some chop chord right hand patterns you like.

[@clawhammer704]

Do a video on how to play Bill Monroes Rawhide.....thank you so much ..

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Sure thing; good idea!

[@gibby6904]

Great lesson Shawn!

[@ssgiddyup]

Wonderful lesson!

[@Hajonious]

I’ve been looking for something to explain this to me clearly for 2 years. Thank you.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Man I sure appreciate you watching, and I am glad this helped you out! I had been hoping to do more mandolin videos, and maybe I will get back into that soon.

[@andyszpekman5205]

This is a really insightful lesson. Thank you!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Thanks for watching Andy; I hope you found it at least somewhat helpful.

[@tanyet]

Does that mandolin sound as deep and woody in person? Sounds great. I’ve been trying to figure out which builder I want for my new mandolin and I’m leaning toward the Silverangel. Love the deep, low-end tone. Almost oval hole-like.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

It is definitely that deep; both of my Butch Click mandolins are very fat and powerful. I prefer that round type tone myself, and have little use for something that is bright and piercing. I have owned a few SA mandos in my time, and old Ken can build something that has as deep of a tone as anyone I have ever witnessed.