What are Taters??? /// How to Play Fiddle Tune Kickoffs on the Mandolin

[@tophatbanjo]

Where the name comes from is the counting chant that kids like me and all my friends in the South and in the 1960s, which we called 'doing the taters' or just 'taters.' We would fist up our hand and tap them top to bottom while going "One potato two potatoes three potatoes four." On the banjo--and I guess on other instruments, although I myself generally cannot hear it clearly unless it's played on the banjo--this former counting chant can be "sung" as you're playing the potatoes intro as "One potato two, one potato two, one potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four and...." and then you have the first note of the melody.

[@youngtoonfish6891]

Thanks for this little lesson! Really useful if you struggle with intros like I do 😅😄

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Glad you liked it!

[@chevygurl100]

Can you do mandolin licks in bflat please love your videos they made me a better player

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Good idea!

[@skoffco]

Juggling potatoes above your mandolin. Wow!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

I missed my true calling when I declined that call to join the circus...

[@reckonimokie123]

Would you do someone taters on some Gospel tunes? Thx

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Hi Teresa! These taters are typically only used on instrumental tunes.