For those of you who own both mandolin and guitar, which gets the most playing time?

Interesting question.
I am NOT a real Mando player. Just have fun with it. And I am a much better guitar player than I suppose I will ever be on the Mando.

At home, the guitars gets most all of the play time. I don't really practice the Mando like I should. But when I go out to jams etc I end up getting asked to play the Mando much more often.

I think it's just that it's "different" and adds something to the others playing.

So it seems to depend on the situation for me.

quote:

Originally posted by El Jefe:
For those of you who own both mandolin and guitar, which gets the most playing time?

YES. Definitely.

guitar, lately. it depends on what music has my interest at the moment. i agree with rickS: if you're playing in a group, there are always too many guitar players... mando skills are a real bonus.

Both demand my time. I'm really working hard trying to get good at basic monroe style playing on the mando. Of course, one of my favorite pastimes is to sit and pick whilst watching an old movie. The wife has forbid mandolin in the bedroom where we watch so pickin and watching are with the guitar.

My mandolin is pulling ahead in the battle for lap time, but it is the one I want to improve my skills on the most.

Larry, I really need to improve my mando pickin for sure. but for some reason I have yet to be able to get "serious" about it. I think if I had a decent teacher to go to for a while that would help.

But for now I'll just be a half A Mando picker and a much better geetar picker.

RickS, I am luck to live 35 minutes from South Plains College where I attend Camp Bluegrass every July. (1 week).

Joe Carr, Steve Smith, Gerald Jones and Roland White have been the instructors. Even though Joe's health is declining, I watched him teach 3 songs in a 1 hour workshop. Nate Lee is also teaching this year.

http://www.campbluegrass.com/

Have had a mando in my arsenal for 6 years, would pick it up for a bit, then back in the closet. Then one day vowed to become better, to put in the time. So two years later and with an MF en force, I am on my way. I don't actually split my time daily or weekly, it seems that I am not good at multi tasking, so I surge on the mando for several months (keep guitar just up to snuff), then switch.

On mando I am learning the beauty of double stops and when to use them, especially in jams where I don;t know the song. And I continue learning fiddle tunes, latest is Highland Rim, very fun to play.

Next is to practice lead melodies for songs in E and B; very common keys around here.

I feel that I am still at novice level because the more I learn, I realize the more there is to learn.

I'll bet five years before I start patting myself on the back at all.

Years ago when I was touring for a living it was (almost) only mandolin. The same was true when I traded a little PEAVY amp for a $500 El Degas plywood mandolin. That was my first mandolin. These days, my Monteleone stays in it's little 'Hidie Hole' and only gets played for lessons and a Sunday afternoon jam that I host.(by the way, the Monty was my second mandolin. From a plywood El Degas to a Monteleone. What a leap that was eh?) I am now looking for another mandolin that I won't mind leaving out in plain view in my shop. One that I won't care if it gets stolen. As such, now I'm playing my D2H almost all the time and hugely enjoying it....Kerry K

I now take a mando with me on business trips that a less than 3 days; If its more than 3 days a guitar goes with,sometimes both for longer stays. I started with a MK and after 6 monthes got an MT wide neck. The last trip out of town I took an 815 E-man oval. The mando comes and goes. Hear a cool tune, take the mando an work up the chops for that tune. I love the (chop) on the beat for singing.... getting the phrasing down. phil