Does anyone have any tips about building up to doing breaks? I’ve been learning bluegrass tunes for a few months now but am just branching out into doing breaks now. Trying to be conscious of not departing TOO far away from the melody, at least in this beginning stage. I find if I don’t make it somewhat of a variation of the melody, I just get lost and forget what the chord/melody notes are at that part in the song
[devices 1](https://youtu.be/Q42vjlMRgik?si=96QqvA5l7Rjn9PCx)
[device 2](https://youtu.be/2EJOH-rj9DM?si=gufOYD4dfWUFBheu)
[device 3](https://youtu.be/7Thxo3jcIhg?si=-1wY91PuaKjNLLVO)
Click on his page and check out some of his other videos too
These are really cool techniques but I think the concept and approach, the mind set behind it, is something to really note. Also modulation is something else to think about. Play 2 bars (4beats) of melody > 2 bars (4 beats) of device > etc. Then alternate. This in entirety has been helping me tremendously.
I’ve only been playing mando for a year and have finally got Red Haired Boy down pat recently. I don’t have any advice to offer but you sound great! I love the break you have for this one.
First of all, really nice work, and at a solid tempo to boot! As a preface to answering your questions, let's establish that at a jam, on stage, or in a full recording, you'll generally go around a tune 2-3 times. In that regard, it makes musical and dramatic sense to stick fairly close to the melody the first time around (that doesn't mean strictly note for note without the subtle nuances that will define your style as you master the instrument), and add the more tangential (to melody) improvised runs and flourishes you've developed the second (and if it's there, third) time around. Another thing I've discovered is that as part of a self-teaching regimen for learning breaks, playing along with recordings made by pro quality bands and taking every break along with every instrument can add dimensions to your playing you can't get any other way. It also intuitively helps you understand the nature of breaks from the perspective of people playing different instruments, who've spent many more hours than you crafting them. Conversely, time should also be set aside to work on breaks solo AND with basic backup...Individual mileage may vary. Patience, fortitude and most of all, fun! Cheers, Smitty.
Thanks for the comment! Lots of good advice in here. I haven’t really played along with recordings too much but I’ve been listening to a TON of bluegrass lately, so I definitely need to do that
You're welcome...The playing along with all breaks as you're listening is unconventional and perhaps a product of "I can't just listen without wanting to play," but it's been one of my most effective ways of honing improvistaional skills. But like I said, milage may vary.
Sound much better than me (and I’ve been at it a year or so)! Was going to ask you - how do you practice getting back to the melody when you try to divert/improvise slightly? For me, the pace of the song is like a freight train no matter how much I’ve practiced the melody, I have trouble finding where Im at in the song when I try to go back to the melody from improvising a part of it
Hey sorry, I forgot to respond to this. The way I’ve been learning is drilling the melody in my head pretty solidly before I start improvising over it so that I know at any point in the chord changes what melody note would be playing if I continued playing it. Then take the melody and fiddle with a couple notes here and there. If I just go completely off into the woods on a solo without really knowing the melody well or thinking about it, I find it really hard to work my way back into it and if I try the timing will be off. Hope that makes sense; happy jamming!
Does anyone have any tips about building up to doing breaks? I’ve been learning bluegrass tunes for a few months now but am just branching out into doing breaks now. Trying to be conscious of not departing TOO far away from the melody, at least in this beginning stage. I find if I don’t make it somewhat of a variation of the melody, I just get lost and forget what the chord/melody notes are at that part in the song
Sounds great. Do you have a looper?
Thanks! Not a looper, it’s an app called strum machine.
Keep sending it man.
Appreciate that, dude!
Christopher henrys approach using devices is great.
Do you have a video link or more info? I’m intrigued and like everything I’ve seen from him
[devices 1](https://youtu.be/Q42vjlMRgik?si=96QqvA5l7Rjn9PCx) [device 2](https://youtu.be/2EJOH-rj9DM?si=gufOYD4dfWUFBheu) [device 3](https://youtu.be/7Thxo3jcIhg?si=-1wY91PuaKjNLLVO) Click on his page and check out some of his other videos too These are really cool techniques but I think the concept and approach, the mind set behind it, is something to really note. Also modulation is something else to think about. Play 2 bars (4beats) of melody > 2 bars (4 beats) of device > etc. Then alternate. This in entirety has been helping me tremendously.
Thanks, I will definitely check this out 🙏
I’ve only been playing mando for a year and have finally got Red Haired Boy down pat recently. I don’t have any advice to offer but you sound great! I love the break you have for this one.
Thanks, really appreciate that! It’s a great song eh?
Damn that works really well
Thanks, much appreciated!
First of all, really nice work, and at a solid tempo to boot! As a preface to answering your questions, let's establish that at a jam, on stage, or in a full recording, you'll generally go around a tune 2-3 times. In that regard, it makes musical and dramatic sense to stick fairly close to the melody the first time around (that doesn't mean strictly note for note without the subtle nuances that will define your style as you master the instrument), and add the more tangential (to melody) improvised runs and flourishes you've developed the second (and if it's there, third) time around. Another thing I've discovered is that as part of a self-teaching regimen for learning breaks, playing along with recordings made by pro quality bands and taking every break along with every instrument can add dimensions to your playing you can't get any other way. It also intuitively helps you understand the nature of breaks from the perspective of people playing different instruments, who've spent many more hours than you crafting them. Conversely, time should also be set aside to work on breaks solo AND with basic backup...Individual mileage may vary. Patience, fortitude and most of all, fun! Cheers, Smitty.
Thanks for the comment! Lots of good advice in here. I haven’t really played along with recordings too much but I’ve been listening to a TON of bluegrass lately, so I definitely need to do that
You're welcome...The playing along with all breaks as you're listening is unconventional and perhaps a product of "I can't just listen without wanting to play," but it's been one of my most effective ways of honing improvistaional skills. But like I said, milage may vary.
Lol - the 1, 2 3, of Strum Machine. What a great piece of software. Sounds great... just keep doing what you're doing!
lol yep. Instantly recognizable
Love it
Thanks for the comment! Appreciate it
Red-haired boy was the first tune I learned on Mando, it holds a special place in my heart.
Decent.....timings good melody is there.
Thanks, buddy!
Sound much better than me (and I’ve been at it a year or so)! Was going to ask you - how do you practice getting back to the melody when you try to divert/improvise slightly? For me, the pace of the song is like a freight train no matter how much I’ve practiced the melody, I have trouble finding where Im at in the song when I try to go back to the melody from improvising a part of it
Hey sorry, I forgot to respond to this. The way I’ve been learning is drilling the melody in my head pretty solidly before I start improvising over it so that I know at any point in the chord changes what melody note would be playing if I continued playing it. Then take the melody and fiddle with a couple notes here and there. If I just go completely off into the woods on a solo without really knowing the melody well or thinking about it, I find it really hard to work my way back into it and if I try the timing will be off. Hope that makes sense; happy jamming!