Ah, the chop chord. Took me months to make it sound right and be able to land it on the change back to the one. And I'm still not all that fast at it. In the meantime I learned a bunch of these chords and still use them. Thanks again for all the insight.
Great topic! That's the way I play A & G chop chords, works great! Left wrist injury makes the traditional "big" chop chords pretty uncomfortable for me, but these alternate shapes are no problem, can chop for HOURS!
Thank you this helped some.I hate this chop chord. If I could find It I think I'd shoot it. I don't get how to incorporate this in my playing. Driving me nuts. I can reach it but I cat get how to put down.
Basically playing a busier rhythm pattern at a louder volume. Typically between vocal lines or at the front of a solo. Listen to Tony Rice and Doyle Lawson on any of the Bluegrass Album Band projects. It'd be hard to find a better example that that....
Brad Laird showed the alternative G chop chord on one of his videos. It lacks the 7th fret D note and doesn't allow for the E note to ring out. However, the A chop chord can use that open E note. These little kids that can play this standard G chop just amaze me -- how do they do it with little hands is a mystery to me.
Yep. That E note won't clash with the chord when you play the A chop but you'll need to mute it somehow to keep the sound clean. I think kids just haven't learned how to "over think" what they're doing so the intended result just happens.....
@@waynesworldofmandolin3616 yes, and there are guys like David Benedict and Baron with enviable long fingers that just make me jealous. Now, I watched a vid where there is a young lady that has the disadvantage of missing the tip of her left hand second finger. She tends to avoid using it. Jerry Rosa thought super glueing a thin leather pad to her finger tip would reduce the possible sensitivity to fretting. I can not imagine not having the use of the second diget. A very important item for mandolin chords or noting. Cheers Wayne. Bob
It sure is hard to be motivated when you're mandolin is tough to play like that. I certainly remember that early part of my mandolin journey and dealing with the same issue. Have you tried to lower the action?
What can one do? "Don't worry, be happy"! Outside of the bluegrass band context, the four-finger G chord is useless. 2- and 3-finger chords leave you free to switch faster.
@@waynesworldofmandolin3616 Outside of that context, Wayne. I came from India to the ETSU Bluegrass Program in the last millennium (1999). Learnt that chop in the first semester, but avoided it mostly. Sold that first mandolin in 2003 and became a bass player. Returned to the mandolin in the last decade and figured out tunes from all over the world for solo mandola/mandolin performance. Never again thought of that mutton chop. Happy New Year! 🙂
Like I've said before.....the best common sense approach I have seen.
Thanks for your time. Love the content
Thank you! I have such difficulty with chop chords!
You're welcome! Thx for the comment and for watching WWoM.
I really appreciate your teaching technique and musicianship. Very well done, and very helpful. Thank you!
Glad you like the channel and thx for the comment. More content like this is in our future....
These is really helpful! Thanks!
Great stuff Wayne!!
Ah, the chop chord. Took me months to make it sound right and be able to land it on the change back to the one. And I'm still not all that fast at it. In the meantime I learned a bunch of these chords and still use them. Thanks again for all the insight.
Thank you Austin! More on Chords and Rhythm is coming soon......
Great topic! That's the way I play A & G chop chords, works great! Left wrist injury makes the traditional "big" chop chords pretty uncomfortable for me, but these alternate shapes are no problem, can chop for HOURS!
Glad you like this topic. I plan to follow up on this in the future.....
Good stuff here. I lost the end of my left pinky in a work accident 3 years ago and have been working around the chop chord ever since
Hope this helps and sorry to hear about your finger!!!
Thanks Wayne!! Now that I’m chopping I notice overtones. Please address this sometime
Thx for the comment Donald! I will add that to my list of potential video topics.....
Thank you this helped some.I hate this chop chord. If I could find It I think I'd shoot it. I don't get how to incorporate this in my playing. Driving me nuts. I can reach it but I cat get how to put down.
Thx for the comment Pablo. Check out my video on Bluegrass Chop. That should get you over the hump and moving towards application....
What's a swell?
Basically playing a busier rhythm pattern at a louder volume. Typically between vocal lines or at the front of a solo. Listen to Tony Rice and Doyle Lawson on any of the Bluegrass Album Band projects. It'd be hard to find a better example that that....
Brad Laird showed the alternative G chop chord on one of his videos. It lacks the 7th fret D note and doesn't allow for the E note to ring out. However, the A chop chord can use that open E note. These little kids that can play this standard G chop just amaze me -- how do they do it with little hands is a mystery to me.
Yep. That E note won't clash with the chord when you play the A chop but you'll need to mute it somehow to keep the sound clean. I think kids just haven't learned how to "over think" what they're doing so the intended result just happens.....
Having a long pinky like yours would help
Yep. If you have smaller hands it's tough. Be sure your fingers approach the fretboard at a healthy angle.....
@@waynesworldofmandolin3616 yes, and there are guys like David Benedict and Baron with enviable long fingers that just make me jealous. Now, I watched a vid where there is a young lady that has the disadvantage of missing the tip of her left hand second finger. She tends to avoid using it. Jerry Rosa thought super glueing a thin leather pad to her finger tip would reduce the possible sensitivity to fretting. I can not imagine not having the use of the second diget. A very important item for mandolin chords or noting. Cheers Wayne. Bob
I just want a mandolin where I don’t have to work so hard to get something out of it it’s so hard to play this kind of stuff with junk
It sure is hard to be motivated when you're mandolin is tough to play like that. I certainly remember that early part of my mandolin journey and dealing with the same issue. Have you tried to lower the action?
Yeah I sold my mandolin going to buy a better one do you have any good recommendations for mandolins I could buy in the $1200 range
What can one do? "Don't worry, be happy"! Outside of the bluegrass band context, the four-finger G chord is useless. 2- and 3-finger chords leave you free to switch faster.
Useless?🤔
@@waynesworldofmandolin3616 Outside of that context, Wayne. I came from India to the ETSU Bluegrass Program in the last millennium (1999). Learnt that chop in the first semester, but avoided it mostly. Sold that first mandolin in 2003 and became a bass player. Returned to the mandolin in the last decade and figured out tunes from all over the world for solo mandola/mandolin performance. Never again thought of that mutton chop. Happy New Year! 🙂