Not entirely sure if this is the best topic to post under, but I was curious to know if anyone out there can play the mandolin. I've got one of my own, and since it has the same strings and tuning as a violin, which I play regularly, I just transpose songs from the latter to the former. I've always loved both instruments, and thought it necessary to my musical survival to get at least one of each. The mandolin's electric, but I don't have an amp - still has a wonderful sound, though. Anyway, just wanted to know if there were any mandolin players out there.

My best friend plays the Mandolin, but then again, she plays about seventeen or eighteen instruments. Not exactly your average citizen. If you had any questions, I could try to pass them along, but we don't talk shop much about music anymore since I left the conservatory.

Do you ever use your many and varied musical talents in ritual?

My husband plays the mandolin, along with guitar, banjo. Â*

Between him and my youngest son they play just about anything Â*with strings, including the violin, but not the viola. Â*Kevin, (the husband) makes many of his instruments, his masterpiece is a hand turned banjo, really beautiful. He made me the most amazing tone drum this weekend. Â*He's carving a triple moon into the side and then all it will need is a final sand and varnish.

How long have you been playing? Â*Do you have a specific style you prefer? Â*Were you trained by lessons or just by ear?

I have musical aspirations but no talent and I really envy people who can play an instrument with their heart and soul. I feel mechanical when I drum some times unless I have some liquid rythm in my gut.
The Violin is absolutely hands down my favorite stringed instrument when played in gypsy fashion with the mandolin a close second followed by the cello.
Keep it up Adamh! And rock on.....

I've never thought about that, Artemis, using music in ritual. At least, not playing music in ritual. Sounds like a plan though! I'll see if I can't do a little something next time around... Thanks for the suggestion!

Deda, I've been playing the violin since 6th grade, and I'm a junior in high school now, so... six years? I got my mandolin about, oh I don't know, four or so years ago? So not quite as long, and I don't play it as much, but it's not difficult to just "copy" songs from fiddle to mandolin and vice-versa. So I got violin lessons professionally, but mandolin's by ear. Far as style goes, I love celtic music. That's probably my number one choice. That and Enya-type tunes.

Go for it. You can use music in so many parts of ritual...opening/attunement, or closing/celebratory, and of course, there's always the meditation of the mysteries, or for raising of energy, both of which happen somewhere in between.

I love doing ritual in "layers"; something for the head and heart, of course, but what about something kinestetic, or auditory? Get all the senses involved and rock on.