Comments

You can't get any better than Sam Bush. He is a super talent--good pick! BTW he plays the fiddle too! You must see him in a live setting when you get the chance.

Just to keep you guessing--since you are a lefty and you have no experience with guitar etc, you might even try playing left-handed. You might find that your left hand is faster at doing good pick and rythm work, and that your right hand can deal with the fingering more than well enough (especially as there isn't an intonation issue due to the frets)---. I know a lefty  who can play guitar either way, and play either way with the strings the wrong way (that's four different ways to play guitar). It is what we lefties do--defy predconceived notions of correctness! :-)

Now, did you thank the folks at the music store? Thank-yous are a rarity, aren't they

Of course I thanked them! Always!

Bill...I don't know...!

Actually, I'm feeling like it will really help my right hand, and help it for violin playing. Specifically, I'm currently working on Bach Sonata No. 2, and in the final movement, I want to do some of the 32nd notes un-slurred, as Bach indicated. But it's not as fast as I'd like. So I'm thinking, if I can get pickin', and if I can also get a good tremolo (which is rather different than a bow tremolo), this will help.

One of the greatest living bluegrass music players is Ricky Skaggs.  He can take anything with strings on it and make it sound great.  You can see and hear him play  here.

One of the things he said about bluegrass music and spirituality applies just as well to any other genre of music, including classical.  "To minister to someone through music is a wonderful gig." (source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfJJqA8-EkE ) 

 

I need to "second" Ricky Scaggs.

Absolutely amazing.

 

Yeah, I love Ricky Skaggs. I believe that was also Bobby Hicks on fiddle in that video---one of the very best.

Be prepared for your callouses to toughen up, Laurie. Two courses of strings and much higher tension will do that. I knew a mandolin player who had callouses so thick you could see through them!

You could also use this as an opportunity to practice learning by ear! 

 Clever title ;-)  Sounds like fun!

But I don't get the image of the violin turning into a puddle . . . I'm sure your violin isn't the wicked witch.

I look forward to your youtube of Bach on the mandolin.  :-)

Steven-

I'm vicariously excited for your trip! You'll be blogging from the road, right? And of course no cross-USA tour is complete without a visit to the cradle of liberty, the City of Brotherly Love...

No cross-country trip is complete without an artery clogging stop at Graeter's Ice Cream...

Have fun with the mando.  Be careful with the left hand, as the strings tend to be less forgiving.  Have fun!

I second Ann, plus if you pass up a Cheese Cake factory you'll be begging God's forgiveness for a year!

Ricky Scaggs Yes!  I would also add Roy Clark but a couple of people who met Roy in public said his ego was bigger than Texas (sigh) sorry Roy!

 Shucks, aint you got no cotton-pickin' banjo ??