I've been playing my mandolin on steroids since dinosaurs roamed the earth, but usual mandolin tuning. I enjoyed this introduction to the GDAD tuning. Years ago, we played in Chicago with Mike Ryan, who used that tuning. And I really loved how he backed up what Margaret and I were singing/playing. Since I usually play guitar in DADGAD, this tuning would not be too hard to figure out. Anyway, glad to have stumbled on to this video. Hope all is well with you all.
Aw, nice that you played with Mike. And so good that you are still up for playing around with tunings (never know what that will unlock). Thanks for stopping by and saying hey!
I think this is one of the best bouzouki lessons I have ever seen! Truly! Slow enough and the explanations of when to use certain things really helped me!
I’m a bit more advanced than an absolute beginner, but I loved this video. Unfortunately I’ve become more of a strummer than a picker. I’ve been practicing up down up down picking on the 4 2 3 1 strings. Waiting for the muscle memory to kick in. Great helpful video. I’ve enjoyed seeing Shannon and you in the greater Boston area over the years. Keep the video’s coming. Tom
Very good one of the best bouzouki lessons nice and slow. Why do the others make it so complicated? I'm looking forward to the next lesson. Please what microphone are you using? Kind Regards, Germany😇
Wish I had a bouzouki to learn & play alone Matt. It doesn't seem as challenging as I had thought!( sign of a good teacher too :) Great introductory lesson! Thanks :)
Elderly Instruments have a Gold Tone BZ-500 Bouzouki & Case $899.99 USD & Trinity College Bouzouki & Case for $929 USD. Ebay have one Black Irish Bouzouki, Solid Wood, Made by Hora, Romana $199.97 you may to take to a luthier to set it up right. I had a Trinity College 20 yr ago from Elderly Instruments they set up their instruments before they sell them. Trinity College was a nice beginner Bouzouki & Gold Tone not bad ever. McNeela Instruments Dublin ,Ireland have Irish bouzouki have 3 different type prices starting $422 to $667. McNeela Instruments have pretty good instruments. I got couple instruments from them Phoenix Concertina & McNeela African Blackwood Flute I'm very Happy with them. I hope this help you & others folks. ps. 10 yrs I went all out and got a custom 10 Strings Irish Cittern P.W.Crump lll 2 yrs ago Nyberg 10 Strings Ziricote Irish Cittern and one being built right now Black Heart Sassafras Nyberg Cittern. There really good books out there like The Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible: Gdae Mandolin Tuning 1,728 Chords by Richards & DVD - Learn to Play the Irish Bouzouki taught by Zan McLeod
I ordered a bouzouki based on playing the mandolin and violin right now (on a basic level). I played guitar and bass years ago.. I imagine the mando and fiddle transfer over to bouzouki easily?
You will have a definite advantage with your mando/fiddle/guitar background. AND no matter the instrument, if you've got the music in your ear/heart, you'll find a way to get it out on the axe!
Until Matt said it I couldn’t tell if it was a bouzouki or an octave mandolin. I shall look for video and sound comparisons. I like that mandolin of Matt sound anyway :) The band Clannad had a nice mandolin sound in the 70s and early 80s. Which top 5 bands of Matt use a mandolin or a bouzouki? I loved that Dé Danann guy with the big moustache(not Johnny Moynihan, the other one)
@@ShannonHeatonMusic Actually watching this video from beginning to end :) Before practicing it set me in the learning and guitaring mindset, often with a cup of coffee.
This is such a mundane question, but I was wondering what strap Matt is using in this video. I just purchased a Trinity College bouzouki and need a good solid strap with pin holes on each end to attach to two strap buttons on either side of the body. I like the idea of the grip a wide strap would offer (maybe with a rougher underside for additional grip)
how would you play the bouzouki in company with guitar? Thinking about getting a bouzouki to add some richness to a church choir that's only using a 6 string guitar
what a great question, Mark! I think you've got it: you can play "in company" with guitar. That might mean matching.. or playing high when guitar is playing low.. or playing more contrapuntal stuff while guitar is chording. Anything that feels like a conversation and that you are not competing with each other or drowning out the tune seems like a good bet!
@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thanks for getting back so quickly! About his shorter instrument, what's the scale of his bouzouki? It sure looks easy and fun to play.
I've been playing my mandolin on steroids since dinosaurs roamed the earth, but usual mandolin tuning. I enjoyed this introduction to the GDAD tuning. Years ago, we played in Chicago with Mike Ryan, who used that tuning. And I really loved how he backed up what Margaret and I were singing/playing. Since I usually play guitar in DADGAD, this tuning would not be too hard to figure out. Anyway, glad to have stumbled on to this video. Hope all is well with you all.
Aw, nice that you played with Mike. And so good that you are still up for playing around with tunings (never know what that will unlock). Thanks for stopping by and saying hey!
I think this is one of the best bouzouki lessons I have ever seen! Truly! Slow enough and the explanations of when to use certain things really helped me!
So, so glad this is helpful, Travis!
Great Lesson
Very good video presentation on Irish Bouzouki (octave mandolin) playing. Looking forward to your workshop in a few weeks.
I’m a bit more advanced than an absolute beginner, but I loved this video. Unfortunately I’ve become more of a strummer than a picker.
I’ve been practicing up down up down picking on the 4 2 3 1 strings. Waiting for the muscle memory to kick in. Great helpful video. I’ve enjoyed seeing Shannon and you in the greater Boston area over the years. Keep the video’s coming. Tom
It will be interesting to see what kind of alchemy you settle on (with the picking/strumming/filigree), Tom! Thanks for the note and kind support.
Very good one of the best bouzouki lessons nice and slow. Why do the others make it so complicated? I'm looking forward to the next lesson. Please what microphone are you using?
Kind Regards, Germany😇
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. The mic is a marvelous Ear Trumpet Myrtle.
Thanks! Happy holidays! 🤶🎅🏻🙂😎
Great tutorial Matt...Carry on Sir
Great to have Matt offering tips on guitar and bouzouki. And I'm glad they can be of use for folks! Thanks for stopping by, Michael.
Those bouzouki lessons seem very instructive for guitar players as well 😺
Thanks Master Matt ;)
Wish I had a bouzouki to learn & play alone Matt. It doesn't seem as challenging as I had thought!( sign of a good teacher too :) Great introductory lesson! Thanks :)
you should get one, they are a blast.
oh, that's nice! Sign of good teacher--and open learner... Maybe someday.
Elderly Instruments have a Gold Tone BZ-500 Bouzouki & Case $899.99 USD & Trinity College Bouzouki & Case for $929 USD. Ebay have one Black Irish Bouzouki, Solid Wood, Made by Hora, Romana $199.97 you may to take to a luthier to set it up right. I had a Trinity College 20 yr ago from Elderly Instruments they set up their instruments before they sell them. Trinity College was a nice beginner Bouzouki & Gold Tone not bad ever.
McNeela Instruments Dublin ,Ireland have Irish bouzouki have 3 different type prices starting $422 to $667. McNeela Instruments have pretty good instruments. I got couple instruments from them Phoenix Concertina & McNeela African Blackwood Flute I'm very Happy with them. I hope this help you & others folks.
ps. 10 yrs I went all out and got a custom 10 Strings Irish Cittern P.W.Crump lll 2 yrs ago Nyberg 10 Strings Ziricote Irish Cittern and one being built right now Black Heart Sassafras Nyberg Cittern. There really good books out there like The Irish Bouzouki Chord Bible: Gdae Mandolin Tuning 1,728 Chords by Richards & DVD - Learn to Play the Irish Bouzouki taught by Zan McLeod
Thank you it was fantastic for someone who has no idea how to play the bouzouki 😊 i’m referring to myself lol
glad you liked it!
yesss!
Nice
ps: that microphone is gorgeous!
Circular and chromy.
Mustn’t be cheap.
I only got a Unidyne Shure, it’s old but has an excellent sound too.
It's a great mic. Ear Trumpet Myrtle. and no, not cheap, but I have spent a LOT of time in front of it over the past 2 years!
I ordered a bouzouki based on playing the mandolin and violin right now (on a basic level). I played guitar and bass years ago.. I imagine the mando and fiddle transfer over to bouzouki easily?
You will have a definite advantage with your mando/fiddle/guitar background. AND no matter the instrument, if you've got the music in your ear/heart, you'll find a way to get it out on the axe!
Until Matt said it I couldn’t tell if it was a bouzouki or an octave mandolin.
I shall look for video and sound comparisons.
I like that mandolin of Matt sound anyway :)
The band Clannad had a nice mandolin sound in the 70s and early 80s.
Which top 5 bands of Matt use a mandolin or a bouzouki?
I loved that Dé Danann guy with the big moustache(not Johnny Moynihan, the other one)
my top five are probably the Bothy Band & Planxty five times. :)
Manus Lunny is great too. I saw him in concert with Andy M Stewart years ago.
Hi Matt and Shannon there is another video next of 6:24 min with almost the same title 🧐
Strange.
Perhaps I could tune my guitar like a bouzouki 😼
wow! Crazy, and amazing.
@@ShannonHeatonMusic Actually watching this video from beginning to end :)
Before practicing it set me in the learning and guitaring mindset, often with a cup of coffee.
This is such a mundane question, but I was wondering what strap Matt is using in this video. I just purchased a Trinity College bouzouki and need a good solid strap with pin holes on each end to attach to two strap buttons on either side of the body. I like the idea of the grip a wide strap would offer (maybe with a rougher underside for additional grip)
I think it's a Levy's leather strap. Yes, the wider strap can be helpful. and Matt has poked extra holes in all his straps to make them shorter.
how would you play the bouzouki in company with guitar? Thinking about getting a bouzouki to add some richness to a church choir that's only using a 6 string guitar
what a great question, Mark! I think you've got it: you can play "in company" with guitar. That might mean matching.. or playing high when guitar is playing low.. or playing more contrapuntal stuff while guitar is chording. Anything that feels like a conversation and that you are not competing with each other or drowning out the tune seems like a good bet!
Hi Matt, can you share the brand name of your octave mandolin please ?
Hey, Paul - It's a Davy Stuart bouzouki. Such a great instrument!
Great video! Quick question: what gauges of strings do you use for each chorus pair?
Thanks for tuning in! Matt's bouzouki is short--so might be different for a larger instrument. But he uses 50, 32, 22, 14.
@@ShannonHeatonMusic Thanks for getting back so quickly! About his shorter instrument, what's the scale of his bouzouki? It sure looks easy and fun to play.
@@jldrumm--Matt plays a Davy Stuart OB Octave Mandolin. I think that means it's a scale length of 25.4"
@@jldrumm I think it's actually a 22" scale.
10:56 "Fingering D minor" lol
har har...