Paul Roberts - Posted - 08/25/2013:  10:30:53

The frog is back with his friend. A new version of "Leap Frog." Hope you enjoy.

Banjo Crazy PauL

Leap Frog - mandocello with cello banjo

JanetB - Posted - 08/25/2013:  13:19:02

I enjoy!

Spoekenkieker - Posted - 08/25/2013:  15:27:24

Thank you, I also enjoy this :-)

Greetings, Tom

Patrick P. - Posted - 08/26/2013:  01:45:57

I also enjoy !

SCclawman - Posted - 08/26/2013:  08:04:23

very cool tune paul. very creative and moving! nice combinations of instruments!

Paul Roberts - Posted - 08/26/2013:  11:49:22

quote:

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Originally posted by SCclawman

 

very cool tune paul. very creative and moving! nice combinations of instruments!

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Folks, thank you for the nice responses. I'm gratified to hear some of you enjoyed the piece.

SCclawman, your feedback and supportive comments are very much appreciated. 

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 08/26/2013:  12:31:42

Really nice interweaving of the two instruments. Lovely piece as well.

I'm guessing that the mandocello is the "lead" instrument, and the cello banjo is playing a lower line weaving in and out. Or am I wrong about that?

Do these two instruments have the same range, or is one of them set in a higher range than the other?

Paul Roberts - Posted - 08/26/2013:  12:58:40

quote:

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Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg

 

Really nice interweaving of the two instruments. Lovely piece as well.

I'm guessing that the mandocello is the "lead" instrument, and the cello banjo is playing a lower line weaving in and out. Or am I wrong about that?

Do these two instruments have the same range, or is one of them set in a higher range than the other?

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Hi Marc. Thanks for your response. I'm glad you liked it. You're right, the mandocello is leading. The cello banjo is overdubbed in the same range with a slightly trimmed part. The cross-picking is just the mandocello.

Both instruments are tuned like a cello, with the 4th up to a D so it's an octave below the 2nd string, giving it that low drone. Cello tuning is CGDA. Both instruments are tuned DGDA. Basically I'm using the cello banjo to double-track the main line of the melody being carried by the mandocello, in the same octave. The result is an indistinguishable blending of the two instruments; they merge so completely that I can't pull them apart when I listen to it, except when I hear the cross-picking on the mandocello.

I don't think I mentioned (and I'm too lazy to go back and check) that I've got the mandocello set up with nylon strings. It was made for steel strings but, for me, the sound was always too boomy until I just recently went to nylon. It's a 5-course cittern made by Michael Hubbert in 1984. Now it's a 4-course mandocello, all dressed-up in nylon - much easier to play and a much sweeter sound than it had with metal.    

Edited by - Paul Roberts on 08/26/2013 13:02:24

Michael Hubbert mandocello

jimh269b - Posted - 08/26/2013:  19:34:41

gosh paul you got it buddy