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I've had a mandolin hanging on my wall for 30 years. A few months ago, I decided it was time to learn to play it. I changed the strings (for the first time). And started trying to figure it out. I ended up buying a new mandolin. Setting that up was an education. I ended up "scooping" the Florida extension (that was a bit scary), sanding and reseating the bridge and filing down the nut slots. (Still working on it. Slowly) I thought it was time to record something. So...my first mandolin recording... Somewhere between rambling instrumental and just a bunch of noodling. Warts and all. Just stretching a bit... At the 2 minute mark, I thought... that was enough mandolin for anyone to put up with, so I switched to guitar to finish it out.. MANDO BOSSA The BIAB guys: RealTracks in style: ~464:Bass, Acoustic, Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in style: ~470:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in style: 708:Guitar, Nylon-Elec, Rhythm Bossa Ev 140 RealTracks in song: ~1664:Guitar, Electric, SoloAccompaniment Bossa Ev 140 RealDrums in style:BossaBrushes: a: Sidestick Brushes b: Sidestick, Ride Me: mandolin (pictured) lead guitar (PRS DGT SE - the gold top next to the mandolin - thru S-gear amp sim) Hope you enjoy (or can at least tolerate) the listen. Have at it. fj
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Floyd,
Now that was cool and different. I really like the sound of the mandolin with these tracks - so light & nimble. The switch over to the guitar works completely - it's a great arrangement.
Your playing is great. Amazing actually for only a few months.
Very much enjoyed!
Bob
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The mandolin sounds good (very beautiful) and the accompaniment is well chosen. It sounds like an open session.
Laurent
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Bravo Floyd.
I'm envious of your talent and determination.
I always wanted to learn fiddle but there is no chance in this life of me taking up that challenge now.
A pal of mine plays mandolin with me and it certainly adds to my guitar thumping. Love that sound.
Vic
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Wow, that was great for a noob! It wasn't Marty Stuart, but it was very musical. The whole thing sounded good, but I especially was surprised how good the guitar and mando sounded together. Another color in your aural palette, hope we hear it on your songs in the future!
Windows 11, Intel Core I5 10400, 16 gig ram, Scarlett 2i2, Sony Acid Music Studio 10, BIAB 2020 UltraPlus Pak
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Hi Floyd! Mandolin and bossa is a delightfully pleasing combination you’ve used. I reckon the mandolin is a much underused instrument outside of bluegrass, and yours is no exception. I love the interplay between the mandolin and and your lead guitar towards the end of the piece. A song that has novel but critical use of a mandolin is Chris Cornell’s (ex Soundgarden) Nearly forgot my broken heart A few years ago, I bought myself a Fender A-style mandolin with built in pickup - it’s action was set much higher than I could use and felt like fingering granite - so like you, I sanded back the base of the nut and lowered the bridge so get the action height I could play. But I digress. Love this piece Floyd! Andrew
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Very cool, Floyd. Nice playing on the little guy! Your lines are very clean and fluid--not so easy for a beginner on that TINY fretboard! You're quite gifted for sure. The transition to the electric guitar works really well, and I love the gnarlier tone that you've dialed in. BiaB does nice tracks in this genre, and you've put together a very pleasurable backing track. Have never equated Bossa = Floyd previously, but that's changed completely now of course. Excellent stuff! My own mandolin journey didn't end nearly as musically. 
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
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Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Hi Floyd,
I'm very impressed by your musical journey over the last couple of years, first with the piano, then the lead guitar, and now this! Sounds good to me, nice lines, and nice transition to the guitar. Guitar sounds great, nice tone, good lines.
Have you explored any of the bonus preset packs that you can get for S-Gear? Some are not usable (for my music) but some are pretty good.
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Like a Samurai making his katana, you put your heart and soul into fashioning your mandolin. Your soul now comes out in its sound. Glad you saved some of that boundless soul for the guitar ending. Cool band, too.
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Hi Floyd,
Everyone here is talking about your mandolin, of course, but I just want to say that this bossanova track is very beautiful in itself. Great tempo, good band, and a really nice melody.
I think you would say about this: "You made good use of Biab," but here that melody is really yours. I did miss your vocals a bit...
The mandolin was a very creative find. The South Americans use it a bit less. You had to put a lot of effort into getting the sound out of it, but I must say, you succeeded well.
Is it hanging on your wall again? Or do you have "wild" plans for it?
Hans
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I'm not a big fan of Mandolins, but at least it's not a Banjo! But: At the 2 minute mark, I thought... that was enough mandolin for anyone to put up with, so I switched to guitar to finish it out.. That's a good choice  Actually, as far as I can tell, you play the Mandolin pretty well, considering how recently you started, and I wouldn't have thought it would really fit this genre, but it works quite well and the melody is really nice. Personally, I prefer the overall feel of the song when the piano isn't playing, it sounds less cluttered and clearer that way. But for a first Mandolin outing, the result is pretty good ![[Linked Image - Only viewable when logged in]](https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/images/icons/default/thumbs_up.gif)
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Hi, floyd jane. An enjoyable bit of music. A mandolin isn't typically heard with that style, but it works!
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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Floyd,
Now that was cool and different. I really like the sound of the mandolin with these tracks - so light & nimble. The switch over to the guitar works completely - it's a great arrangement.
Your playing is great. Amazing actually for only a few months.
Very much enjoyed!
Bob Really appreciate that, Bob... The mandolin sounds good (very beautiful) and the accompaniment is well chosen. It sounds like an open session.
Laurent Thanks, Laurent...
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It's not a case of having tolerate the listen Floyd. That's a really nice tune and use of the Mandolin. Oh, and then there's the interplay with the electric guitar, great change up.
Enjoyed it immensely.
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Hi floyd.
This is EXCELLENT! I love what you've created. I always love the feeling of relaxation, and the vibrant images of sunshine, some kind of alcoholic drink with an umbrella sticking out of it, and a Brazilian beach filled with people in swimming gear that always appear in my mind whenever I hear a bossanova. (I think I must have listened to too much of "The Girl From Ipanema" in my early years.) This is such a satisfying musical journey. Your sense of rhythm, melody and arrangement really shine at all times.
--Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Floyd you are a man of many talents. I think you could master any instrument you wanted to master.
Great mandolin chops.
Excellent job.
PS I have a couple of >100 year old mandolins hanging on my wall; my uncle willed them to me. I also have a new mandolin hanging along side them. You gave me inspiration to attempt playing it again. I hope the frets are wider!
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
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COOL...a woody sound and you skipped the obvious mando tropes so extra points.
I enjoyed and your stretching is streets n lanes ahead of my rudimentary mandolin playing - so bad that I've avoided it for a decade.
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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First there was Mambo Jambo.
Music changed.
Then came Mando Jambo.
The world changed even more.
I can no longer keep up.
But I'm happy as hell to see that things are finally changing and heading in the right direction.
Good picking there buddy.
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A hidden talent, or maybe not since you seem to master all things musical, so why not the mandolin.
Had to chuckle over the '2 minute's' enough remark:)
Keep stretching.
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Bravo Floyd.
I'm envious of your talent and determination.
I always wanted to learn fiddle but there is no chance in this life of me taking up that challenge now.
A pal of mine plays mandolin with me and it certainly adds to my guitar thumping. Love that sound.
Vic Thanks, Vic... Wow, that was great for a noob! It wasn't Marty Stuart, but it was very musical. The whole thing sounded good, but I especially was surprised how good the guitar and mando sounded together. Another color in your aural palette, hope we hear it on your songs in the future! Thanks, Rob...
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