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Q:

I have a classical technique question: for long notes in a classical mandolin setting, is the note played as tremolo or it is just strummed once at the beginning of the note and held open for the duration of the note?

Many thanks,
Eric

A:

Hi Eric,

Generally, notes longer than a quarter note call for a tremolo, but this is by no means a hard and fast rule. In slow music, often the effect that is wanted is the beautiful bell-like chords of a mandolin ensemble all playing single pick strokes.

In mandolin family instruments, like violin family instruments, all the “color” in the music is imparted by the right hand (the pick for mandolins and the bow for violins). Examples: you may tremolo fast and loud to impart excitement (especially as you ascend in pitch), fast and soft to convey intensity, not at all for a grave or stately passage, “metallico” or “sul ponto”, near the bridge for a bright metallic (“Japanese”) sort of sound, “sul tasto” (“tasty”), back near the end of the fingerboard for more lushness, etc, plus all the variations of these.

In a mandolin orchestra setting, you usually have more mandolins than lower voices (mandola, mandocello). The lower voices should often tremolo versus single strokes for the mandolins to help balance the sound. In quartet or small ensemble, blending with the other players is very important… In either case, it’s best if everyone in the ensemble agrees (mandatory for a section!) on how you’ll play the music so it sounds as unified as possible.