MandoSimean Gets a Psuedo-Make-Over
The MandoSimean website just got a re-vamp. However, if you look around, it looks pretty much the same unless you’re on a phone. The major difference is structural and now MandoSimean uses a responsive design that adjusts and reformats for a better user experience on the phone and on tablets.
Scarpology – a New Book on Mandolin Improvisation by Steve Horn
There hasn’t been much writing going on for the past year on this site but that is about to change. For the past year, Steve Horn has been working on a book that teaches a system he developed for mapping out the mandolin fretboard to enable players to utilize the entire neck and to be able to play in or transpose to any key. Getting all this information organized and presentable took most of Steve’s time, money, and brain-power (all of which may be viewed as limited resources). The book has been complete for a couple of months now in print format. It isn’t published, per se, but available in print upon demand in a single-color, spiral bound edition on 32 lb paper. The price is around $30 plus shipping. More details on the book will be out soon. Here’s a look at the front cover.
Scarpology – a Mapping of the Fretboard and an Introductory Method for Improvisation on Mandolin or Other Instruments Tuned in Perfect Fifths
My strategy for this book and related content is to offer the book in print format and also as an EBook. The book comes with a media CD with play-alongs. All materials on that CD are also available on this web page. I plan to write related materials on this website and include videos. But first, I need to acquire a tablet and put the finishing touches on the EBook version in both .MOBI and .EPUB formats. I may be able to make a PDF version also available once I get that secured so that doesn’t become the handiest way to reach the masses, a la free sharing. I hope I don’t sound stingy here. I want to get the book out to as many hungry users as possible. I believe that if a person wants the book but has to put a slight dent in the pocket book to attain it, the user will actually benefit from a commitment to stick to out of respect to the initial investment. I myself have a substantial investment of time and hard-earned dollars into the project. My goal is to make this all available AND to be put to use.
The book is a result of my own frustration with being attached to certain keys, to use of open strings, and to the first five to seven frets of my instrument. Playing in a handful of traditional styles, I was tied to the “C-A-G-E-D” keys. I couldn’t play in many keys, couldn’t shift to a more comfortable range for singers. Couldn’t jam with horns in Bb or Eb. There was so much uncharted territory for me. With the help of music teachers and jazz musicians, I developed a method; map of the neighborhood, so to speak; a way to expand and to link it all together. If you have a good enough ear, you don’t even have to read music–but it does help.
More to come on Scarpology. Meanwhile, take a look around at my site, dust off the cob-webs. Send me a message if you have any comments or suggestions.
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