Hey all,
I’ve been learning mandolin this past 7 months and can pick out tunes slowly, only a few that even approach session speed. I’m having a lot of fun learning a new instrument and am basically learning by playing tunes badly 
. My theory here is that I don’t want to learn mando tunes by muscle memory in that “work out the fingering” kind of way. I don’t play flute that way; if I know the tune in my head then it’s in my hands. We’ll just see. 
Anyway, I find jigs so much easier so far in terms of getting the rhythm. When I play reels, it tends to be more with that straight ahead, almost typewriter rhythm. Maybe it’s that short dudududu pick movement.
My hat is off to any mandolin player who can play reels with that ever so slight slight swing.
Tonight I played Fred Finn’s Reel, and lo and behold, there was the lift! 
No real discussion thread here, but it was nice to find some semblance of musical chops appearing.
Mike
It’s odd, innit?
Some people play reels almost dead straight, while others swing them almost to the point of invalidating the time sig.
My favourite example of a straight reel player is Barney McKenna, the tenor banjo and mandolin fella from The Dubliners. Barney usually just goes for it - while there is a hint of lilt there it is very marginal. Contrast his versions of ‘Maid Behind the Bar’ and ‘Swallow’s Tail’ with, for example, the example/tutorial CD versions that come with the Waltons Session Tune books, which swing like a monkey.
I found the best way to get the hang of that was just to play along with MP3’s of versions that display the feel I was trying to acquire. Slowing them down a little if necessary early on.
I’ve got an odd turn on that, I’ve been a jazz/swing musician most of my life and now that I’ve taken to irish trad on my guitar, mando and soon OM I find myself almost unable to play WITHOUT a lilt in my songs, to the point that our classically trained guitarist looks at the music and goes “Umm, thats just straight eighths there, no dots.” and I just giggle at how robotic he sounds
I’m not sure if it’s a regional thing, or just preference of individual players, but I like both ways.
Actually, I don’t think it ever occurs to me to play ‘Maid…’ in straightish 8s. I just don’t think it would feel like the same tune. ‘Swallow’s Tail’, on the other hand, works great for me straight or swung, on mando and whistle.
Thinking about it, I play ‘St Anne’s’ pretty straight 8s.
Funny, it seems that I don’t have a specific way of playing reels in that respect, but rather just have a preferred feel for each tune.
Never really gave it much thought before.
Yeah, some tunes seem to lend themselves to straight 8ths more, some to swing, and whoa be the train wreck when we play the different flavors back to back in a set at home. It can be a bit difficult to adjust tempo.
Most of the other mando players I’ve hung around with at kitchen parties and such are bluegrass fans, and tend to play with that typewriter style , so that’s been most of my introduction to mando in person. Practicing along with mp3’s is a great idea, or with my very patient session-mates, some of whom prefer to play slowly anyway.
It’s such an infectiously-fun instrument to play and I don’t quite get why. To my taste, I love the sound of flute and fiddle. Those instruments are tops for me in Irish Music. Mando hasn’t the sustain nor the same almost- vocal quality.
Ah, it’s not for me to question. Whatever. Darn fun
Mike