Chris Thile: Tips on how to crossover from guitar to mandolin

[JDvorak2009]

Mom's mandolin she got in the 1940s has strings that won't tune anymore. We had the mandolin take in for repairs, but the strings still won't work right. What now, Mr Thile? Any suggestions?

[NexusCapital]

K I understand it now

[NexusCapital]

I didnt quite understand 1:42 to 1:57

[PhalexSpace]

Is that the Loar?

[ElixirStringsMedia]

@PhalexSpace Yep -- Lloyd Loar Gibson, built in 1924!

[malikashiqui]

handdancin he did a whole DVD tutorial on playing the mandolin when he was about 16. It is amazing. I think it is still available.

[3Dsnawder]

@malikashiqui His DVD is awesome! I just bought it last week and am already learning so much.

[songsmadeforyou]

don't play the guitar... play music

[olmmbill]

He makes it look so easy. Amazing. What talent!

[billykid84]

It took him three minutes to say like...two things!

[handdancin]

does anyone know where i can find more stuff where he talks about how to improve picking?

[williamanesbitt]

Down, up, down, up... 

[rowley103]

Jude Law!

[bazookaspeakerfunk]

@KlephRenagade too much blow. incredible musician though. got to have a conversation with him at telluride bluegrass this year. almost looks fucked up as jeff austin...

[guitaristman23]

when he is talking about hand technique change the topic to fapping lol

[SyreenInSapphire]

I love how clearly a suit is not Chris Thile's natural habitat.

[Skeptchick]

"Make sure you know what you're doing." Excellent advice. Haha.

[thejokesonyou16]

I wonder how Thile's guitar player in Punch Brothers feels about that comment lol.

[APinhert]

@thejokesonyou16 his statement doesn't apply to the guitar player, cuz that guitar player plays music through guitar rather than just playing guitar lol

[AndrewSteinMusic]

"Don't play the guitar. Play music."

Fantastic. Amen, bro.

[Xaint900]

I swear to god I thought he was English, he just looks it...

[Labrabob]

dexterity

[Labrabob]

Desterity

[therealmattlarson]

I think I could really help Chris dumb down his playing.

[aflatironwade27]

dude.... thile is turning into J.S. Bach with each passing year!!!!!

By his sixties he will be a master at all he does but even more contemptuous to musicians he doesn't agree with!!!!!

I can't wait for him to produce little Thiles! The world will be forever changed by him and his lineage.

Fantastic musician and innovator.

[Bambiezbotron]

Wow... epic burn to guitarists! We deserve it sometimes...

[jazzfolkrocker]

@Bambiezbotron it isn't intended as a burn. By what he intended, he could have exchanged the word guitar for mandolin, saxophone, tuba, piano, or anything. what he meant was that the goal of musicianship, true musicianship, is not about just being able to play an instument. it's about being an artist.

[CaramelMarshmallow]

@jazzfolkrocker Yeah, but he should've said "Don't play an instrument, play music" or something along those lines.

[dnk287]

"Don't play the guitar... Play MUSIC."

[cindyandrob]

Awesome. Chris Thile is a freaking Tolkien character.

[Pirate4Life2011]

anybody know what that little riff he plays at the end is from (starts around 2:45)?

[skrys81]

@Pirate4Life2011 its the middle part of Bach's Bouree in Bminor.

[Pirate4Life2011]

@skrys81 thanks!

[AliceMudgarden89]

Chris looks like he's British. That, and like a less goofy looking Quinton Tarantino.

[skrys81]

@AliceMudgarden89 lol yeah he looks like Pete Doherty

[Jimhupponeword]

@AliceMudgarden89 HAHAHA that's the best comparison of anything to anything that I've heard all week. Thank you :D

[thebra]

Q. How to crossover from guitar to mandolin?

A. Be born "Chris Thile"

[rustyboy833]

@chromacopy365 all he does is play his mandolin. no time for sleep

[daSaboriGuitars]

@rustyboy833 Double thumbs up hahaha

[mramirez1974]

@chromacopy365 He was probably just sick when this was shot. Poor guy.

[BardofCornwall]

Great to get this advice from Thile--I consider him a musical genius, and I don't use the term lightly. A touch of arrogance in his manner, but, heh, what's a genius without a little of that?

[tynank]

So right Mr. Thile! So many people only know how to play an instrument, or songs on an instrument, but knowing how to play music is so special!

[sosome57]

He's so damn good. Would love to spend a couple of months learning from him.

[mandobaron]

thats one hell of a right hand hes got

[boogerbear223]

@mandobaron

That's a hell of a right AND left hand

[rymo2210]

"don't play guitar, play music. hahaha"

[jiggajesse]

@rymo2210 He wasn't dissing the guitar there. It relates to what he just explained, not to play the mandolin as if it were a guitar. So more continuous picking, less strumming. by "music" He means play musical arrangements like the one he was playing right at the end there.

[rymo2210]

@jiggajesse......Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't have on my mind reading glasses when I watched the video. I'm glad you completely understand the context in which Mr. Thile was speaking. Thanks for clearing that up.