I pulled a Rick Nielsen!

I got to church early today and found the simplest song to figure out on mandolin. (Last weekend was the first time I played mandolin in public ever. I still don't know very many chords and have to figure them out based on guitar chords.) So the band director arrives and says "Mandolin sounds great on the song, but I kinda wanted you to do a guitar solo at the end." (I should mention that apparently I'm our only guitarist who can extemporaneously solo.)

No prob. For the song, I strap on both a guitar and a mando. I play the song on mandolin, we get to the end, I flip the mando out of the way, and play the guitar solo. We were doing a run-through right before church, a few people were already there, and I said "I just want everyone to know this was Joel's (band director) idea." The entire band and a couple people in the pews cracked up. I'd never strapped on 2 instruments at once for as long as I've played.

Have you ever seen this done in church? Like I said, I only did it to fulfill my band director's wishes for the song, but it still seems kind of a "flash" thing for church (even though I tried not to play it up-- I was too intent on switching instruments).

Tell me your thoughts.

If you go to church to play.
Where do you go to pray - a Club!

If you go to church to play.
Where do you go to pray - a Club!

:confused:

You lost me.

I play in church and in clubs. I was going to church long before I could play, and if for whatever reason I can't play in the future, or my services as a player aren't needed, I'll still go to church.

I love playing while having two instruments strapped on. Before I was playing guitar primarily I of course played the saxophone and onceI learned guitar I began having to switch back and forth. I am always fearful of denting up the sax but luckily I always seem to find time to put the sax on the stand and quick swap to the the guitar behind me. I live for having to do quick changes, I have played songs where I have had to switch between guitar and sax more than once a song. Thats when you know you are in the zone.

I love playing while having two instruments strapped on. Before I was playing guitar primarily I of course played the saxophone and once I learned guitar I began having to switch back and forth. I am always fearful of denting up the sax but luckily I always seem to find time to put the sax on the stand and quick swap to the the guitar behind me. I live for having to do quick changes, I have played songs where I have had to switch between guitar and sax more than once a song. Thats when you know you are in the zone.

Wow, that's cool Ryan. I like the idea of being a "utility infielder" type player who can bring something to a band on more than one instrument.

There is a really cool picture of Joe Perry in the LIVE Bootleg album - playing a Strat with a Les Paul hanging on his back.
If I ever get around to scanning it I'll probably make it my avatar.

You mean you went down in a fiery plane crash after doing an illegal substance? Oh wait, Rick NIELSEN...okay, gotcha! ;)

Often have multiple instruments on, but haven't done it in church, switching to/from guitars/mandolin/piano/lapsteel at pub/legion/reception type gigs. It's all about getting the job done.

Mike Bruce

I wouldn't think that would be too "flash." As long as the song called for it musically and you didn't try and make a big show of it or anything. Doesn't it seem funny how we almost have to be even more conscious of the image we portray in church than in a club or secular setting? I fear though that this is an unfourntunate inevitability.

on a side note, I went and saw a band called Blue October. Their mandolin player is also there keyboard player and their violin player and he played all three on the same song on at least two or three different songs. He's clearly a very talented guy. it was pretty cool to watch.

Owww.... is that anything like pulling a groin muscle... :confused:

If you go to church to play.
Where do you go to pray - a Club!
sacizob,
Mark 16:15

:confused:

You lost me.

I play in church and in clubs. I was going to church long before I could play, and if for whatever reason I can't play in the future, or my services as a player aren't needed, I'll still go to church.


AMEN!!!

:smile:
Dm

I wouldn't think that would be too "flash." As long as the song called for it musically and you didn't try and make a big show of it or anything. Doesn't it seem funny how we almost have to be even more conscious of the image we portray in church than in a club or secular setting? I fear though that this is an unfortunate inevitability.

At my last church, I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought. But I'd been there a long time, and people knew me, and our band sat off to the side and I kinda put myself behind the organ console on purpose.

Plus, there the service was a full-on contemporary service, the band played every song.

At this church, it's a "blended" service, meaning the band only plays 3 or 4 songs per service. Plus I've only been with this band for a couple months (though I've been going here over a year now), and our band is right up at the front of church where there's no place to hide. So, I'm a bit more circumspect here. ;)

on a side note, I went and saw a band called Blue October. Their mandolin player is also there keyboard player and their violin player and he played all three on the same song on at least two or three different songs. He's clearly a very talented guy. it was pretty cool to watch.

That sounds boss. Players like that are a valuable commodity-- one reason I'm glad I picked up bass in addition to guitar!

If you're doing something to serve the song and help people worship, it's o.k.
Like I mentioned on that other board, I'm really diggin' the mandolin and what it's bringing to our praise sets. (I'm up to about 6 chords now!)

If you're doing something to serve the song and help people worship, it's o.k.
Like I mentioned on that other board, I'm really diggin' the mandolin and what it's bringing to our praise sets. (I'm up to about 6 chords now!)

That's about where I'm at: GDACE mainly, for the service I figured out Asus, Dsus, and Bm.

Not a very spiritual comment, but +1 on the Joe Perry pic from the Live Bootleg album...IIRC, he is also wearing cowboy boots with his pants tucked in & is seriously jammin'!

I think playin' both in church is great.....most people won't notice anyway cause their eyes are on the King.....

Not a very spiritual comment, but +1 on the Joe Perry pic from the Live Bootleg album...IIRC, he is also wearing cowboy boots with his pants tucked in & is seriously jammin'!


Yup, that's the one. I always figured that picture was the reason Slash went for that look with the cowboy boots.