Mandolin Self Instructor, online tutorial - Page 43

A simplified self learning system for the Mandolin with tuning instruction, song folio, chord diagrams, sheet music and PDF for printing. By ZARH MYRON BICKFORD

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	Prolonging Notes or Rests (continued)                                    note next smaller in denomination. The tie, a curved line connecting" two notes on the same degree of the staff, combines these two notes into one long- note having- the value of both. The following Example illustrates both the dot and the tie, and shows that they equal each other, in these instances. Rests are affected by the dot in the same manner as notes.
	"Music is to the mind as air is to the body" PLATO The Importance of Leaving the Left Hand Fingers in Position The importance of this rule cannot be over-estimated, since it has more to do with the proper technical development of the fing-ers, the clarity and distinctness of the tones and the g-eneral musical effect than perhaps any other one thing-. As previously stated, the fingers never rest on the frets, but rather, back of and against them- not merely between them, but against that fret which produces the desired note or pitch. The fing-ers must always be dropped with force-not merely laid or pressed ag-ainst the string's-and must remain firmly in position as long- as possible, that is, until needed elsewhere. Some of the ad- vantages of leaving fingers down are: first, that any finger held down acts as a guide for the follow- ing note. Second, rapid runs, grace notes, trills, etc., are made practicable only by the application of this rule. Third, it leads to the easy mastery of all chords and double note passages. Fourth,it makes for ease and neatness in playing, since it often saves unnecessary raising and dropping of the fingers. Contrary to the system adopted in some Methods (violin as well as mandolin) of indicating by an "x", or a thin or dotted line, the length of time the fingers may remain in position, the author recommends that the habit be formed from the start, so that it is the natural thing- to leave the fing-ers in position, with- out the aid of reminders. Fourth Finder Study