Jesse McReynolds

Last night’s Rex Foundation benefit at the Fillmore was, as predicted, a tremendously pleasing and illuminating musical gathering – and a warm, comfortable family reunion, too. I enjoyed Jesse McReynolds‘ contributions, with the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and with David Nelson and Friends, too.

Here’s what Jody Stecher told me in email today (edited for continuity and clarity):

Am digesting 2 hours of what Jesse McReynolds showed me backstage. He’s wearing acrylic fingernails which enable him to split the double string courses on the mandolin.

Mandolin is strung with four double courses: GG DD AA EE. Normally one places the fingers of the left hand on both strings of any course and presses behind the fret as one does on a guitar. The fourth fret of the G string (double strings actually) gives B natural, just like on a guitar. So normally the fourth fret of a G double course on the mandolin gives BB. But Jesse places a hardened fingernail on ONE of the members of the course, the one closer to the floor. So he gets GB at the fourth fret of the G pair.

And it’s not just B on the G string. It’s any fret on any string that will produce a harmony with the other member of the pair when one member is fretted and its mate is open. This allows him to play chords of up to 8 notes. He was doing this all night both on stage and off.

On top of this he’s using unconventional fingering for his more normal chords and for playing melodies.

81 years old and still growing musically.

Jody will be my guest on Dead to the World Wednesday, December 29. We will learn a lot and have fun, too!

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