I have a question about the mandolin chop. When I was first learning about the role of mandolin in bluegrass and the chop, I researched on the internet the timing of the chop. I read blogs, watched videos of folks talking about it, and listened to some songs and some backing tracks. Interestingly, from that research, I did not get one definitive answer. Some of the answers said and implied the chop is on the 2 and 4 beats (in 4/4/ time) and other answers said or implied it is between the beats (on the “and”; between the beats. Is the answer it depends? That is, both answers are right depending on the context? In bluegrass backing tracks I have listened to it sounds the chops are in between the beats. On Strum Machine, for some songs I practiced with, the chop clearly sounds like the chop is in between the beats. If there is one correct answer, I would like to know, in order to practice it correctly. I look forward to others comments.
Mandolin Chop
I don’t play mandolin but I like to hear the Bass on the downbeat followed by the mandolin chop. Boom Chuck Boom Chuck so that places the mando chop on the 2 & 4 of the beat I am sure there are other variants
@Michael_Mark, Thank you for the explanation. That helps a lot. And makes perfect sense to me.
Great explanation!
Hey! Great video @ Michael_Mark! Would someone mind sharing a video of how to actually do a mando chop? I looked on the site and I don’t see a lesson for it anywhere lol 
https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/basic-mandolin-rhythm-part-4-mandolin-beginner
Here you go @B-Dub.
Sweet, man! Thank u so much. I really appreciate it 
So @Michael_Mark is that like saying if chopping on 2 and 4 you would chop twice in a 4 beat measure, but if you chop on the “ands” you would chop four in a 4 beat measure?
Precisely. That’s why I prefer to chop on 2 & 4. The Scruggs banjo book is in cut time and to me it’s annoying because all the banjo notes have double stems, because they’re 16th notes instead of 8th.