[mdhttr]

Never "left guitar" but started learning mandolin 5-6 years ago when my daughter (flutist) and I started playing Irish music together. I initially found the mandolin to be a bit more intuitive than guitar (I play mostly by ear), but since then have tried out some of the Irish tunes on guitar and find one or the other is a better fit in certain keys.

Then picked a cheap used bass and filled in when our worship team at church needed a bassist. After a year or two of being the only bassist, we now have two others, so now I fill in on guitar, bass, or mandolin. I probably should focus on being good at one instrument rather than mediocre at three, but I'm kind of like the utility infielder in baseball--not as good as the regular starter, but versatile enough to fill in at a moment's notice.