The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Mandolin
So you’ve decided to learn this crazy 8-stringed instrument? Well, welcome to Team Mandolin! We’re so glad to have you with us. Join the hundred thousands of viewers who’ve used this FREE course to start playing mandolin completely from scratch!
You can get started right now with the videos below »
What You'll Learn
Even if you have no musical experience, this course is for you!
I want to take you from square one to getting ready for your first jam. Over the 17 video lessons below we’ll cover topics like:
Chords and strum patterns.
Playing melodies.
How to read mandolin tablature.
Proper mandolin technique for both left and right hand.
Beginner scales and theory.
Your first dozen tunes from bluegrass and old time repertoire.
And more!
And the best thing is that this course is completely free! All the resources you need to learn the materials in this course are provided on screen throughout each lesson video.
If you’d like your own copy of the course’s 50-page Companion E-Book as well as dozens of MP3 Play Along tracks, they are available over on my Patreon page at the links below:
GET STARTED BELOW:
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1. Your Very First Mandolin Lesson
In this video I'll show you all you need to get started--we'll look at the different parts of the mandolin, how to hold the instrument and the pick, how to tune the mandolin, and I'll show your very first song on the mandolin.
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2. Beginner Chords and Strum Patterns
In this video I'll show you how to play your first chords and strum pattern.
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3. How to Read Tablature
Here I'll show you how to read mandolin tablature/tab, and we'll learn a new song called "Buffalo Gals."
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4. Left Hand Technique
Learn what fingers to use on which frets and take a spin on some left hand exercises here to get used to proper spacing.
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5. Right Hand Technique
In this video I'll show you proper technique and give you some right hand exercises to help master correct pick directions.
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6. Open String Double Stops
In this video, I'll show you how to play some simple open drone string double stops and then we'll look at a double stop arrangement for a classic bluegrass song called "Worried Man Blues."
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7. Hammer Ons
First I'll walk you through some hand hammer on exercises, then we'll see how this technique works a real piece of music by learning the old time and bluegrass fiddle tune "The Girl I Left Behind."
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8. Pull Offs
Alongside some pull off examples and exercises, we'll be learning a melodic kick off to the standard bluegrass number "Will the Roses Bloom."
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9. Slides
Here I'll work you through some slide exercises and then we'll try this embellishment out on an old time tune called "8th of January."
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10. Beginner Major Scales
We're going to learn your first 3 major scales--and I'll show you how to make them, how to play them, and how to use them.
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11. Major vs Minor
Let’s compare Major vs Minor by learning some Minor Chords, the Dorian Mode, and a couple traditional old time and bluegrass melodies in these key centers.
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12. Modal Tunes
Let’s look at "Modal Keys" and learning two modal tune favorites from the old time and bluegrass traditions "Cluck Old Hen" and "Hop High."
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13. Waltzes
Let me show you how 3/4 time works and along the way we'll learn a beautiful old time waltz called "The Blackest Crow."
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14. Syncopated Rhythms
Join me as we learn how to play some syncopated rhythms over the old time fiddle tune "Shove the Pig’s Foot."
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15. Beginner Practice Tips
Here I share 7 Practice Tips to help you on your way to becoming a more advanced player.
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16. Getting Ready for the Jam
Here we're getting you ready for your first jam! Check out these 7 tips to help you on your way to being a jam pro!
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17. What's Next?
Here are a few continuing education tips to send you on your way to big things with this 8-stringed instrument.
GET EVEN MORE
Get hundreds of companion tab/notation transcriptions, play along tracks, in-depth video courses and more. Join a community of thousands of learning mandolin players over on my Patreon Page.