Learning mandolin.... Help!

Trad Strings
1

Weeeeell. The mandolin I ordered just got here. Now I just need to learn to play the thing… I’m just not used to instruments that I can’t blow or wallop, or maybe both. Help!

So, friends, any advice on learning resources? There are a couple of mandolin players around my area but I won’t be able to get regular lessons from them, so I am pretty much on my own in these initial stages. I am thinking of DVDs/Videos as well as books and CDs, 'cos I find that it’s easier for me to learn when I can see what’s being explained.

As far as styles go, I play Welsh (and some Irish and English) Trad on my whistles and pipes and stuff, and that is what I’m used to, but it’d be good to be able play Bluegrass and Old Time and whatever on the mando as well. I hope to spend some time studying in Appalachia next year so it’d be good to get a start on the music before going over, so I can actually make music there too and not sit on the edge of sessions like the proverbial lemon. Are lemons proverbial in the States? Anyway. I digress.

If you’ve got any advice, please give it. Assume massive amounts of ignorance, if you will. If anyone in the British Isles has some materials they could lend me for me to get started and have an idea of what to go for, that’s be really good!

Diolch

Geraint

2

Try the Mandolin Cafe. If you click on “Downloads” you will get some instructional material. Much of it will be too advanced but there should be some there that would be good for a beginner.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/

3

In addition to the necessary foundational stuff, like scales & chords, and how to handle the pick, I would start with tunes that you already know.

If you sing, you could work on playing chords while singing, with instrumental breaks in between.

There’s no point in burdening yourself with learning new tunes and a new instrument at the same time. Once you get a comfortable with the instrument, new material shouldn’t be that hard to pick up.

I don’t know which of these are still readily available, but some of the Bluegrass mandolin books I’m familiar with are:

Bluegrass Mandolin, by Jack Tottle, Oak Publications

Teach Yourself Bluegrass Mandolin, by Andy Statman, Everybody’s Favorite Series, Music Sales Corporation

Deluxe Bluegrass Mandolin Method, by Ray Valla, Mel Bay

I don’t have it anymore, but it seems to me that the Jack Tottle book is the most complete. All include some theory–scales and chords, as well as a number of useful tunes.

I’m sure there are more modern books. Steve Kaufman has [u]Bluegrass Mandolin Solos That Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know[/u], which includes 6 CDs.

If you go to the Mandolin Cafe links page and click the “Sheet Music, Tab, Books, Videos” link, you’ll see a good selection that includes materials from Joe Carr. In fact, I’m tempted by Vol. II, myself, just to see his version of Rawhide.

4

I can vouch fot the Tottle book, if you can find it. Lots of good information, as well as some neat trivia about who was playing when the book came out.

I don’t know what kind of mandolin you’ve gotten, but the very first thing I’d do is to find a GOOD repairman, and have him go over the mando and set it up for you (make sure all of the strings are seated the same distance from the fretboard, Make sure the action is set at a reasonable level. High actions on a mando lead to cramps in your left hand, especially when you’re just starting out. adjust the neck, bridge, nut, etc.). Also, make sure you have some good strings. Bad strings on a mandolin, especially if it’s not set up correctly to start with, can be murder on your fingers. D’Addario makes good one, as does Martin, GHS, and several other makers.

Don’t get in too much of a hurry. Remember, fast and loud don’t cut it if your technique isn’t there. If it is, then you won’t need to do either, :smiley:

5

And don’t underestimate the value of an occasional lesson, or even the chance to just sit down for an hour with an experienced player. It’s good to pick up even a little advice about the basics–especially about playing position, holding the pick, that sort of thing. It can save a lot of time. When I was learning fiddle, I found that one hour-long lesson with a local player could set me up for a month or more of practicing on my own.

6

If your hands aren’t used to strings yet, I’d recomend some Gore Elixir strings; they last a very long time, sound great, and are easier on your hands than most quality strings. Be prepared to pay for them though…they’re about $25 a set. www.musiciansfriend.com has them for about $10 though.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/101511/

7

THOSE were the ones I was trying to remember! Thanks, Tyler.

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Yeah, these strings are RAD! I use them on my guitars and mandos.
They even made some Elixir Electric strings for a while, they still might, but I switched to Misfits Skullbashers on my electrics (breakin’ way too many strings to keep spending money on Gore’s).

9

My mandolin came with Elixer lights. They play okay, but the wound strings have developed a kind of fuzzy look. A friend said that this is the covering wearing off. It looks kind of funky, but I can’t tell whether it’s affecting the sound much.

10

Thanks everyone. Some very useful info there, which I’ve been following up. Give me a few years and I might get somewhere…

:smiley:

11

Darwin wrote:

"I don’t know which of these are still readily available, but some of the Bluegrass mandolin books I’m familiar with are:

Bluegrass Mandolin, by Jack Tottle, Oak Publications"


It’s still available, however the new copies don’t come with an audio source for the tunes :frowning:

I actually have an old copy of the book, complete with the thin, floppy plastic record, but I can’t find anyone with a record player and recording set-up so I can get it onto a CD or MP3 format! :swear:

Does anyone one out there have recording? I’d really like to have a copy that I can actually listen to…

Loren

12

http://www.designstein.com/mp3/tottle_book.mp3

tracklist is on this thread:
http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=20702;hl=tottle

13

I found that these two resources were pretty valuable having played guitar so long.

Each has over a thousand instances of how to play chords or scales. Plus picking techniques, how to hold the instrument, read music in a graduated process… Good Stuff

Congratulations on your new instrument. Mando and Octave Mando (mondo-mando) are very rewarding instruments and can be picked up in a relatively short period for some really fine results as a beginner.

Good Luck!

14

:blush: Ugh, the one time I DON’T search the Cafe archives first, LOL!!

Thanks Rob, you Da Man.

Boy hearing that brings back memories. Cool.

Loren

15

Scott, thanks for the book recommendations (aimed at me or not.)

Loren

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SIgn up for the mandolin cafe forum. WHen you’re there, search out any answer’s niles Hokkainnen (sp?) - he actually has another login but his full name’s in his sig. Read whatever gems of technique he has to offer.

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fer shurr! :smiley:

18

I picked up the Mandolin Primer by Bert Casey, with CD. Seems pretty good so far. The mandolin cafe site has some two finger chords that are nice to know, and I got a “set” of Clayton mando picks from .54mm to 1.20mm so I can find the best one for me and work up in thickness as I can. Playing with some guitar players is a great way to practice—at least when they are gracious and merciful good friends—I have found that instrumental in encouraging me, even though my wife keeps telling them “don’t encourage him, or he’ll want to buy a mandolin!” [I’m borrowing one now] :slight_smile:

Oh, and I would strongly suggest that you try to learn proper picking techniques (D-U-D and so on) . . . the mandolin cafe has some great tutorials, as mentioned already, that show you a jig and bluegrass pattern.

Matt

19

A book/cd set I really like is Mel Bay’s Deluxe Bluegrass Mandolin Method by Ray Valla. It’s not a recent book, written in 1974, but it really gets you right in there and playing. It’s not really single string stuff but more rhythm and melody combined. Anyway, I recommend it.

20

Getting the right pick is important to . . . makes a big difference. The best one I have found so far is the Dawg, made by David Grisman. It’s a three point, but very rounded edges. If you don’t have locally, you can get at Greg Boyd’s House of Fine Instruments . . .

http://www.gregboyd.com/ShoppingCart/ViewCategories.asp?CategoryID=2140

I was using Clayton tristars which I thought were pretty good, but the rounder edges of the Dawg make it smoother and easier to play tremolo and get some good chopping and pickin’ . . .