Table of Contents for Introduction to the Mandolin

A Complete Introductory Course in Learning How to Play Mandolin

Introductory Tune: "Lincoln County Regulator"
by Mickey Cochran

Introduction
A. An Orientation
B. A Methodology Approach
C. Importance of a Strong Foundation

Chapter 1
A. A Brief History of the Mandolin
B. The Parts of a Mandolin
C. Construction of a Mandolin
D. Importance of Proper Set-Up
C. Bridge Placement
How to Adjust for Proper Intonation
D. String Action
How to Adjust for Proper String Height

Chapter 2
A. Gauge of Strings
B. Choice of Picks
C. Mandolin Straps
D. Learning Materials for Mandolin

Chapter 3
A. Tuning Tools: The Electronic Tuner
B. Tuning Your Mandolin
Tuning up to the Video.
C. How to tune relative to the mandolin.

Chapter 4
A. Proper Right-Hand Position
B. Your First Right-Hand Exercise
C. Proper Left-Hand Position
D. Your First Left-Hand Exercise

Chapter 5
A. Chords: Key of G
Learn your first chord progression.
B. Rhythm Techniques
Combining rhythm with your first chords.
C. 4/4 Rhythm
D. 3/4 Rhythm (Waltz Time)
E. Chords: Key of C
Learn your second chord progression.
F. Chords: Key of D
Learn your third chord progression.
F. Chords: Key of A
Learn your fourth chord progression.

Chapter 6
Advanced Right-Hand Exercises
A. Chord Arpeggios
B. Crosspicking Exercise
C. Tremelo Exercises

Chapter 7
Advanced Left-Hand Exercises
A. Hammer-Ons
B. Pull-Offs
C. Slides
D. Combining Left-Hand Exercises

Chapter 8
Scale Studies
A. The G Scale
B. The C Scale
C. The D Scale
D. The A Scale

Chapter 9
First Melodies
A. Dixie
B. Shenandoah
C. Beethoven's Ninth

Chapter 10
Fiddle Tune Style
A. Arkansas Traveler
B. Soldier's Joy
C. Devil's Dream

Chapter 11
Shuffle Rhythms
A. Old Joe Clark
B. Boil Them Cabbage Down
C. Crosspicking

In Conclusion
A. Where do you go from here?
B. Practice Road Maps
C. Keep a list of your exercises and tunes.
D. What to listen to?
E. Bracket your practice time.

Excerpt from Chapter I: The Mandolin A Brief History:
The Mandolin has been around, as an 8-string instrument, in its current configuration, for approximately 400 years. It’s a direct descendent of the Mandola which is a descendent of the lute. The Mandola has a longer scale length than mandolin and is tuned 1/5th lower as GCDA from low to high. In fact, the mandolin’s name is derived from its shape similar to an almond. The Italian term Mandorla translates to almond in English. The mandolin has gone through various phases of popularity and has been effectively incorporated into many genres of popular music today including: rock, jazz, ragtime, classical...and is heard most commonly in Country and Bluegrass settings. I encourage you to explore a variety of styles of music with your mandolin. To learn from all styles of music will only make you that much more rounded; therefore, keep an open mind and explore as many venues as you can. This can only increase your musical perspective and, more importantly, will increase your facility on the mandolin.

Excerpts from In Conclusion:

Where to go from here?
Let your musical taste lead you...try to stay inspired by practicing daily...don’t become discouraged by attempting to play over your head. Take your time and play at your level until you feel confident about moving on to more difficult pieces.

Other Technique Builders
You’ll want to be increasing your technique daily. Try to keep a list of exercises and tunes that you already know. Play them all daily without reserve. This will keep you familiar with what you’ve already learned and only increase your technique on the mandolin...

What to Listen To
I’d like to encourage you to purchase as many mandolin recordings as you can get your hands on...keep a discography of all of your recordings which should include the mandolinist’s name and the name of each tune played by the artist.
Some artists that I’d recommend listening to include:
Ricky Skaggs
Norman Blake as a guitarist and a mandolinist
Bill Monroe
Red Rector
Jimmy Guadreau
Doyle Lawson
Sam Bush
Chris Thile
and One of my all-time favorites: David Grisman
The Importance of a Focused Practice
Continuing Your Mandolin Journey

The Importance of a Focused Practice
What is a focused practice?
1. you’ll want to bracket time daily to your practice schedule. If you can’t afford more than 1-2 hours, at the very least set aside 30 minutes daily unconditionally.
2. be sure to have a road map to practice with...something that will keep you on track and allow you to measure your progress...this can mean having a particular piece of sheet music in front of you and or a DVD to play along with that will keep you focused on a particular technique or tune you’re trying to accomplish.
3. keep a practice journal with you that should include what you’ve accomplished...a list of scales and exercises...a songlist including every tune you’ve learned...and your future goals as an entirely separate chapter.

In Continuing Your Mandolin Journey
I hope you find this DVD to be fun and inspiring. It should only be one addition to your very own larger library of books and DVDs. I urge you to start amassing your own library of anything mandolin related including, songbooks, method books, DVDs and CDs...be sure to check with melbay.com for many other mandolin learning materials...

In closing, I’d like to say one more thing: Your mandolin journey is uniquely yours...no two mandolinists in history have ever played exactly alike. Everyone’s an individual within any art form...and as a mandolinist, be yourself, listen to your own sojourn...even though you may follow the path of other mandolinists by learning their arrangements and techniques, feel free to explore from your vantage point as a unique individual. This way, you will discover your very own path through your mandolin explorations and ultimately find your own style and approach...it’s easy to be easy when you’re easy!

An Introduction to the Mandolin DVD:
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Published by: Mystic West Productions