Grisman teaches mandolin & back up tracks

[mackalfredo]

Hi folks,

I've got a couple of questions:

First I'll start off and say that I'm brand new to the mandolin world, been playing for a couple months...I'm practicing almost every night, feel pretty good with basic up and down picking, I have a couple of other instruments that I would say I'm intermediate with (guitar and banjo).

1) I like the home spun tapes stuff especially on dvd because you can go back as many times as you want to look and see hand positioning and such and it also shows me how music ought to be played. Wondering if there are any reviews out there of the 6 cd "Grisman teaches mandolin"? I'm leaning on purchasing the set because he supposedly covers a lot of styles...although bluegrass is my fave, I enjoy listening and playing just about anything. Any thoughts on this disk or others I may want to consider?

2) Also what about back up tracks cds. Do these help--can you recommend a good resource. I'm looking for some authentic acoustic sounds, not synthesizer stuff I've heard off the net...here bluegrass is ok, but again if there is old-timey or brazilian choro or whatever that's cool too

Thanks!

[John Hill]

If bluegrass is your favorite and your new to mandolin I'd recommend something like Butch Baldassari's sets or Steve Kaufmann's "4 Hour Bluegrass Workout". These have CD's so you can hear what the songs are supposed to sound like and you can play along with at a couple of speeds. Most of the songs aren't too difficult and will help you learn your way around the mandolin (along with, of course, any practice material you may use).

I'd say the Grisman set is for more of an intermediate player, it jumps right in to alot of stuff that my be a bit much if your not too familiar with the instrument.

[Walter Newton]

I agree, Grisman's set is great if you want to learn a number of his tunes specifically, but it's not really beginner level, general instuction...if you're familiar with the Dawg tunes covered on the set - Opus 38, Dawg Funk, Japan, etc. just give them a listen and you'll get a good idea what you'd be in for.

[Dan Cole]

I have the Grisman set and that would be like jumping into the deep end of the pool. Good stuff, but a real challenge for anyone.