Sorta new mandolinist needing a bit of help

[Musical_Marian]

I've been playing for about...3 years. But i haven't really had much time to practice, and i haven't had a lot of new material. I'm trying to teach myself, but it's harder than i expected. Any suggestions for a low-budget mandolist? - any websites that can teach me more of the basics? or books that i can get for not-too-much? i love playing.. just need more time and material. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Andrew Faltesek]

I purchased a Weber STE Prototype F in February and did a few things to get started. First I downloaded chord charts and reduced them to the same size as a package of strings and laminated them, so they can reside in the case for quick reference. I also did not worry too much about taking a traditional or regimented course of study; other than proper technique; to kind of explore the sounds that interested me and develop a unique approach...at least initially. I obtained CD's of artists I was interested in and ripped them into a computer as mp3 files. I play along with tracks using a Rio Cali mp3 player with an earbud in one ear or turned down low enough to hear my mandolin. This is one method of solo practice and a good way to explore different styles and riffs. You can't beat playing with friends or in jams at local music stores, which are usually upbeat, pleasurable and good sources of material. Some people like the instruction DVD's such as Homespun Tapes.

[Rick Smith]

Brad Laird has some very good material available in my opinion. His netsite is "www.mandolinuniversity.com". You'll see his books listed on the cafe from time to time. Roland White at "www.rolandwhite.com" also has good books available. Both of these gentleman include CD's with their books.
Unless you were fortunate to be born with the gift as some are you have to choice but to spend time with the mandolin in your lap. I'm feel certain even the gifted ones spend quite a bit of time honing their skills.
Listen to great players. Mr. Monroe, Herschel Sizemore, Mike Compton, Alan Bibey, Ricky Skaggs, Matt Flinner, Wayne Benson, Adam Steffey,Norman Blake, Jesse Cobb....the list goes on forever.
Spend time as you can around others that are positive and enjoy showing sharing their knowledge. Don't get discouraged by the one that you will inevitably run into that have large egos and try to be intimidating.
Best of luck!

[ab4usa]

Emily,

We don't know where you are but this board has a pretty big membership and there may be someone near you who could get you started.

[stevenmando]

Hi
Mandolin cafe is a realy good start, the mandolinsit on this site are the greatest and they will give you all the information that you need to know,check around your area you night find a good teacher,learning on your own is good but it gets to a point that you need a little extra experience of which we all do at one time or another there is nothing wrong with that no matter how experienced one is .
Some one on this site said once "that to be a mandolinist it takes a lifetime", and boy the journey is sure fun.
About getting in practise time do it when ever you get a few moments to yourself, and there are sites on the intenet that you can get free sheet music ,it don,t cost a lot of money to do something that will give you a lifetime of enjoyment if you look at the lifes of some of the greats a lot of them were in the same boat as most of us and they all hade a love for the Mandolin and they did what ever they could to improve there skills like all of us so welcome to a fun journey that all of us are on.

[Walter Newton]

Check out the free video lessons at musicmoose.org.

[Musical_Marian]

Well, i know a few people who play the mandolin - that's not a problem. but they don't really have the time. - i could post my location up, but, I am a teen, with no car, and i have people who are very protective of me around me...not just my parents. i really want to learn how to play.. but, i'm a broke teenager. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Tim2723]

Hi Marian,

Ah, the broke teenager. #That changes things. #We've all been in your shoes.

Besides all the other good advice, here's something we seldom think of these days. #Go to your local library. #Almost every library has a catalog of instructional materials on practically every subject. #Libraries are also connected in a huge network and can get many times more materials than they have on their own shelves. They were the original World Wide Web in the Dark Ages of my youth (back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth). #You might be very surprised at what you'll find available on loan from the library. #Some of the materials might be a bit old, but some things never really change. Start with your school library. #Librarians are skilled, educated, helpful people who are really eager to work with you. #And best of all, it's absolutely free!

[otterly2k]

Marian-
nobody here can give you more time.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

But there are lots of online resources from scales to lessons to tablature to mp3's to listen to... start by exploring this site.

re: location... it is smart of you to not give out your exact location. But if you can tell us what area you are in, what town or city, someone might be able to recommend a teacher or local jams you could go to... these can really help you advance as a player.

[Mandolin_Mayhem]

try tabledit program. i believe theres a link on here somewhere.

EDIT: theres the link http://www.tabledit.com/. itll certain sheet music showing bot notes and tabs while playing to show u how it should sound. theyve got a big list of songs that works on the program.

hope this helps!

[KNP String Band Mando]

If you know your chop chords, just play along with many many tunes. Also I find it helps to never put the mandolin down. Its great practice to just sit on the couch, and watch TV or talk to your friends, and just noodle around, play nonsense, anything to get you muscle memory up around the fingerboard. Also i believe there is a subconsious relationship and memory between the sounds made and the position of the fingers. So just play it alot, even if its not "practicing". Also a good set-up by a luthier would help with action, and possbily open more doors. Not sure what kind of mando you have, but it might help. Good luck, and jsut keep on pickin.

[Musical_Marian]

My name is Emily - btw. 'Marian' is a reference from the Music man. (Remember the librarian?) 'Musical_Emily' didn't have the same ring to it. ha. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

And Yep, i'm the broke teenager, who is still waiting for her license and has several months left to go... (but then the hard part comes, finding a job to pay for gas money.)

The library... the school library, i might be able to go to, but i have a packed schedule this year. full of science and linguistics.

Location - I'm in Southern Indiana. That's as much as I'm giving away. I do attend Jam sessions at my church every 2nd Sunday. My pastor got me started playing the mando 3 years ago. I haven't progressed that much.

Any simple suggestions will help.. i'll play my mandolin more when i'm just bored... now. usually i'd put it down and ever pick it back up. Any suggestions to help me stop 'not practicing'?

I'll check out all the sites... and as far as music books go, is there any i should get? i CAN request books for Christmas and Birthday remember.

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Musical_Marian]

p.s. time isn't much an issue... sometimes it is, but not really. it's me actually doing it. there's been countless times where i'm just bored out of my mind.

[Jim Broyles]

Ask yourself if you really want to learn to play the mandolin, and why. If you want to play because you love the sound of the mandolin and music is in your veins, then you will make the time to practice. If you just want to play because, for example, Chris Thile is cool, it might not be enough motivation. When I was a broke teenager, you could not stop me from practicing guitar without threatened starvation. If you seriously want to learn, more than just "soooo bad," you will learn. Get some recorded mandolin music you like and sit down and try to sound out the songs. Learn the basics of music theory so will know why notes go together to form chords, and why chords go together to form songs. After you know this, you will be able to figure songs out for yourself pretty quickly, and even play then in different keys if a singer wants them lower or higher.

[Musical_Marian]

I don't want to play just cause it sounds cool... that use to be the case, but i've really fallen in love with the mando... or cause Chris Thile is cool (and he is, especially his 'Not all who wonder are lost' cd)... and i've always loved playing my mando, but i'm often discouraged my my parents (mom dislikes bluegrass) and i rarely have anything to work on... as in i have no idea how to really work on it without material as a starting point. - still open for suggestions.

[Musical_Marian]

Thanks to everyone who has suggested so far btw, these are all great. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[otterly2k]

Emily - I think it's a matter of deciding how you want to spend your spare time. #I know that a lot of your time is probably spoken for. But if you have time to be bored, there's time to play/practice. #If you choose to use your time that way.

My suggestion is to spend your time playing what you enjoy playing... that will make it easier to play MORE. #And the more you play, the better you get. #I strongly suggest that a few lessons may help you get "unstuck" and develop some momentum... that might be something to ask for for b'day/Christmas. #Of see if there's someone in your area who might swap lessons for babysitting or chores or something like that.

In the meantime, a number of people here have said good things about the free lessons available online at MusicMoose.org

There's lots of downloadable music to listen to, much of it is free, and tablature too... if you know (or learn) how to read it.

The resources are out there, more accessible than ever before b/c of the web. #It's up to you to decide how to use it.

ps-- I just sent you a PM with info about a teacher in Brown County, Indiana (east of Bloomington) -- even if she's not near you, she might know someone who is.

[Andrew Faltesek]

As others have posted...follow your heart. Play what moves you and seek out artists that fit. I really like David Grisman; I had a more blues focused approach in the beginning, but his music with Garcia just sounded great to me and I focused on that area for a while. If you have broadband internet connection check out David Grisman (http://www.davidgrisman.com/acd_html/dawgtracks.html) and you can play along with streaming tracks on your computer or listen to different songs. Check out The Thrill Is Gone, Shady Grove, and Dawg After Dark. Easy: with Shady Grove you can start with a DM chord and pick along with the melody, and explore your own solo ideas as you please. Do this with any song that moves you, regardless of what your (wonderful, I hope) mother thinks or likes...YOU are playing it which takes skill, dedication, heart, and desire.
Pat yourself on the back for any practice or breakthrough that you accomplish. Probably one of the greatest things about developing skills with musical instruments is that you can experience pure joy in playing that costs you nothing but the time you spend. Do not waste one of those 86400 seconds on regrets over technical mistakes or opinions of others, or the time it takes to develop your own voice...just go with it...and good times will follow.

[Siminole]

"Folk of the Wood" has a really good beginner instructional lessons by Mickey Cochran, that my daughter found to be very helpful in starting out. Can't hurt........it's free take a look.


http://www.folkofthewood.com

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hey Chris KNP - looks like you're on my wavelength !. Some of the best practice i've ever had came from just noodling around in front of the TV. Just let your mind 'freewheel' a bit it's amazing what comes out. I also think that if you come on something that's a bit

[Ivan Kelsall]

Hey Chris KNP - looks like you're on my wavelength !.That was some good advice there . Some of the best practice i've ever had came from just noodling around in front of the TV. Just let your mind 'freewheel' a bit it's amazing what comes out. I also think that if you come on something that you can't quite get your head around,just leave it for a few days & then go back to it. It's amazing how many times you'll find you've sorted the problem. I really do think that the subconcious mind carries on working on the problem.
A few famous scientists have kept a notebook & pencil at their bedside,in case they woke up with a solution to a problem that they were working on - the subconcious is a strange thing,
Saska

[Don Christy]

Just take the advice of your signature:
God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used 1800 to practice something? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Seriously, lots of good advice here. Here's my $0.02. Schedule the time and practice regularly. Outside of practice time, keep your mandolin out of the case and in view. When you see it and have the urge to practice, practice. Always have a tune you're working on in addition to working on scales and arpeggios. The sites and materials mentioned above are all great. Also, libraries can often get things in for you if you know what to ask for.

MOstly have fun.
Don

[ab4usa]

Here is a thought or two...

Set measurable, reachable goals for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Then you need to track your progress. The goals might be; 1 new song a month, 5% increase in speed in 3 months, creating your own breaks in 6 months, etc. This might help you stay on track and actually get better. It might do that as well for me (LOL)!

[allenhopkins]

For what it's worth: no substitute for interacting with other musicians. Get out and about, find people who play mandolins or other stringed instruments, in styles and genres that interest you. Doesn't have to be bluegrass, could be old-time, generic "folk," jazz, blues, singer-songwriter stuff. Sit in to the extent you can, play in the background, watch, listen and learn. If there's a folk club, bluegrass jam, church group, songwriter's circle, open mic, whatever, take advantage of it.

You can learn a lot sitting home with lessons or DVD's or a good method book, but the social, interactive nature of music also can provide you with friendships and partnerships and mentorships. You find others who are learners like you, and you find experienced people who can show you things. Don't know how musically fertile your area is, but I bet you can find other people to play music with.

[Musical_Marian]

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I'm gonna try some of these methods.. for the past week or so i can't stop playing it... i've been taking the advice of a lot of you. If you have any more, feel free to speak up. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Stephanie Reiser]

When I play alone at home, I don't think of it as "practise". I think of it as "playing my mando coz that is what I love doing...more than computer games, more than television, etc." When I was a teen I took piano lessons, and had to practise from 6:30 to 7:30 every night. I hated it. Now, even when I am trying a really tough tune, I try not to think of it as something I have to do. I am doing it because I love it.
Soon school will start for you, I think. You will have to learn to budget your time very wisely, and still have time for homework and friends. But you sound like a smart person. Whatever the case, keep everything in perspective and play the mandolin because you love it.
Welcome to the Mandolin Cafe! There is some pretty easy tablature here that can keep you busy for quite a while.

[Andrew Faltesek]

That's great...whatever feeds the passion for playing go with it. I was hiking on the north shore of Lake Superior four days last week, and brought my mandolin "just in case." Boy did that ever pay off; its small and easy to bring along. I sat out on the rocks by the shore one evening, and there was no one around. Next thing I knew I was not playing any songs I learned, just picking and strumming and exploring sounds and riffs...and eventually grooved into simple progressions of minor chords that offered lots of directions for melody picking. 100% free and satisfying.

[mandroid]

often said... at the core, to sing, 'scat' or hum the tune,

and then work on finding that melody on the fingerboard.

You can work on the tune , fixing it in your mind, during the day,
then when back to having mandolin in hand,
even a half hour a day, can be the release of your pent up Muse.

do re mi fa so la ti do
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Lee Callicutt]

I do believe old Pete said it best:

"There once was a note, LISTEN!"

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[Alex Orr]

Learn to read sheet music, you'll have a whole world of material at your fingertips. I've played guitar for a few years, using only tab, and when I picked up the mandolin, I promised myself the first thing I would do would be to learn to play the instrument using standard notation. I used Greg Horne's beginning mando book, and made flash cards with the tabbed note on one side and the same note in standard notation on the other side. When I was at work, I'd pick them up about every half hour and run through them for a couple of minutes. In about two weeks, I became a slow but adequate sight reader, and although I'm nowhere near being an "instantaneous" sight reader, I've only improved over the course of the year.

Also, for source material, Steve Kaufman has two books on "Bluegrass Mandolin Solos Every Parking Lot Picker Should Know". Yeah, they're a bit pricey, but they are fantastic and will give you PLENTY of standard fiddle tunes to work on.

[meghory]

There are all kinds of books out there with music in them and inexpensive ones too. Also, one thing I've found that I LOVE is slow downer software that I down loaded. It's about $40 but it's so worth it. I intantly found that I could learn anything I want to with it. It slow the music down to how ever slow you need it and you can learn it note for note that way

[Andrew Faltesek]

Hey Emily, how's it going? Don't forget to just have fun! I find the tabs and notation super for analyzing songs, but slow for me (play mostly by ear) to play from. Playing along with a CD or streaming audio really gets you into the song quick, and costs nothing. Try picking single notes along with the song to find the basic chord progression. Stop the music to check your chord charts and strum through the chords several times until it is familiar. Then set the song to repeat and jam along with the pros, both chords and melody picking; keeping the volume low so you hear yourself well above the recording.
Don't worry about playing nonstop or following exactly...in fact explore your own ideas like working in bits of tremolo or repeating a riff that moves you several times until you get it right in time. Pretty soon you will find the scales in the chord progressions of the song, which you can practice repeatedly on your own to develop speed; concentrating on keeping all your fingers close to the strings(pinky too!) and a loose grip on the pick.
Now your favorite pro musicians are YOUR backup band!

[bradlaird]

Just a quick correction:

Rick's post has my website URL as "www.mandolinuniversity.com"... It actually is "www.mandouniversity.com. It's easy to make that typo. I have done it myself.

Brad http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Andrew Faltesek]

How's it going? Any breakthroughs?

[MrSunshine]

CLICK HERE (http://www.bluegrassbooksonline.com/freelessons.htm) to go to Bluegrass Books online.com's free lesson page. They have songs with downloadable video lessons and more. I've been spending alot of time there lately...

Also, I don't know if this has been mentioned, but Butch Baldassari's DVD 'Bluegrass Mandolin Workshop' is awesome and you can find it by CLICKING HERE (http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=1232)...hope this helps, Chuck

[JeffD]

Some practical ideas:

1 - Keep your mandolin out of its case at home - hang it on the wall or on a stand in the corner. That way you can pick it up at any given moment and play for fifteen or twenty and then put it back.

2 - Show your Mom there is more to the mandolin than bluegrass. Do a little classical. Some Bach is a good place to start.

3 - See if you can meet with some of your fellow band mates more than every other week, perhaps a small subset of your band would be interested in meeting once a week to practice and and play as a traveling praise and worship band.

4 - get CDs of the mandolin players you like, and listen as often as you can - it helps the learning, even if its only in the background. (Perhaps play some classical mandolin CDs too, for your Mom!)


Just some thoughts. Good luck.

Jeff