Please Help!

[coordinator]

I am an accomplished guitar player and have decided to learn the mandolin. I need some advice form mandolin players. I purchased a cheap mandolin (Johnson) to begin learning. It should arrive at the end of this week. I know to you purists, it probably is not of the highest quality! (I am that way about guitars) With a child on the way it was the best way to get started with this instrument.

Where should I start? Chords? Scales? Some guidance would be appreciated as I begin my new journey.

[mmukav]

Both! Get hold of some books, videos, downloads, tabs, whatever! Start with some open chords in 1st position. Remember that the mandolin is tuned G-D-A-E low to high, like the lowest 4 strings of the guitar but upside down. So finger the chords just like guitar but upside down, and only the lowest 4 strings. Takes some getting used to, but it will allow you to at least get going and play something.
You can find chord charts right here on this site, and if you read music, once you figure out the basic first position, you can start on some easy fiddle tunes and the like. Play scales too, and you'll soon see the patterns on the fingerboard and how they relate to guitar. It's great, you'll love it, fun, a different and wonderful sound that can be incorporated into many different styles of music! Enjoy!

[jlb]

My advice -

learn the chords, both open chords and chop chords (if you're into bluegrass). learn these upfront, and learn more than just the chop chords.

start transcribing songs you know from guitar over to mandolin by ear. maybe start with some A tunes, then D tunes, then G, then C, and on from there. I'm a firm believer that tunes give you a better understanding of the scales than just playing scales, but there is certainly value in going over scale excercises as well.

[coordinator]

What are chop chords? I am interested in bluegrass.

[mmukav]

Chop chords are closed chords, played with no open strings. When you play them, you can strike the chord, then lift all fingers slightly to dampen the sound, and you get the 'chop' sound. There's a couple different ways to do it, and I'm sure some other members will weigh in with thier techniques. You'll find chop chords on this site.

[coordinator]

Thanks for the replys!! Keep 'em coming. Very helpful. I am just sitting here playing my 12 string guitar, anxiously awaiting my mandolin!

[jiffyfeet]

Might as well get all that guitar playing out of your system right now. If you're anything like me, your guitar will sit cold and lonely for a long time once you start playing mandolin. I figured I was just having a bit of fun picking up a new instrument, but my poor Martins haven't seen much action in well over a year.

[mmukav]

Same here! Why is that? Is it just that it's a new type of instrument, or is there something magical about the mandolin family? Hmmmmmm..................

[jlb]

When I started out on mandolin from guitar, I played nothing but mandolin for about a year, but after that year, I find that I sway back and forth between guitar and mandolin, probably now more guitar than mandolin.

These intruments work different, and are suitable for different applications. Like if you want to fill a whole room up with a mix of highs and lows, or play a style where lead playing and rythm playing comingle, the guitar to me is just better suited to achieve that aim.

If you want to play super melodic, sweet sounding tunes, mandolin is the way to go for me.

Whenever I learn a new tune, I immediately start thinking, "Would this work better as a guitar piece or a mando piece?" and pursue according to my instinct, at times trying to work it up on both.

One things for sure, is that its nice to have some options.

And I have also found that playing mandolin has made me a better guitar player, and vice versa...lets you look at music from two different angles.

[steve in tampa]

For an instruction book, Fretboard Roadmaps by Fred Sokolow is good to refer to different chord and scale patterns.

Best thing to do is to get the music in your head by listing to mandolin featured music.

Some of my favorites are Jethro Burns, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, and Wayne Benson.

Check out the websites for Pinecastle and Sugarhill records.

[coordinator]

Y'all have been very helpful! I appreciate the help. I don't know about putting down the guitar. I've played since 4th grade. I'm just worried about getting frustrated since guitar comes pretty easy for me now.

[doanepoole]

As a point of encouragment, coming from guitar, I found the transition to mandolin fairly simple, especially since alot of the right-hand technique carries over. I find mandolin a bit easier to play because of the shorter scale, four choruses vs. six strings, and scales are the same all over the board because you don't have that awkward G-string, B-string relationship. One thing is that mandolin strings have a lot more tension than guitar strings...harder to do bends and such.

[Furnman]

Speaking as a converted guitar player myself with two small children, I have found the mando far more forgiving in playing while minding them. If someone falls (or is about to), I can still easily run and rescue them w/the mando attached. Much more difficult with my guitar. I tend to play it more just b/c of this convenience factor (I'll even play in a small bathroom while the 4 yr old is in the tub - a bit cramped for the guitar).

Don't even ask about my Dobro.. imagine a child beginning to fall, and I have to:
1) Drop the big lug of a thing somewhere w/o a huge ding
2) Throw the slide bar somewhere where it won't damage something
3) Pick up a small, generally soft child with pointy metal fingerpicks

Have fun and look forward to them joining in as they get older! I can finally play real tunes w/the 4 year old, who accompanies on drums. 11 mo. old just dances so far.