I need help

[sirmando]

Well I need help I hit a mando wall playing. Should I start from scrach? I have the Bluegrass mandolin book by Jack Tottle. I want to learn good basics so I can master it in about 150 years or so. I also have Chris Theile DVD. I am having trouble with chops improv. and everything else. What can I do? I will never give up trying because I love the mando to much too quit I will do what ever it takes.

Well im a very musical person so i picked it up easily. Just keep fingering the chords till you get them. In a month or so you should be able to rotate frpm g,c,d very easily. I recomend the mandolin primer book by Bert Casey!

[Tom C]

How long have you been playing?

[jmkatcher]

You might also want to check out the Jack Tottle intro book, which I found very useful.

[keymandoguy]

I didnt learn how to make chop chords untill I started playing in Jams Find other people to play with ASAP . you will learn more in 2 months playing with others than you will in a year by yourself ! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Scotti Adams]

patience my friend..patience....Ive seen so many people get so frustrated in learning anything...be it a musical instrument or target shooting. The important thing is to not bite more off than you, yourself, can chew. What you may chew may require little bites at a time...while others eat with their mouth full. What seems like a lot for you may only be an appetizer to them. Some people are capable of learning faster than others. So dont try to learn too much at once....as Eastwood once said "A mans got to know his limitations". Just take it as it comes and dont try to force feed yourself.

[sirmando]

To Tom C I have been palying for about 6 months. I have found a jam here in columbus ohio every saturday but I will feel like a complete jacka.. if I go. Or do you think they will welcome a 26 year old worthless mandolin player? I have never had this problem with anything I have ever done in my life from sports to music to school.

[John Flynn]

The Tottle book is great, but it is not for beginners after about the first 5 tunes. It gets advanced very quickly. I prefer Andy Statman's "Teach Yourself Bluegrass Mandolin" Book/CD. Getting with an instructor you click with, as opposed to just a good mandolin player who teaches, is a great way to get going again, but finding one can be hard.

I also recommend trying old-time string band music, especially for jams. It is a foundation for bluegrass, so what learn will apply to BG. While I think OT can be every bit as challenging as BG at the advanced level, I found it to be more "beginner friendly" at the start. I got frustrated with BG at one point, got in to OT and never looked back. I am having a blast with it after a year and half. Every now and then, I go to a BG jam just for some variation and I find I am doing much better than I was, even though I have hardly worked on BG at all in that time frame.

[Rroyd]

There have been discussions here in the past where finding an instructor has been highly recommended. Little things can add up to hinder progress, and a good instructor can help develop positive habits and cure bad ones. Hand positions, pick techniques, holding the instrument, strap position, and all kinds of things that one might never think of can be major factors in playing success. Even meeting once a month with someone can be a great help, but initially, it would be to your advantage to have lessons more frequently to monitor your progress. It is a whole lot easier to get started correctly than it is to spend months and months trying to break bad habits developed from the beginning. Ask at the jam; get recommendations, as there are those who offer lessons without the knowledge it takes to be a good teacher. Also, remember that everyone at the jam started out as beginners, too. Most are very accepting of new players, and take great pleasure in helping and watching you develop.

[Tom C]

sirmando,
Everybody who plays was a beginner at some time. Most people are friendly and encouraging in jam circles unless they plain do not like outsiders. Not many people can learn to play in a few months or years. Most people are beginners for many many years. I started 7 years ago when I was 35. You may not see the improvement but others will. Just do what you could and enjoy it.

[ChrisWallace]

Sirmando,
You've got to stick with it. I've been playing for a little over a year and sometimes I catch myself saying "Man, how can these people be SO much better than me?" I'm 28 and sometimes I'm playing w/ people who are much younger (and better) and it just doesn't seem to add up. I find myself comparing my musical journey to my sports journey (I played baseball in College and never felt like "Man!! I'm just out of my league here!!"). But I have to remind myself that, when I started playing baseball, I was probably around 5. So, sure, by the time I was 20, I was pretty good (that's 15 years of playing under my belt!!). It sounds like you're in the same boat. You can't figure out why music isn't coming as easily as school or sports. But you have to take into consideration the fact that you've only been playing mando for 6 months. Imagine trying to do a long division problem six months after you started the 1st grade!! It's all a process. Remember, when you were in school, you were "playing" with people on the same curve as yourself. When you started participating in sports, you were playing with people on the same curve as yourself. Now, you're playing w/ people who've been at this "music thing" for years. Imagine if you played "your" sport against someone who had only been playing for 6 months...you'd probably dominate. But if you played that same person in 5 years...who knows what would happen. ANYway, sorry for the long, rambling response but when I read your post, it echoed what's gone through my head on more than one occasion so I figured I'd chime in.

Stick with it man...you've got company!!!

[peterbc]

Definately go to a jam, I remember the first time I went, I didn't even know any chords or any of the tunes they did. I had been playing for about 6 months or a year. They still threw a break at me and I stumbled and fumbled through it, but they were supportive and it really helped me and inspired me to practice more. You can learn a lot by watching others and listening to what they do, that's really helped me. Finding a good instructer also helped, I did that for a while too and I got much much better during that time.

[steve in tampa]

Keep going to the jam. It's about more than just music. When the other folks get used to seeing you there every time trying, they will be happy to help you improve.

[duuuude]

Another benefit from going to regular jams is you get to watch and listen to the other mando players & get ideas on rhythms & riffs and such. You can always pass on the breaks until you're comfortable trying one. Give it time, patience and practice will pay off for you sooner than you think. Enjoy!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Rroyd]

One thing to consider doing is to record yourself playing the same tune about once a month, then listen after four or five months of doing this. #It provides graphic evidence that you are making progress. #Often the day to day improvement is so gradual that it doesn't seem like we are getting anywhere, but when you listen to what you used to sound like a few months back, it is very apparent that you are improving by what sometimes seems like leaps and bounds.

[sailaway]

Sirmando, don't give up hope ! when I tried to learn the G chop chord I just didn't think all of my fingers would ever voluntarily want to be in those positions long enough to make a good sound-- it takes ' muscle memory' in addition to knowledge in your mind and mindset... a wise friend said : put on some mindless TV show: sit in fornt of it with your mando. Go from G chop to C then back 10,000 times , with your mind diverted (or destroyed) by the slight attention you are paying to TV -- and IT WORKED!! one 2 hour session of G chopping( which drove the family nuts, a hazard of this occupation) and i owned that chord. Now I put TV on light to do an hour of morning scales and Fisher exercises , and also do any hard riffs that I just can't seem to get. The fact that the mind is diverted seems to cause the fingers to learn better, don't know why. (2) I foud a great mando teacher about an hour south of Cleveland Pa. in Albion PA right acrost the Ohio line --Charley Rappaport. If you can book one 2 hour lesson from a good instructor-- get a lsit of questions and things you are working on-- get straightened out and then practice hard, you will see amazing results. I was in the same rut with the Tottle/Statman books and got stuck on the Devils Dream, just couldn't get that devil tune down --after laying back, doing mindless devil practice, keeping the beater in the car, practicing the devil at airports and construction tieups on the hiway, doing my scales daily, I NOW OWN THE DEVILS DREAM..... and we are out of devil hell and OFF to Alabama jubilee !!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Bluegrasstjej]

Mandosir, or if it was sirmando,
I can relate to you a lot, I've hit the wall a few times, mainly because I never play with anyone and I easily lose inspiration.
But also because everyone else seems to improve so fast and I don't.
what I do in such situations, is to just stop and think. Why did I start playing? Because I love the instrument and I love music, it's great fun. So, if it's not fun anymore, try to get back to a point when it was. Play the things that are fun to play. And play away. Don't worry if you don't practice things you should practice, the important thing is that you play.

As someone already pointed out, Jack Tottle's book isn't for beginners really. It gets advanced very fast. I found Bert Casey's Mandolin Primer very helpful. It comes with a CD too. It's very basic and you will start playing tunes right away, and take the chords later. It has some great exercises too.

Don't give up! You'll come through it and you will enjoy it again. Talk only to people who inspire you. Personally I was very helped by the tune project here at the cafe, and the cyber jams at Yahoo. Sometimes I get stuck because I don't seem to improve as fast as others and I compare myself with others. But usually I get encouraged by people at the project or at the cyber jam groups because they notice my improvements more than I do myself.

Don't give up! And, feel free to e-mail me if you want, it sounds like we have some things in common.....

Good luck!

Susanne

[mando andy]

Ineresting that so many people got the Tottle/Statman books at first and then discovered the Bert Casey book. It is a great beginner book. #

Also check out the Dix Bruce "First Lessons" book--at $8. #It has a jam packed CD with a ton of songs (slow and fast speeds). #

One thing I would recommend---start reading notation early. #It will pay in the long run. #Combine this with developing your playing by ear---which can definitely be learned. #

Enjoy the journey!!!!!!!

Andy
Madison, WI

[doanepoole]

I also think the Jack Tottle book is a little complex to start with.

Another book you might want to look at is Roland White's Bluegrass Manolin book. It is very accessible, and the majority of the tunes don't get too complex...even with the complex ones, there's ususually a simple version followed by a more complex one. No financial interest, I just think this is one of the better instructional books for beginners I've seen out there.

[sirmando]

thank you to all who replyed. I just started to get upset about the wall I am going to go this week end and check out
some books. I will never surrender to this wall in my playing because I have people like all of you to help me along. Again a big THANK YOU to all!

[Tmandomag]

Try guitarprinciples.com There is a ton of good stuff that can be applied to mandolin. Find out why we hit walls and how to get past them. His stuff teaches ya how to go deep with your practice and make advances in your playing. His stuff is about how to play not what to play. Mostly technique and attitude and exercises to develop your feel. It really helped my guitar playing. I am new to the mandolin and I use his approach to learn the instrument. It has only been a week but, me and my new Tacoma M1E are actually making music already. I love playing the mandolin. I see a real nice F model in the future...thanks for listening. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Mandodoc]

I know this sounds wierd but this fits into playing music so well, plus it is one of my favorites.....jon
The Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble,
it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

[Yellowmandolin]

I know about the shop you are talking about in columbus. When I first started to play I went down there not knowing what to expect. To tell you how clueless I was I only knew about three chords, had to look and set my fingers every change, and I didn't even know what a chop was. Needless to say, I was way over my head!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif The guys there didn't seem to mind, as long as I played softly and tried my best. I would go there and just give it a shot. Everybody sucks in the beginning, you just have to suffer through it.