Beginner DVD

[ZenPickin]

Hi Everybody. I'm SURE this has been asked and answered about a zillion times, but I'm just flat too lazy to search through the threads. :(

I'm looking for a really solid how to play the mandolin DVD. I am a clawhammer banjo player, and I've played guitar for 35 years, so I'm not looking for hours of how to practice changing chords. I'm hoping to find something that will teach me the right way to do up and down picking, what the finger positions are, how to play the mando (as opposed to just strumming chords) and other such necessary stuff to start me off right.

I'll be doing old-time, and some bluegrass. I really want to get to know this instrument, but I don't plan to be a world class bluegrass player.

That's about the best I know how to describe what I'm looking for. Thanks for your suggestions! I'm making an order with Elderly today for a bunch of other stuff, and hoping I can get a lead on a good DVD that I can try as well.

Thanks so much!

[Alex Orr]

Perhaps Mike Marshall's first Fundamentals DVD, along with Greg Horne's beginning mando book.

[Bob1300]

You could try before you buy. Netflix has a couple of DVD's on this subject, rent them and see how you like them.

Then you can escalate to the commitment of paying $30 to $60 or more for DVD's from well known musicians. Here's a tip: the person's skill level and the ability to relay that to others are sometimes inversely related. I can think of two which treat their DVD as a private stage show rather than helpful instruction. And if you are a lefty, there are no DVD's for you. You'll have to play in mirror image mode from the discs.

[ZenPickin]

Thank you, Alex and Bob. Excellent suggestion about Netflix! Thanks also for the word of caution.

[Ryk]

What Alex said ..... the two Mike Marshall DVDs have been VERY helpful to me. You can get a flavor for Mike's instructional style by searching for him on YouTube ... there's an instructional shorty there.

Ryk

[Rob Gerety]

Don't forget the new Homespun download system. I think Marshall's DVDs are up and available.

[small axe]

What Alex said ..... the two Mike Marshall DVDs have been VERY helpful to me.

X3

I'm a beginner (without much musical experience) and am pleased with both of the Mike Marshall DVDs. I also have found John McGann's DVDs useful and will probably find them more useful as I progress in my skill level. I would definitely consider them as well.

Ryan

[Marcus CA]

Here is the link for Homespun's beginning mandolin dvd's:

http://www.homespuntapes.com/shop/category.aspx?id=371

It has the Mike Marshall's technique videos that have already been properly raved about, as well as Butch Baldassari's intro repertoire videos. Homespun now offers some of their dvd's through digital download that is $10 cheaper than the dvd, since they drop the price by $5 and there is no delivery charge.

Enjoy the journey/addiction!

[ZenPickin]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I really appreciate it! There's so much stuff on the market that it really helps to get some opinions.