Mandolin fretboard map?

[AC4RD]

I've done a google search but haven't found what I'm looking for: a map or chart of the mandolin fretboard with the notes marked. At least, I haven't found a free one, though it appears there are tons for guitar.

I'm new to the mandolin, though I've been playing guitar (badly) for 30 years--by ear. THe mandolin fretboard seems MUCH easier to figure out than the guitar, and I'm finding myself wondering--"Is this note a Bflat or a C?" (Yes, I really AM that clueless. But I'm trying to improve myself.) So--anybody know a fast place to get such a chart? THANKS!
--Ken in Raleigh

(BTW, that Rover still hasn't arrived, but I'll post something when it does.)

[John Flynn]

There is such a chart on the back of the Mandolin Solo Dial, avalable at the link below, although I would recommend getting a ruler and some paper and making your own. The exercise of making it is a great first step to remembering and internalizing it.

http://www.musicdials.com/msolo.html

[John Bertotti]

If you're looking for poster sized I don't know but I bought the Bickford mandolin method by downloading it. Six dollars when I did it. It covered all of that plus what it looks like in standard notation.
You could make your own on poster board and will probably find it a great help to due so.
There is a pattern each fret is a half step so two frets equals a whole step. Remember this and the pattern will be a whole step between every natural note except a half step between B and C and between E and F. this will work for each string.
EI F

AI A# Bb I B I C

DI D# Eb

GI G# Ab
# the open E to the first fret F is a half step the open A to the first fret is a half step and goes to A# or Bb and the open A to the second fret B is a whole step but from the B to the third fret is a half step to C. Remember above half steps between B and C and a half step between E and F. Any fret that isn't a natural note ie.. A,B,C,D,E,F,G, is a sharp or a flat depending on your starting point. If you are on a B and go down a half step you are then a Bflat. If you are on a A and go up a half step you are then A sharp. I hope this helps. Take #piece of lined paper and draw your fret board. It would be a great exercise. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Jacob]

Mel Bay (http://www.melbay.com/samples.asp?ProductID=20287&Heading=&category=&catID=&head1=&head2=&sub=&sub1=&author=87&sampnum=1&mode=author&q=&r=&s=&next=)

[ShaneJ]

It's not a poster, but a software program called Chord Wizard has all the maps you could ever want for any stringed instrument, any key, any mode, etc....

[Chris Baird]

Here is an example of some key maps I made. I always meant to offer them publicly but never got around to it. Anyway, PM or email and I'll put you on the list and email out all the keys. Basic stuff but very useful to have "at a glance".

[AC4RD]

Thank you, everybody! I've just ordered the Bickford manual; it sounds like it may be useful all around. "Make your own" is good advice but doesn't help me--I literally don't know enough about music to do so. Take the G string; is the note at the third fret B or C? I *don't know*. It's sad but that's how clueless I am. That's why I wanted the fretboard chart--the mando seems simpler than the guitar and I think I might finally start to learn a little tiny bit about theory if I work at it. THANKS! --Ken in Raleigh

[John Bertotti]

AC4RD
g string notes, I'll list them in order from open to first fret on up you'll see the pattern. John
open G, #G# Ab, #A, #A# Bb, #B, #C, #C# Db, #D, #D# Eb, #E, #F, #F# Gb, #G # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # 1St # # #2 # # #3rd # #4 # #5 # # 6th # # 7 # # #8th # #9 #10 #11th # #12
it all repeats after the 12th fret. Any other string is the same just pick the open note and follow the same pattern from there.
You see always B and C together and always E and F together. All others skip a fret. What's left between are the flats and sharps. Any clearer? I love the Bickford method. I actually learned more from it in two months than I did from my guitar lessons for three years. A bad instructor is the worst thing that can happen to a person, IMHO John

I have actually thought of making a fret board chart and chord table for the wall. I was thinking on using the one I'm making now as a reference photo only it is a five course instrument. Maybe I'll make one with my Vega. Just have to find the time. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

That chord wizard looks like a great program to bad it isn't mac compatible.

[AC4RD]

string notes, I'll list them in order from open to first fret on up ...
You see always B and C together and always E and F together. All others skip a fret. What's left between are the flats and sharps. Any clearer? .
That IS a big help--and that really is how clueless I am. :-/ I got the Bickford manual, too--had exactly the sort of chart I wanted, and maybe I'll eventually learn to read a little music. *Thanks* to all who responded!
--Ken in Raleigh

[mandroid]

NB the Hal Leonard book in print 'Fretboard Roadmaps Mandolin.' inc. CD
clear pattern diagrams http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[John Bertotti]

Mandroid is right it is a good reference also. I bought fret board road maps but had a little trouble with it till I went a ways through the Bickford method. Still a good buy especially with the cd. John

[Adare_Steve]

Take the G string; is the note at the third fret B or C? I *don't know*.
The note at the third fret on a G string is niether B nor C, it's Bb (B Flat).

It really is important that you know the names of the notes in a chromatic scale to be able to work this out. I have no simple way of thinking about it - except the one I taught myself.

Start with A (as you would in the alphabet) and work up until you come to G. (Notes in a scale don't go past G). After that it's A, again. But there are always sharps and flats in between. EXCEPT when moving between B and C (there is no B-sharp or C-flat) and between E and F (no E-sharp or F flat). b means flat and # means sharp.

The other rule is that some notes (even though they sound the same) are USUALLY known by one name. So, it's usually Bb (B flat) and not A# (A-sharp), G# (and not Ab) and Eb (and not D#). But this might vary and it really doesn't make any difference until you are playing in particular keys.

So, the chromatic run is (usually): A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A.

Hope this helps,

Steve

[Eugene]

Here's one I like from Herbert J. Ellis's "Thorough School for the Mandoline" (1892).

[AC4RD]

The note at the third fret on a G string is niether B nor C, it's Bb (B Flat).[...]So, the chromatic run is (usually): A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A.
See how clueless I am? :-/ I know on a guitar that fret on the lowest string is G, because the root of a bunch of G chords are there. And I know that two frets up, A starts happening--without knowing any theory, just from years of 'by ear' navigation. Now I've got to learn the mandolin's fretboard and the help y'all have offered will be VERY useful--thanks to all! I'm thinking about even trying to puzzle out music notation--see if I can get any more use from the Bickford manual than just the chart. But I'm an OLD dog and new tricks come very slowly, so that's a 'maybe.' Anyway--THANKS, everybody! --Ken in Raleigh

[Adare_Steve]

Now I've got to learn the mandolin's fretboard...
Don't confuse yourself by thinking it's different from any other instrument fretboard. It's not. They all go up in semi-tone increments.

All you have to know is what NOTE your starting on (i.e. the name of the open string you are playing). Then you just use the chromatic scale that you've been shown a couple of time on here: A, Bb, B, C...etc. Starting from the note you are playing on the open string.

For example: On the third course you go: D (open), Eb (1st fret), E (2nd fret), F (3rd fret), F# (4th), G (5th) etc.

Try working them out for each 'course'...it's easier than it sounds!

Steve

[John Bertotti]

Adare_Steve I sure didn't realize that. I thought that it could be either. At least that is what I got from a chart. In different keys they could be different than the chromatic scale above though, right? I sure hope most post above wasn't to far out. John

[Adare_Steve]

Adare_Steve I sure didn't realize that. I thought that it could be either.
Either what, John?

Not sure I follow your question. Sorry.

But - to take a stab at what I think you are asking - on a fret board, the notes go up in semi-tones and it depends on where you start, in order to determine the sequence. A is always followed by Bb (A#), which is followed by B, C, C# D etc. It doesn't matter what fret board it is, they are always (apart from some odd ones like dulcimers that have half-note frets) set in semi-tones (half steps) that follow the chromatic sequence. But, the chromatic sequence NEVER includes a B# (C flat), or E# (F flat), so when you move from B to the next fret, or E to the next fret, you ALWAYS get a full-tone change.

Steve


Steve

[John Bertotti]

My take on this
"The other rule is that some notes (even though they sound the same) are USUALLY known by one name. So, it's usually Bb (B flat) and not A# (A-sharp), G# (and not Ab) and Eb (and not D#). But this might vary and it really doesn't make any difference until you are playing in particular keys.

So, the chromatic run is (usually): A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, A."
Was that an A# didn't exist unless it was a certain key and that what I posted about lets say that 3rd fret G string, is that it could be either a A# or Bb depending on were you start. Moving up the strings A# moving down, towards the nut Bb. I hope that was clear. I kind of missed the usually in ( ). Thanks John

[Christine W]

I made this awhile ago and posted it somewhere hope this helps. All the other posts are great too.

[John Bertotti]

I emailed chord wizard for those with macs interested and as soon as they release the rest of their product line they will convert everything to mac. Cool. Estimated time is end of next year. FYI FWIW John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandroid]

Given: P5 is the opposite of P4 but the same interval from another perspective, (East>West; W>E, so to speak)so low strings on guitar E6 A5 D4 G3.
low to high same named notes higher G4 D3 A2 E1.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif