Help getting started

[matheao]

I just got my first mandolin about a week ago (Michael Kelly Legacy) and am really excited about learning to play. #I am supposed to get a dvd from the company I bought it from, and have bought a book that shows some chords and stuff, but I also read some on-line stuff saying to start by learning the different scales, and practice the scales at the same time as some right hand picking stuff. #What do you think is the best way to go? #Scales and right hand? #Learing different chords? #I am mostly interested in learning bluegrass mando if that matters.

I expect to get a wide range of responses (opinions are like...), but thought some others may have some good suggestions as good ways to get started. #Also if anyone knows any good teachers in the Richmond VA area, let me know.

And man are my fingers sore!!

[fatt-dad]

Welcome matheao! Fatt-dad lives in Richmond, Virginia. Tonight, there is the monthly gathering of pickers at the Janke Road Baptist Church. You should come and check out the scene. There will likely be 50 to 60 people there with their fiddles, guitars, mandolins and ban)os. Maybe even a string bass or dobro. It is a great time, whether you can play or not.

I will be there with a Stiver A-model. I'm six ft six inches tall and will likely be upstairs with the old-time folks (oh yeah there will be a hammered dulcimer as well). I will be glad to talk to you if you call me out. Just wave your MK.

Guitar Works in Carytown has a mandolin teacher - maybe two. One is Chris Fuller and the other is Pete Frostic. They both play in bands. Also, there is a mandolin teacher in the west end, but I cannot remember his name or the music shop that he teaches from. I think he's on Quioccosin Road.

I learned from learning the chop chords and then playing with people. That got me to be "fair" on rhythem. I then took my hand at learning how to note some tunes. I learned from tablature, starting with the Jack Touttle (sp) book and the mandolin fakebook. In both cases, I learned from tab - many here say that is bad, but it worked for me.

Send me an email if you want any more information on local get togethers.

fatt-dad@richmond.com

Good luck.

f-d

[250sc]

Hi matheao,

You should go meet fatt-dad and hear what other people are doing in your area. (I wish there was a group like that where I live.)

You should also check out mandozine.com for Tabledit and the tab files. There is enough music there to keep you busy for a good many years. There are also tab files here at mandolincafe.

Have fun.

[WillPick4Beer]

focus the first couple years on rythm. learn the proper ways to use both hands, dont develope any bad habits. learn the scales and modes, yes, but practice the rythm for a few years before you start noodlin around and over everything.

[AmosMoses]

learn them both at once. Once you can handle the chords though you can jump right in at a jam.

Your fingers will adjust. Keep playing ever day.:)

[sweetmusic]

I confess that I started as a fiddle player, so the left hand came easily to me. It was (and still is) the right hand that caused more problems for me. I have learned and unlearned so many bad habits over the years that I've lost count ;)

I recommend getting a good teacher. You can learn a lot of general stuff from books and videos, but a teacher will reinforce what you learn as well as teach you good practice habits and techniques...things you just don't get out of a book IMHO.