Newbies Unite!!

[Sierraslewfoot]

SO now that I have my Mando oredered etc..I am looking towards DVD's, books, friends etc to start learning this 8 string mystery. Anyone that can shed light on a good learning method is welcome to start tickling the keyboard. Likes, dislikes, best things about it etc...
Please share...even if you do sell the package, book or DVD..tell us what sets it apart from all others! Enquiring minds want to know.

Reno

[whyner]

I'm using this book for getting to know the mandolin. So far it has been invaluable, lots of ah-ha moments in this and I'm still on the first few pages! If Jazz isn't your thing, no worries, the instruction teaches logic/patterns of mandolin which is transferable to any genre. Here's the premise, which makes a lot of sense, "Fingers, Ears, Brain". Being an ADD 52 year old, it's layed out just right!

You can find it here . I had Staples spiral bind it for me so it would lay flat on the music stand. If I lost this book I would buy it again immediately, and pay again to spiral bind it.

Have Fun
Steve, bone head noob
Oregon

[jim_n_virginia]

Best tip I could give you is just study and listen to all the old masters that came before us ... and jam with as many people as you can. You'll learn more than any book or DVD.

oh yeah invest in a good metronome or use an online one (www.metronomeonline.com) because if your timing is off ... nothing works.

happy pickin!

[JeffD]

Dn't wait till your "good enough" to jam with others. Show up to the jams now and listen, get to know the folks, the tunes. Befriend other mandolin players. Find mentors, official and unofficial. Other people - its the secret to fast progress.

[Gelsenbury]

There was a similar thread about instructional materials in the "Newbies" group fairly recently. You should find some good tips about books and DVDs there.

Apart from that: As a newbie, you are in the very strong position of having everything open and available to you. If you are the sort of person who thrives on the challenge of practising one tune until you feel you got it just right, go ahead. If you aren't, don't let yourself get frustrated. Put the tune or exercise to one side, and play something else. Remember that this is supposed to be fun. A simple tune played cleanly and well sounds better than a challenging tune played badly.

Let your dreams about what you want to end up playing inspire you, but be open-minded about what you play in order to learn. Even if your passion is bluegrass, some simple classical pieces may help you get comfortable with scales. Even if you don't like pop-rock, it's often a good place to start with chords. YOUR version of "I'm a believer" may be better than the Monkees'.

Find a good table of chords and learn some basic ones (open G, C, D, perhaps Am etc.) to enable yourself to strum along with some musical friends. Most people know some guitar players. In the meantime, work on your melody picking, get clued up on pentatonic scales, and you'll be improvising and playing tunes in parts with your picking buddies before you know it.

And, I repeat: This hobby is meant to be fun. Make sure you enjoy it.

[AndyB]

Mine should be here the first part of this week and I'm pumped. I tried years ago to teach myself and it was going "okay" but my mando got stole and i didn't replace it. I'm lookiing forward to using the NET as a tool this time around. Been here a week and have read a lot of good advice that would have been useful last time around, " A simple tune played cleanly and well sounds better than a challenging tune played badly." is real good advice and so is the metronome, a bad habit i picked up last time was starting out too slow then going too fast,lol...can't wait

AndyB