Playing Licks

[Jim1hays]

When playing licks using the pentatonic scales, does it matter what note of the scale you use to start with and what order they are played in?

[Joel Glassman]

I could answer that in a technical or theoretical way which might not be useful.
Instead try this. Record a few song chord progressions on the mandolin. Play through the songs
a bunch of times [no vocals]. Play solos and melodies to the recorded progressions. Test different
methods of playing and learn the best places on the mandolin to play in certain keys.
Basically learn the terrain and the map of the instrument.
Test your question about starting notes and order etc. and explore answers in a rigorous
and scientific way. There are no shortcuts, but if you do this it will be an amazing learning experience.

[greg_tsam]

Joel is right and is trying to spare you the agony of figuring out Ionian, Dorian, Etc. Come back to that later.