Mandolin Crash-Course/Guide

[Virginian]

I have been self-taught for the last year-and-some-change and figured out how to bang out some tunes and probably picked up some appalling habits in the process. Before I can start correcting how I play, I feel like I need to understand better what I'm playing. The only problem is, every time I search the 'inter-webs' for resources on mandolins, everything is teaching me how to play.

What I find myself lacking is a basic knowledge of the instrument itself (do you have any idea how long it took me to figure out what the "nut" was?). I'm sure such a resource exists out there and I'm just not seeing it. Where can I go to get up to speed on this instrument and what makes it tick (well... besides reading all 10,322 threads in your builder's forum)?

[August Watters]

I think I know where you're coming from - there are many resources out there for learning tunes, but we all need a structure, a strategy for how to approach learning. And some context about the instrument itself, its history and culture, written by someone with a broad view.

Am I on the right track? If so you might check out:

The Complete Mandolinist - Marilynn Mair
The Mandolin Tutor - Simon Mayor

[belbein]

I'm a close-to-newbie. Here's my suggestions:

(1) read everything here and everything on frets.com (or is it .net?)--eventually, things will start to come together
(2) don't be afraid to ask questions, even "stupid" questions (if you're afraid of getting flamed, you can always ask me, and off-line in a private message. I don't know much, but I'll tell you if I don't know, without flaming you.)
(3) BUILD A MANDOLIN. I learned more from building 1 1/2 mandolins than I ever could have learned by reading. You can buy a Saga kit cheap. Seeing it from the inside out will tell you more about why it works and how it works than anything anyone can tell you.

[Martin Jonas]

The Simon Mayor book is very good. For the very first steps, also have a look at the lessons put together by Nigel Gatherer:

Link

For a much more in-depth introduction to mandolin playing, check out Volume 1 of the Bickford Mandoling Tutor. This was published in 1920 and the style is somewhat dated. However, it is very thorough indeed and includes an introduction on the mandolin and on music notation. Available free at archive.org:

Link

For some useful if basic pages on mandolin anatomy and styles, try:

http://www.banjolin.co.uk/mandolin/anatomy.htm

Martin

[Virginian]

Thanks for all the help, guys. August nailed where I am coming from on the head. As a trumpeter/cornetist, you learn that unless you understand the acoustics and mechanics of EXACTLY what is going on with your horn, it's almost a futile effort trying to get a good timbre that you're pleased with. Now, we're talking about an all-together different beast with mandolin, but I would think similar principles would somehow apply.

belbein (RE: build a mandolin):
I've been playing "farmer" most hours afterwork recently, but when the colder months roll around and I put the garden to bed, maybe I'll make that my winter-over project!

[terzinator]

(3) BUILD A MANDOLIN. I learned more from building 1 1/2 mandolins than I ever could have learned by reading. You can buy a Saga kit cheap. Seeing it from the inside out will tell you more about why it works and how it works than anything anyone can tell you.

Reminds me of the line... "All I asked him for was the time, and he told me how to build a watch!"

[rgray]

The Mandolin Owner's Manual

[Randi Gormley]

I learned a lot just by looking at the entire "mandolins in progress" thread: everything from scooping out and smoothing the top and bottom to putting in tone bars to binding to bending sides to different types of wood -- great stuff.

[belbein]

I made raised beds for my wife, she plants and harvests, and I get to play in the workshop!

[Virginian]

While my wife has been finishing up school (finally done and employeed), I did the tilling, sowing, maintenance, and we're about to have some massive harvesting.

The Johnson is my poor ####### that gets played when I'm sweaty and waiting for the irrigation to cut off.