The Beatles for Solo Mandolin [Archive]

NewsFetcher

Jul-10-2015, 9:26am

The Mandolin Cafe has posted the following news release:
The Beatles for Solo Mandolin (http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_001735.shtml)

The Hal Leonard Corporation has announced the publication of The Beatles for Solo Mandolin, arranged by Bill LaFleur.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/uploads/beatlesforsolomandolin.jpg (http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/publish/mandolins_001735.shtml)

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DavidKOS

Jul-10-2015, 9:34am

Chord-melody solos, huh? I wish the vendors had a "look inside" feature, I'd like to see how those are written.

mandrian

Jul-11-2015, 6:44am

I would assume they mean melody lines along with chords.

DavidKOS

Jul-11-2015, 6:51am

Obviously - I wanted to see what style and how good the arrangements are.

David Lewis

Jul-11-2015, 7:54am

The Dylan one only has chords.

EdHanrahan

Jul-11-2015, 9:55am

Chord-melody solos, huh? I wish the vendors had a "look inside" feature ...

I would assume they mean melody lines along with chords.

The Dylan one only has chords.

I had optimistically assumed (yeah, I know!) that the cover blurb was referring to the jazz technique of "chord/melody" where the melody is defined thru a series of harmonized multi-string "chords", in which case the whole book would be "only" chords, although probably a bit removed from the familiar I, IV, V, etc.

David, can you comment on how the non-Dylan songs are presented? If it's just the melody in notation or tab with the backing chords shown in mandolin grids, then 98% of us could get by on the guitar books that we already have.

mandrian

Jul-11-2015, 1:19pm

Yes, that was what I thought David had assumed.

DavidKOS

Jul-11-2015, 5:26pm

I would assume they mean melody lines along with chords.

I would have thought full chord-melody solo style arrangements. Other than that, as noted, you could play out of any Beatles book.

crisscross

Jul-12-2015, 7:20am

Hal Leonard already offers a Beatles for Mandolin book with a notated/tabbed melody and chord grids, the one by Bobby Westfall. http://www.amazon.com/The-Beatles-Mandolin/dp/1423484045/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0NPQSZCFZA3ZWAGP1EEX
So maybe this new one offers real chord melody arrangements similar to those "Beatles for classical guitar" books.
Too bad neither Hal Leonard nor Amazon lets you catch a glimpse inside the book.
On the Dylan book, it says "Mandolin chord songbook", whereas on the Beatles songbook it says "for solo mandolin" and "arranged for chord melody mandolin."
Well, I guess the Beatles' music lends itself more to instrumental arrangements without words than Dylan's songs.;)

crisscross

Jul-12-2015, 7:47am

Just had a quick look to the ukulele colleagues:
There is a book that is similar in appearance to the simple chord book for mandolin http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Ukulele/dp/1423430131/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436704638&sr=1-2&keywords=beatles+ukulele&pebp=1436704876562&perid=0PWMQSEAW4ABJ1R8YQYK
The one with fingerstyle solo arrangements is similar to the new mandolin book http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Fingerstyle-Ukulele/dp/1480368660/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436704638&sr=1-1&keywords=beatles+ukulele&pebp=1436705012371&perid=0PWMQSEAW4ABJ1R8YQYK

So I would guess, the Beatles for Solo Mandolin book is more than just melody with chord diagrams, it's rather instrumental arrangements.

jimmy powells

Jul-13-2015, 11:56am

I would have thought that rhythms which sit well with mandolin would have been a consideration, such as "And I love her" or "If I fell" to name only two

Just because you can get through a Beatles melody doesn't mean it's going to sound really good on a mandolin.

DavidKOS

Jul-13-2015, 4:57pm

Just because you can get through a Beatles melody doesn't mean it's going to sound really good on a mandolin.

Hence my curiosity about how the chord-melody arrangements were written.

Sandy Beckler

Jul-13-2015, 5:56pm

The very first thing that comes to mind, when I see that front cover ( of the Fab Four )
is the taste of bubble gum....I chewed an awful lot of bubble gum to get those "Beatle Cards" :))

jaycat

Jul-13-2015, 6:26pm

I am holding out for "The Dave Clark Five Goes Mando!"

Scott Tichenor

Jul-14-2015, 5:26am

This may be only vaguely related to the book, but I found this Bill LaFleur (the book author) video on YouTube and it's really interesting to watch from a musical standpoint. Take away from what I Googled is this isn't some guy that with an unrelated day job that wanted to publish a Beatles mandolin book. He's a career music professional with a very broad background in the industry working with a broad range of musicians and styles. Be fun to contact him to see if he'd be willing to answer some of the questions. I dig his teaching style, just my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApltorEz754

mandocrucian

Jul-14-2015, 8:15am

http://www.thefest.com/store/IH-NEW-bmz_cache/6/68f7e46b45b5aa8a43f7b29676f1432b.image.300x174.jpg

Learn the guitar solos, or the rhythm/accompaniment guitar parts. Learn the harpsichord break on "In My Life", the trumpet part on "Penny Lane" or the string lines from "Eleanor Rigby". Or tap out Ringo's drum grooves with your feet (while you play the other stuff...if you can).

The ONLY Beatles book you'll ever need!

DavidKOS

Jul-14-2015, 9:42am

Learn the guitar solos, or the rhythm/accompaniment guitar parts. Learn the harpsichord break on [I]"In My Life", the trumpet part on "Penny Lane" or the string lines from "Eleanor Rigby". Or tap out Ringo's drum grooves with your feet (while you play the other stuff...if you can).

The ONLY Beatles book you'll ever need!

If you can read the parts and come up with your own mandolin arrangements, that IS the only Beatles book you need!

Eddie Sheehy

Jul-14-2015, 10:18am

If you can read the parts and come up with your own mandolin arrangements, that IS the only Beatles book you need!

...and have good eyesight, the print is pretty small...

DavidKOS

Jul-14-2015, 10:53am

...and have good eyesight, the print is pretty small...

That's true! The print is small, but the music is pretty well transcribed.

Perry

Jul-14-2015, 10:56am

FWIW there are quite a few Beatles chord melody videos up on Mike Marshall's Artistworks school site.

Well worth a three month subscription to see them

Tommcgtx

Jul-14-2015, 9:06pm

I received my copy this evening in the mail, and have only had a chance to glance through it. The arrangements are indeed chord melodies, meaning that the melody is made up of chords and double stops. At the top of each song, there are chord diagrams, and the chords are also indicated above the music. I haven't had a chance to play through any yet, but they look fun and a little challenging, but I've only been playing a little less than two years.

Edit:
I've played through a few, and they aren't as difficult as I thought for the most part.

Mandocarver

Jul-15-2015, 1:31am

Thanks for the review Tommcgtx. Now I just need to find a retailer in Europe that has it in stock. The interest in this thread shows the need for chord melody materials for GDAE-tuned instruments (hint to any other authors out there). I've had months of enjoyment out of the great Joe Craven version of "In my life" over on Mandozine and I'm looking forward to more challenges.
Dean

Eddie Sheehy

Jul-15-2015, 1:27pm

I've seen Don Julin, Mike Marshall, Tim Connell, Mike Mullins, Joe Craven all perform Beatles and other pop tunes using solo chord arrangements and I believe they offer online tuition...

Scott Tichenor

Jul-15-2015, 4:53pm

Mike Marshall was reading this discussion and offered this via an email.

136395.

ccravens

Jul-16-2015, 12:07am

This is great! Working through "I Will" now.

Thanks Mike and Scott!

:)

CES

Jul-18-2015, 6:49am

Thanks, Mike!

I have the other Beatles for mandolin book mentioned, and agree it offers pretty simple melody lines and chords. Fun to play, good for beginners, but lacking for more advanced players. Hope to see this one on a shelf sometime so I can take a peek before I buy.

Marc Woodward

Jul-23-2015, 5:21am

Yesterday anyone?

https://youtu.be/2jNCWc9_rUo

blaf

Oct-14-2015, 5:02pm

Hi Everyone, Sorry, late to the discussion, but I just discovered the forum. I did the "Beatles for Solo Mandolin" arrangements and yes, they are chord/melody style arrangements. I had done the "Beatles for Jazz Guitar" book as well as a large number of note-for-note Beatles transcriptions for Hal Leonard and they asked me to do the Mandolin book. Hal Leonard sent the song list to me as well as a few books to model the arrangements after. I couldn't make them too advanced, but not too simple either, it's tricky to get right. And I agree, the "look inside" feature is the best, wish the sites would use it more.

Mandocarver

Oct-15-2015, 5:18am

I'd just like to say that this book is great. I buy many books that get opened only occasionally but I use this one on a daily basis. I've been looking for chord melody arrangements for GDAE-tuned tenor banjo and octave mandolin for years and this is perfect, despite being labelled for mandolin. I find the arrangements challenging but rewarding. It takes me weeks to get certain tunes under my belt but I'm learning a lot on the way.
Top marks to the author!

Mark Gunter

Oct-15-2015, 12:15pm

atbuckner21

Oct-15-2015, 12:31pm

This version is gorgeous!!!!!

Darren Bailey

Oct-16-2015, 2:00am

Hey Marc, just beautiful stuff - fantastic to listen and inspiring as a fellow player to hear and hope to emulate. If you have any more keep them coming.

I've ordered the book and look forwatd to giving it a try. I was initially put off by the one and only review it has on Amazon which is utterly damning. If you've found it to be a good product it might help the author if you leave him a positive comment to overcome what I'm sure will put other people off as it did me.

Gary Leonard

Oct-19-2015, 12:05am

If my dive into choro ends, I will pick this book back up and continue work on Blackbird. I really like what I see here, and look forward to tackling the songs when I do not have so much on my mandolin plate!

And I had to laugh at that review, "..most of which aren't compatible with the mandolin..." lol!

Tim C.

Oct-19-2015, 6:52pm

Here's my Here Comes the Sun - I'd be curious to see some another take on this. I have Yesterday and Something as well.

Mark Gunter

Oct-20-2015, 7:07pm

Tim, thanks for sharing the sheet music, very generous. I visited your site to see how I might find others, and noticed that you had included an mp3 of this version in a blog post. Great resource. Sending PM.

Darren Bailey

Oct-23-2015, 10:56am

Had a go at Nowhwere Man - inspired by this new book. Rosie and Jim like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjeayuJF__Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjeayuJF__Y

crisscross

Dec-25-2015, 2:06pm

I received my copy the day before yesterday, and this evening found the time to leaf through the book. I had the sudden inspiration to try one of the arrangements on my tenor banjo tuned CGDA, but not wanting to disturb the silent night, I opted for my tenor Tele played over headphones. "Eight Days a Week" seems to work. https://soundcloud.com/tele1310/eight-days-a-week-1
Can't wait until the Holidays are over and I can get out my tenor Banjo and start practicing this nice arrangement seriously, especially the tremolo parts.

Isaac Revard

Dec-25-2015, 3:29pm

Nice job guys!
Here's my go at "I will" Next up...Blackbird!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SttdqHAREyI

crisscross

Dec-31-2015, 9:21am

Today, with all those new year's firecrackers exploding prematurely, I dared to bother my neighbors with my tenor banjo. I added some ukulele as a back-up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUyoGWaCE2k&feature=youtu.be

Mark Gunter

Feb-14-2016, 11:53am

Finally got a copy of this and took a few minutes last night exploring a few of the arrangements. They're just great. Kudos Bill LaFleur!

crisscross

Feb-14-2016, 3:49pm

Here's my version of the song for a lady who turned 50 last December, slightly simplified and sans tremolo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB8NLiQDilQ
on my tenor banjo

Mark Gunter

Feb-14-2016, 10:44pm

Enjoyed both of yours here on banjo and uke; also the other vids posted in this thread.

Mandocarver

Feb-15-2016, 2:06am

Finally got a copy of this and took a few minutes last night exploring a few of the arrangements. They're just great. Kudos Bill LaFleur!

Couldn't agree more. I bought this book just after it came out and am still finding it fantastic. There's a real shortage of intermediate-level chord melody arrangements out there and I hope Bill LaFleur will consider writing more.

brunello97

Feb-17-2016, 7:54pm

Just ordered it. Y'all have me convinced....:)

Mick

Dweinsh289

Feb-19-2016, 10:09am

I have this book. It is excellent. Especially Blackbird and Michelle. I am presently looking for other Mando chord books he has put together. No luck so far...

Dweinsh289

Feb-19-2016, 10:13am

Dweinsh289

Feb-19-2016, 10:17am

blaf

Mar-28-2016, 3:34am

We want more! Have you done any similar mandolin chord stuff?

Thanks to all for the kind feedback! I haven't done any other chord/melody mandolin books, although I'd like to. Been working on a Mandolin Fake Book for a while now, over 300 tunes - but they are basic fake book style melody with standard chords. Also, talk of a Bill Monroe play-along book in the works.

GuyIncognito

Mar-28-2016, 8:32pm

Enjoying the Beatles book, I'd love to see some more chord melody/jazz books from you!

biologyprof

Mar-28-2016, 11:12pm

This book comes in a Kindle version. Amazon lets you download a sample of their Kindle books before you buy. I just downloaded the free sample of the Beatles book. In addition to the table of contents it contains the full score for the first 5 songs in the book. The Kindle reader is also a free download so you can read it on a phone or notebook. I have mine on an iPad. Very nice!
Greg

gregorx

Aug-26-2019, 8:06pm

I have been hunting for a book like this for the Mandolin.

Thanks guys, much appreciated. I get my copy this Thursday and CAN'T WAIT. :mandosmiley: