Mando music theory

[Ramdolph]

I need music theory (Mandolin) whats good for a newby?

[Jim Broyles]

Are you new to music or just new to the mandolin? Music theory is pertinent to all music and instruments, but here (http://www.grovelandsoftwarelabs.com/modeexplorerweb/home/home.aspx) is a good resource for mandolinists.

[Ramdolph]

Im a by tab and ear banjo guy, very little theory at all. tnx any opinion appreciated.

[Mike Bunting]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Music Theory For Modern mandolin (http://elderly.com/books/items/172-1.htm) is an invaluable reference for everyone.

[arbarnhart]

I think Mike Perry's pages on chord progressions (http://www.mikeperryweb.com/chords/index2.html) helps a lot in getting a general grip on what makes the rhythm work.

[Rick Parrish]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Music Theory For Modern mandolin (http://elderly.com/books/items/172-1.htm) is an invaluable reference for everyone.
I agree completely. It gets pretty deep for me (a beginner) but I'm "growing into it". As I gradually learn more about music and the instrument, I re-read sections and it begins to make sense. I find the hand-written notation a little bothersome but I'm getting used to it. At first I didn't like the way he only wrote the scales going "up" but I have found that by playing it that way and then reading backwards to go "down", it seems that my sight-reading is developing at a faster pace.

My teacher (Mike Mitchell) is trying to get Tom to work with him on a syllabus for teaching from the book but with a recording studio (Flat 5 in Salem, Va.) and a fairly busy performance and session schedule, he hasn't yet found the time.

[Ramdolph]

Is music theory for the modern mandolin, to advanced for a begginner? any thoughts!

[AlanN]

If this is the Ohmsen book, it goes into great (great) detail on many aspects. Had I bought it when first starting out, I would not have opened it.

YMMV.

[mandolirius]

<I've said it before and I'll say it again, Music Theory For Modern mandolin is an invaluable reference for everyone.

Mike,
Edmonton, Alberta.>

<If this is the Ohmsen book, it goes into great (great) detail on many aspects. Had I bought it when first starting out, I would not have opened it.>

I actually agree with both AlanN and Mike from Edmonton.

I've had this book for about 20 years. I knew some theory but I bought it because I was starting to play jazz and swing and wanted to know about chords beyond simple triads and sevenths. I think it's a great reference but agree it's probably not the right book for a beginner to dive into. It's a classic case of "too much information". I don't think anyone would be wasting their money by getting it. I've gotten tons of use out of it. But I would steer a rank beginner in a different direction.

Musictheory.net is a pretty useful resource for a newbie.

[AlanN]

When I first started, I took a lesson at a music store. At the end of the lesson, the teacher handed me two tablatures - Arkansas Traveller and 8th Of January (which I still have 30+ years later). I also bought a Mel Bay book of mandolin chords (which I stll have). This was the one with Mel hisownself pictured playing an A-50 (with the headstock name blanked out - even then http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif ). The notated chords were not the bluegrass type, they were the 4-finger varieties, major, minor, 6ths, 9ths, etc.

After that, it was learning by doing and listening and doing and listening. The Ohmsen book made sense later on, for me.

[gnelson651]

A great little book to get your feet wet into theory is David Harp's "Music Theory Made Simple" (http://www.amazon.com/Music-Theory-Made-Easy-Reference/dp/0918321999). I bought my copy at GC when I started playing the mandolin four years ago. It gave me a basic understanding that translated well into my learning of music and my playing.

I agree that Ohmsen's book is extremely advanced stuff. I have it as a reference and once tried to read it, but it was too much for me at the time. Probably still is. As a beginner,its like trying to read a doctorial thesis when you're only a freshman in high school. Very heady stuff.

[JoeK421]

Not particular to the mandolin, but a very accessible book on music theory is Edly's Music Theory for Practical People, by Ed Roseman. It's available from Amazon. I've been working my way through it, but have now gotten sidetracked with reading the Ohmsen book, which is much easier to understand after reading about halfway through Edly's first.

Joe

[mandroid]

A music theory class at the local community college, is good, too.

teacher should be able to help translate Ohmsen's terminology too,
to make it a useful reference book.

[Pete Martin]

You can download "Easy Music Theory for Fiddle and Mandolin" at my web site (see below). It covers basic theory and is good introduction for anyone who wants to get started studying theory.