• New in Print and eBook - The Logical Mandolin Method by Stephen Williams

    The Logical Mandolin Method by Stephen Williams

    FENTON, MO. — Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has announced the availability of The Logical Mandolin Method, by Stephen Williams in eBook and print formats with online audio.

    This book establishes a foundation for complete mandolin musicianship, both in terms of music literacy as well as having the ability to jam with other musicians without reading music. The student logically begins by learning the "basic" fingering pattern used for the mandolin-friendly keys of A and D as shown in diagram form and standard notation.

    Tablature reading is lightly addressed, but not at the same time as note reading so the student avoids using tab as a crutch. A generous repertoire of progressively arranged exercises, fiddle tunes, a Bach bourrée, and folk and blues songs is included, often with online recordings and rarely seen complete lyrics. At this point, the book begins to diverge from its didactic approach to pure fun!

    As each new major key is introduced (G, C, F and E), the student learns the remaining principal scale finger patterns as well as a considerable amount of practical music theory covering pentatonic and modal scales and much more. Fittingly, the book closes with a dictionary of essential chords and a glossary to aid in further development as a versatile mandolinist.

    Listen

    Sample audio track from the book, "Cripple Creek."



    Contents

    • Preparatory Information
    • Lesson 1: The Key of A Major
    • A 'tude
    • Cripple Creek
    • Lesson 2: The Key of D Major, Low Second Finger
    • Soldier’s Joy
    • The Sloop John B
    • New York Girls (Can’t You Dance the Polka?)
    • Lesson 3: The Key of G Major – Dominant 7th Chord, Secondary (Minor) Chords
    • Westphalia Waltz (Pytala Sie Pani)
    • Nail That Catfish to the Tree
    • The Water Is Wide
    • A Few Words About Fiddle Tunes
    • Lesson 4: The Key of C Major, Low First Finger, Fourth Finger
    • Orchestral Notation
    • The Star-Spangled Banner
    • Billy in the Lowground
    • Lesson 5: Lower Octave of A Major Scale, High Third Finger, Full First Position D Major Scale
    • Rondo We Go
    • Miller's Reel
    • Whiskey Before Breakfast
    • Lesson 6: Tablature and Movable Scales
    • Lesson 7: Movable Chords
    • When the Saints Go Marching In
    • Lesson 8: The Basics of Bluegrass
    • Rollin' in My Sweet Baby's Arms
    • Return to Cripple Creek
    • The Bluegrass Lick
    • Dark Hollow
    • Lesson 9: Minor Scales - A Minor, E Minor
    • House of the Rising Sun
    • Hava Nagila
    • Motherless Child
    • God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
    • Lesson 10: Keys of F Major and D Minor
    • Come All Ye Fair and Tender Maidens
    • Four-Course Rag
    • Henry Martin
    • Waltz in D Minor (Carcassi)
    • Lesson 11: Modes
    • Cuckold Come Out of the Armory
    • Shady Grove
    • June Apple
    • Little Maggie
    • Lesson 12: The Key of E Major, the Basics of the Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll
    • Chord Rhythm Etude in E Major
    • Blues Ain't Nothin’
    • Rock 'n' Roll Rhythm Etude
    • Boogie in E
    • Lesson 13: Jigs
    • Little Burnt Potato
    • The Irish Washerwoman
    • Other Related Instruments
    • Lesson 14: The Basics of Swing
    • (Back Home Again in) Indiana
    • Lesson 15: Tools for Jamming, Improvising and Composition/Songwriting
    • Circle of Fifths
    • Pentatonic Scales
    • Blues Scales
    • Bonus Music Section
    • Bill Cheatham
    • The Nine Points of Roguery
    • The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
    • The Eighth of January
    • Saint James Infirmary
    • Temperance (Teetotaler's) Reel
    • Bourée (E Major) J. S. Bach
    • Saint John’s River
    • Russian Sailor’s Polka
    • Lonesome Road Blues
    • Wayfarin’ Stranger
    • Rose Room
    • Glossary of Musical Terms
    • Chord Reference
    • About the Author

    Skill Level: Beginning-Intermediate
    Notation Type: Standard Notation
    Pages: 108

    Sample pages available at Mel Bay website.

    Additional Information

    Comments 2 Comments
    1. Sue Rieter's Avatar
      Sue Rieter -
      I bought this book during the recent Mel Bay sale. It appeals to my left brained analytical side. I've looked through it a bit on my laptop and I think it's going to be very helpful.

      As of today, it's not available in hard copy yet, though. I'm not really one for e-books, but I bought it anyway because I was really interested in checking it out (and I wanted the sale price). I need to print it out and put it in some kind of binding before I can really start studying.
    1. Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
      Mandolin Cafe -
      Mel Bay's contact for the Cafe told us they thought it'd be available for purchase in print late yesterday but apparently the site wasn't updated. Expecting it soon.