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Thread: Beginner

  1. #1
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    Default Beginner

    Where's a good place for beginner online lessons?

  2. #2
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    mandolessons.com

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    Registered User Mike Buesseler's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Lots of choices. Here’s one very good one.

    https://www.mandolessons.com/lessons/all-lessons/

  4. #4

    Default Re: Beginner

    Yes to the above.
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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Banjobenclark.com
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
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    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
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    Registered User Mando Mort's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Welcome to the world of Mandolin...like everything, you will get out of it, what you put into it...
    "All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out." - Mark Twain

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  7. #7

    Default Re: Beginner

    There are a lot of good online lessons, many free or some content free, other sites that charge a fee or subscription, etc. Lots of good content on YouTube of course.

    One thing that I think is invaluable as you proceed is to get Amazing Slowdowner or an equivalent app and begin to train yourself to learn by ear. Start with a song you like, pick a phrase, or a lick, etc. and play it over and over slowly until you get it and then work up the speed. The great players are capable of getting sounds that just can't be expressed by notation or tab . . . "how the heck does he/she do that?' By slowing it down, you'll discover techniques and just lots of little things that will help build a foundation of your abilities. Eventually, tab out a section or an entire song . Plus there is something very gratifying and empowering in growing as a player all by yourself. Lessons are good and certainly worth it - becoming your own best teacher is priceless. Good luck

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    Default Re: Beginner

    Thanks for the ideas! Best wishes!

  9. #9

    Default Re: Beginner

    One thing about a pay site like Peghead nation, you might like an orderly course laid out in a step by step format, and the monthly fee is reasonable.
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  10. #10
    Registered User CWRoyds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Lessons at both Peghead Nation and Artistworks are very good.
    They have beginner through advanced.

    The monthly fee is about half of one lesson with a teacher in person.
    They are a really good deal, and a really good resource for learning.

    http://www.pegheadnation.com

    http://www.artistworks.com
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    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    I agree with Dillion on the Amazing Slower Downer - it has been by far one of the best investments I've made in music. With it you can slow down any MP3 recording, change keys into an easier key for you, and loop things over and over. Highly recommended.

    Also agree on YouTube lessons - but something to stress about any online lesson for beginners - there SO much more to playing music than playing the notes. How you hold the pick, making sure you pick both notes instead of one (super common issue for beginners), changing chords correctly, shifting positions correctly, etc. If you can, getting a live teacher to start - at least just to get the basics - is also highly recommended. If not, a good second option is to take lessons from a person to via Skype (or similar) or something like Artist Works where you record yourself and send it to the teacher.
    Information on lessons, gigs, and misc musical stuff: www.mattcbruno.com
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    Registered User JustAlectia's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Agree with previous recommendations
    Also, I can add mandolincompass.com
    "Not all those who wander are lost"
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Think about a SKYPE connection to a live lesson. The services are good once you have a "handle" on playing ….. Peghead Nation and Artist Works are both excellent sites. That written, a live teacher can help you get started without bad playing habits that will have to be broken with difficulty later. Luck... R/
    I love hanging out with mandolin nerds . . . . . Thanks peeps ...

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    Default Re: Beginner

    My feedback. I've been playing for about year but I consider myself a beginner. I used Peghead nation for several months. I learned to play many songs by ear but the shortcoming for me was there was not a lot of direction on what to practice and how to move forward. I then used Bert Casey's book and online content. I found that very effective and perhaps a bit more structured compared to Peghead nation. Its also cheaper than Peghead Nation. More recently I've have been doing online video lessons on Lessonface. The advantage is that I get feedback on how I am playing and what I am doing wrong. As other have mentioned, having software to slow down music is a big help and also very useful in gradually increasing your placing speed. I have been using Music Speed Changer on Android which I find just as good as Amazing Slow Downer and its free

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    Default Re: Beginner

    mandolessons.com Free lessons but I donate to him !

  16. #16
    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Quote Originally Posted by yankees1 View Post
    mandolessons.com Free lessons but I donate to him !
    Me too, and happy to do so. I've gotten a lot from Baron!

  17. #17
    Registered User Doug Brock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Quote Originally Posted by DaveGinNJ View Post
    ...I then used Bert Casey's book and online content...
    I don't generally have interest in "beginners" mandolin books, but this still looks like a handy resource. (I love Amazon's ability to look at the table of contents and a few pages.) I ordered a copy. Thanks!
    Doug Brock
    2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles

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    Default Re: Beginner

    I like Artistworks, but I think starting with a beginner book so you have a clue first makes it much more useful. I think if you know a few basic chords you will get much more out of Artistworks, and will progress faster.

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    Default Re: Beginner

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Brock View Post
    I don't generally have interest in "beginners" mandolin books, but this still looks like a handy resource. (I love Amazon's ability to look at the table of contents and a few pages.) I ordered a copy. Thanks!
    I found the book, video instruction and audio tracks to offer a lot of content. Bert gets right to the point. There is a nice progression of arrangements of standard bluegrass songs. I like having things more structured and this resource did that for me. The one thing it does not delve into is any discussion of improvisation

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    Default Re: Beginner

    Whichever way you go, pay real attention to fundamental basics. Things like using your pinkie even though it might be easier to use your ring finger. And fretting with the fingertips. You don’t want to have to correct yourself later when it becomes necessary. Strive to get an even tone between up and down strokes too. Three plus years into playing, and I was having trouble playing cleanly up the neck, but when I adjusted my fretting to get more onto my fingertips, things cleared up. That is where some lessons early on with a good teacher would prove invaluable. And slow is good.
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  22. #21
    Registered User Doug Brock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Quote Originally Posted by DaveGinNJ View Post
    The one thing it does not delve into is any discussion of improvisation
    Are you looking for material on improvisation? Have you run across this book:
    https://www.amazon.com/Mandolin-Pick...dp/0786687274/
    Doug Brock
    2018 Kimble 2 point (#259), Eastman MD315, Eastman MDA315, some guitars, banjos, and fiddles

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    Default Re: Beginner

    Once again, thanks much! I'm having a blast!

  24. #23
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    Default Re: Beginner

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Buesseler View Post
    Lots of choices. Here’s one very good one.

    https://www.mandolessons.com/lessons/all-lessons/
    I still find myself dropping by there and picking up things from time to time.

    I like Tunefox, but it's a lot of tab with little video, but that seems to be home I learn best.

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