Mandolin Picker's Guide to Bluegrass Improvisation

[mando.player]

It's a new book that Mel Bay has put out. Just curious if anyone has purchased it yet and if so what they think of it. Looks pretty comprehensive.

[RobP]

I was curious about that too. Yesterday I found the book on the Mel Bay site, but when I tried to view the samples it kept freezing up my IE window. If anyone has it yet I'd be interested in feedback.

Here is the link to the book on the Mel Bay site (samples still aren't working): http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?productid=22086BCD

I noticed that Amazon will offer it for $16.49 (but they apparently don't have it yet):
http://www.amazon.com/Mandolin-Picke...8160431&sr=8-1

Cheers,

Rob

[mando.player]

I just checked Elderly and they have it too. I'm planning a trip there this Saturday to get a a strap button installed and a case for my new used mandolin (arrives THUR or FRI). I'll probably have to wait a little bit to get the button installed on the neck heel, so if they still have a copy I'll have some time to give it a good look through.

[robert.najlis]

I was curious about that too. Yesterday I found the book on the Mel Bay site, but when I tried to view the samples it kept freezing up my IE window. If anyone has it yet I'd be interested in feedback.

Here is the link to the book on the Mel Bay site (samples still aren't working): http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?productid=22086BCD

There are a lot of samples on the site, you may have better luck with a browser like Firefox. The samples really give you a very good idea of the book's contents (looks great!)

[RobP]

So you got it to work with firefox? Here at work we just have IE. My 13-yr old has every browser known to man at home... I'll get him to check it out for me.

Cheers

Rob

[AlanN]

MY IE displayed the contents section, with many blue links to sample pages. The few I looked at were formatted nicely (TAB and notes in 2 staves), they were licks and patterns over chord changes, looked pretty straightforward. The book is aimed at beginner/intermediate, so that makes sense.

[mando.player]

You may or may not have better luck viewing the book directly at books.google.com. Search for the book's title and it should come up.

[RobP]

Ahh.. google books worked quite nicely:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8wH...age&q=&f=false

Looks like nice material.

Cheers,

Rob

[Alex Orr]

I had no problem viewing the more than ample samples (hell, seems like half the book is up there...and it's a big book). I really liked what I saw and plan on ordering a copy very soon.

[DSDarr]

I bought it via Mel Bay and got it two days after I ordered it. I've mostly just been reading it so far. It starts off very elementary (but still useful). So far I think it is great. Very comprehensive.... and very good audio support (an MP3 disk not audio CD).

-David

[Mandolin Mick]

The site's samples work fine for me. A lot of samples! Kind of shocked that they would show so much of the book ... Looks great!

[Alex Orr]

I bought it via Mel Bay and got it two days after I ordered it. I've mostly just been reading it so far. It starts off very elementary (but still useful). So far I think it is great. Very comprehensive.... and very good audio support (an MP3 disk not audio CD).

-David

Cool. I like the use of mp3 format since you can get a lot more on a disc.

I was really surprised by the amount of material in there. Usually I expect most instructional stuff will always be about a third beginners material (tuning, a few basic scales, basic chords), a third specific songs (either "real", or made up for the material to serve as examples) and a third actually consisting of some stuff relating theory or playing styles to the actual act of playing. In an average book of fifty pages, that means maybe fifteen pages that I actually get much from. However, this thing not only looks like a LONG book (200 pages) but looks like it has a lot of meaty stuff in terms of linking theoretical ideas to actually playing the durned thing!

[Rob Gerety]

Yes, it does look good. Seem like it might be just what I need.

[Aran]

Ah well sod it!!! Looks like I'm gonna have to get yet another book for the pile .....

I'm at musical brick wall right now after too many negative vibes from a banjo player and need a kick in the posterior. Hope this gets me back on my positive track...

[Mike Snyder]

Sounds like you need a kick in the banjo player.

[Aran]

Blimey... just got my confirmation email back from Amazon and found out the book won't be shipped until 30th April for delivery between 12th and 24th of May... That is a very long time...

[Barb Friedland]

This book DOES look very good. Barnes and Noble seems to have a good price on this but it is a pre-order so may take a while.

[Alex Orr]

Just ordered it from Mel Bay. Ship date is 3-7 days. Hopefully that's accurate. I'm sort've in between learning materials right now and have been mostly playing old songs and trying to tighten up several songs that me and a buddy want to get polished up enough to use if we start trying to play out this summer. So, no shortage of stuff to keep me busy on the ol' 8-string, but I have been itching to start working through a new piece of instructional material.

[Rob Gerety]

I just ordered it off Mel Bay as well. Hopefully they actually have it in stock. I called but they could not tell me one way or the other.

[David]

Looks like a great book, I just placed an order.

[gda(v)e]

I just ordered it too. Haven't seen anybody mention the Mel Bay sale going on ... if you buy two or more items you get 35% off the entire order, and if the order totals more than $35, shipping is free. So I got the Improv book for $16.24. Mel Bay sure doesn't make it easy to get the sale price though ... you have to use "melbayxpress.com" rather than "melbay.com", and as for the free shipping the order form defaults to $8.99 shipping unless you go in and manually select "free shipping". Sheesh ... the trouble we have to go to just to save a few bucks! ;-)

[RobP]

Thanks a lot for that sale tip!!!

[Mandolin Mick]

I ordered it this morning and they sent me an e-mail saying it was sent to me today! 1-2 days shipping!

[Aran]

Okay now I'm frustrated... how come you folks are getting the book in 1 -2 days and I have to wait 2 months???

[Aran]

Right cancelled on Amazon and re-ordered on melbayexpress... thanks for the tip.... reckon I've just saved 6 weeks of waiting...

Really looking forward to delving into the double stops section....