Assuming bluegrass, fiddle tunes etc I like
The American Mandolin Method books are supposed to be good too
https://www.amazon.com/American-Mandolin-Method-Brian-Wicklund/dp/0786693134
if you scroll down to page 6, you'll see a song called Cherokee. Its jazzy and fun, the melody is all played with chords, but there's room for notes in between. Look and see if you can find a video of Mike Marshall playing it. (There's also some bonus chord theory for you as well)
Honestly, I bought a rogue off amazon for my niece and nephew and was amazed at how solid an instrument it was for the price.
The action is set very low, so it's easy to play, and it projected pretty well. I would definitely give it a go. I play an Eastman MD515, and while it's obviously a much nicer instrument, it's not like it's night and day.
If you're not into classical bluegrass yet, I'd urge you to look into anything that Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile do together. The album 'Goat Rodeo' is a delightful album that could turn you on to more traditional music in that genre.
I've always used the Dunlop Primetone Semi-Round picks. Play all the time and never worn through them.
Do you happen to know how much his Mandolin method book teaches this stuff? I downloaded the audio and looked at the amazon sample but it seems it is mostly single note melodies?
Maybe not exactly what you're looking for but you might find Aaron Weinstein's Mandolin Chord Melody system useful
https://www.amazon.com/Mandolin-Chord-Melody-System-Weinstein/dp/0786692537
yes again for Bach on mando. begin with the cello suites first:
J. S. Bach The Cello Suites for Mandolin: the complete Suites for Unaccompanied Cello transposed and transcribed for mandolin in staff notation and tablature https://www.amazon.com/dp/1494347377/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_al3BFbQEYKNJC
While I do like videos, I also like printed material for certain things. This the one?
https://www.amazon.com/Bluegrass-Mandolin-Jack-Tottle/dp/0825601541
Think I may pick up the Kindle version then I could print the odd page here or there if I needed it.
I would grab those for your mandolin specific questions, and maybe a fake book for learning actual tunes. I use this book for fiddle tunes and this book for most other popular bluegrass songs.
Additionally Don Stiernberg has a more advanced book for jazz mandolin, Mandolin Appetizers I think it’s called? It’s definitely a little bit higher level but you’ll get some good info on building chord melodies as well as some useful exercises. And there are a cool selection of songs in there as well - I remember a really jazzed up and out there version of Blackberry Blossom being in there.
I love this book because it’s got the lyrics, chords, and melody notes. It’s everything you need to start playing songs.
I love this book because it helps you visualize all the scales, notes, and chords.
for challenging scales, this one is my favorite:
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Into-Jazz-Mandolin-Eschliman/dp/0786689161
for bluegrass and old-time, this one worked well:
As others have said, it's not exactly beginner level work, so be cautious. But at the same time, you'd probably pay a bit more than the instrument is worth to have it professionally setup. If you do want to go for it, look for more detailed guides to the processes described in it. There was a guy on here who made a fantastically detailed pdf guide to setting up a mando years ago, but I can't seem to find it. At the very least, adjusting the action down a bit (not too low! then you get buzzing) should make a world of difference and is hard to screw up too badly. If you want to be sure you do it right, these are great little tools.
Personal experience - I randomly had the tools to do it, and had already upgraded to a new mandolin, so I did everything mentioned in that article to my Rogue just to see how much difference it made... Played better than its $400 replacement when I was done.
Since he is playing it in E major, I bet he used the same source I did when I learned: https://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Partita-Violin-Transcribed-Mandolin/dp/0786696826
Mel Bay has a way to download the pdf of that book, too, but I forgot how.
A link to mine is below. It's Amazon just cause it's easy to link, but you can find that one or something identical just about everywhere. Throw in a mess of strings and some Dunlop Prime picks and you're basically set until you like trip and break something. (That's how my first tuner died ; I stepped on it by being an idiot while it was years and years old and still going strong.)
You'll need to replace the nut and possibly the bridge based on the slot locations. The nut isn't correct. You can see the correct spacing here -> https://www.amazon.com/Mandolin-Bone-Acoustic-Electric-30mm/dp/B07FRY3JGK (not promoting this nut)
What genre? Bluegrass mandolin is pretty straight forward. Learn all the chop chords and your scales for playing melody and improv. There’s a bunch of cliche turn arounds and tags and licks and stuff that are pretty easy too.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0786687274?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I really liked this book as well!
The PDF is the printable music. The .mscz file is a file in MuseScore format, which is a free music sheet editor, which you could make changes to if you so desired.
I found this book, which says it has the sonatas and partitas in both standard notation and tab. Can't vouch for it though, as I don't own the book.
One suggestion, and this isn't trying to be snarky, is to just go for it and try to read only from standard notation. It'd be great reading practice. On the other hand, I should probably find a tab-only version because having come from violin, I can only really read standard notation, lol
You could use any pickup, really, especially blade pickups. Lace also makes a thin one you could put on a panel attached with double-sided VHB tape to the underside of your pickguard. https://www.amazon.com/Lace-USA-Ultra-Slim-Acoustic/dp/B001DKXYVS/ref=asc\_df\_B001DKXYVS/
I have sweaty hands and use these: Cool Picks"Cat Tongue" Nylon... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K0TPTM0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The grip doesn't 'fade' easily. They're very easy to hold. I like these more than the nylon picks by Dunlop.
I had a similar issue. The saddle was bottoming out on the top of the adjustment screw. I actually took off the saddle, and very carefully re-drilled the post holes the entire way through the saddle body. After that, I had far more of a range of adjustment.
The end result looks similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Greenten-Adjustable-Compensated-Mandolin-Mandolins/dp/B0173QGAXO
my favorite is the getting into jazz mandolin book. definitely plenty of jazz scales in that one, as well as some excellent fingering practice.
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Into-Jazz-Mandolin-Eschliman/dp/0786689161
Doubt I'll be buying internationally the way the pound is 😭
Thanks for reminding me of checking Gumtree. The one you link to is about 2hrs round trip from me so I looked for one closer to home. This guy is selling an Ozark 2071 with hardcase for £100. seems like an OK deal, not seen any overly negative reviews about them.
They seem to go for £160-180 new with no case (seen an outlier for £99). It's 5 minutes away so I'll save a bit in fuel and time
Perhaps not the answer you are looking for, but there are web sites (like chordify.net, not necessarily recommending it) that will automatically create the chords for an online video, and one of my favorite apps, Pitchlab Lite (am recommending it), also will tell you what chords it hears as it hears a song in real time. It is a great help when you are at a jam and can't see the guitar player's capo and fingering. Of course, it is limited to six types of chords (maj, maj7, dom7, min, min7, dim7), so it won't tell you inversions or anything like that.
It seems that the notes (as in the original) go below the usable range of the mandolin. (i.e. below open G)
I wrote down a few bars into a MuseScore file here.
That's notation and tablature. You can futz around with the tabs or the notation and it will show up on the other.
If you don't know how to use MuseScore, I suggest you learn it - and I can help you if needed.
While I don't like the tone of ltahaney's comment, they have a point - you would be well advised to learn to use apps like MuseScore and read notation to become a better player.
All that said: here is what I made like a year ago. This is not the first time people have asked for this, so you do need to be more thorough with your searches.
This Android app VGLeadSheets has a ton of video game melodies, though not always in a very useful key for playing.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vgleadsheets
You ever spend $20 and have it last a year? You’re about to!
J. S. Bach The Cello Suites for Mandolin: the complete Suites for Unaccompanied Cello transposed and transcribed for mandolin in staff notation and tablature https://www.amazon.com/dp/1494347377/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9VTA8T0W2J3A4DPXNTJ7
If you send me a DM with an email I’ll send you a few of my versions of some of the movements with tabs and sheet music.
My niece just got a beginner book of Zelda music for piano from original Legend of Zelda through Twilight Princess. $10 on amazon kindle, it's slightly more advanced than typical beginner piano, but not bad. I started playing along with her (we live almost 1500 miles apart, so it's through asynchronous video, though). My music reading isn't very quick (it's been about 15 years since I've done that) so I've been transposing it to tabs and re-learning to read sheet music as I go.
J. S. Bach The Cello Suites for Mandolin: the complete Suites for Unaccompanied Cello transposed and transcribed for mandolin in staff notation and tablature https://www.amazon.com/dp/1494347377/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0ZV2B5XZY9Y2XDVHVX93
There are a few on IMSLP, just click on 'Arrangements and Transcriptions' and scroll down. Haven't seen the whole collection in tab form for free, though you can buy them online.
It comes pre-noosed, if that's how you spell it. I watched a video on mando lessons, and they add an additional shoe string on theirs and go under the finger board, but this felt secure to me too..
There is nothing wrong with getting lighter strings but also make sure your action is as low as you can get it without buzzing. The two courses and string tension make it hard enough with low action.
For strings I'd recommend these -> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9CWS7E/ref=olp_aod_redir_impl1?_encoding=UTF8&aod=1
Tell us more about your setup. I assumed you were using a piezo pickup.
What are your mics? Do they need phantom power? If so, you just need something that will provide phantom power. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-4-Channel-Condenser-Microphone-Indicator/dp/B01MZ8QAGS/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=mixing+board+phantom+power&qid=1620522149&sr=8-12
Amazon has d’addarios for $7 for medium, $6 for thin.
Don't get an f-style in that price range. I've seen a lot of people start with the rogue -> https://www.amazon.com/Rogue-RM-100A-A-Style-Mandolin-Sunburst/dp/B0002H0KG0/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=mandolin&qid=1609855699&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-6
Don't know the other brands as well. If you buy from amazon the instrument will need a proper setup.
These are great. https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-462P1-35-Tortex-1-35mm-Players/dp/B00D3R5H5K/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=tortex+1.35&qid=1609619063&sr=8-1
You need at least 1mm picks for mandolin.
Wooden picks don't work, they are a fun novelty but not durable enough or slick enough to really be anyone's daily driver.
Looks like your bridge is in the wrong position, as well.
oops that's a temp sensor, sorry. this one is a humidity sensor, though it doesnt have a wire lead https://www.amazon.com/Goabroa-Hygrometer-Thermometer-Temperature-Fahrenheit/dp/B07QC7JRDP/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=humidity+gauge&qid=1608323827&sr=8-8
The most common (but still incredibly uncommon) open tuning I'm aware of is called Dead Man's tuning: DDAD
I've really not messed with it much, but I did pick up this book on the subject. Can't really give it much of a recommendation as I picked it up early in my playing career and it's basically been sitting on a shelf for 5 years.
OP, I think the most accessible "medievalish" instrument you can do what you want with is a "lutekulele: https://www.garbgeek.com/shop/concert-lute-kulele
I have one of these and it's a fantastic instrument. The sound is lovely, it's easy to play, and it's small and lightweight without being "toy-sized" like a modern looking ukulele.
If you're set on a mandolin, I think you ought to buy a cheap A-style on Amazon, but not trash, something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AIX4PQ
and re-string it with quality strings that will tone down the usual bright tone of a mandolin. You want light or extra-light strings, and you want them to be silver-plated copper or D'Addario's phosphor bronze. Either of these give a warm, mellow tone. The phosphor bronze strings will be brighter than the silver-plated copper.
What you DON'T want is brass, 80/20 bronze, stainless, or nickel strings. They're too bright.
A new Kentucky KM-150 from Amazon goes for ~$430
Kentucky KM-150 Standard A-model Mandolin - Sunburst https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OQC75K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XuwaEb86JAPN7
Used, it would sell for probably $100-200, that is my estimate.
There is an app on android called 'complete music reading trainer' - I am also music illiterate but starting from the beginning with this app really, really helped!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.binaryguilt.completemusicreadingtrainer
Ive got no Idea, heres a link to the mando I purchased https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002H0KG0?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image
I just had the same thing happen but I've had the bridge for over two years. I ordered this one but it has no slots for the strings and it's going to take a lot of sanding/sawing to get it to fit flush with my mandolin. In the mean time, I just used wood glue to fix the old one and I'm going to see how that works.
Use a violin instruction book designed to teach you to read standard notation. The fingerings are the same. This one works well: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Elements-Strings-Book-Violin/dp/0634038176
If you’re more adventurous try slowly picking this out note for note until you don’t have to look at the tabs: https://www.amazon.com/Bach-Cello-Suites-Mandolin-Unaccompanied/dp/1494347377/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=sellman+bach+cello&qid=1596021473&sr=8-3
golden gate makes an inexpensive extra-stiff specifically for the mandolin that i’ve had good luck with. they’re available here on amazon but i’m sure your local music shop has some similar product
edit: typo
I sort of suspected this from Givson. I've played their acoustic guitars and they're the deadest instruments I've ever played. Thanx for the feedback.
In the meanwhile I got a hold of a friend who's coming back from the US, and I feel I can get him to get me a Mandolin.
Now I'm confused between the Doner DML100 and the Ibanez M510
There's almost $50 between them, but I haven't read anything negative about the Doner and Im wondering if paying $50 extra for the Ibanez makes any sense? Both are solid top instruments, one is mahogany the other is spruce. While spruce makes better sounds, is it really noticeable on these budget instruments?
Check out Mike Snider's mandolin backup on the Mike Snider String Band album. Similar style plus a great band of Shad Cobb, Matt Combs, Terry Smith, and Charlie Cushman.
You don’t really need a “mandolin tuning mode” or mandolin specific tuner. I’d hazard a guess and say 99% of tuners on the market will work with a mandolin. You could even get a smartphone tuner app and use that.
There is no difference between a guitar tuner and a mandolin tuner. I know there are some cheap tuners that you have to slide a switch to tell it what string you are going to tune, but even these will work with a mandolin.
For what it’s worth, I have a micro tuner on each of my mandolins and will take them off and use them on my guitar when I play that. I also have the iStroboSoft app on my iPad and phone and while it is a bit more complicated to use for a beginner it works as well as any physical tuner(and maybe better)
Hope that helps!
Cheers
Edited to add: when you are just starting out, there are no dumb questions. We were all there once too! Enjoy learning!
https://www.amazon.com/Mandolin-Pickers-Guide-Bluegrass-Improvisation/dp/078668237X
Do you want a theory book, go over pentatonics/3 minor scales, chords to learn after major/minor triads? The above is really good, but you can learn that from a lot of books in yoru library, this is another https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Theory-Dummies-Online-Instruction/dp/1118646770/
The other, non theory way to go is to listen to lots of version of, say, Whiskey before breakfast, hear all the melody, harmonic and rhythmic variations and incorporate that into your playing without thinking "oh year, this picker really like mixolydian"
I'm a big fan of Greg Horne's Complete Mandolin Method if you are more interested in Folk/Bluegrass and Marilynn Mair's Complete Mandolinist if you want a more classical foundation.
If you already can pick any violin method books are pretty easy to come by as well. I'm primarily learning violin so these are far easier for me, personally I can't stand only learning the natural notes. Fairly simple exercises for dexterity for beginners up to advanced players would be Wohlfahrt or Schradieck.
The YouTube recommendations for MandoLessons are great as well as Mike Marshall. I only mentioned the books because most won't.
Really good post. In terms of picks, I have really had my world changed by Dunlop's Triangle 1.4mm Sculpted Plectra pick. It's modeled after the blue chip picks major artists like Chris Thile play, but at a fraction of the price.
It took some getting used to the firmness of the pick, but having that larger pick to grasp wile playing made it an easy transition.
Don Stiernberg is the man! Thanks for posting this, I didn’t realize he did lessons like these. I’d also recommend anyone interested in jazz on the mandolin pick up his book Jazz Mandolin Appetizers. It assumes you’re starting with an intermediate understanding of the mandolin, but it has some great bits of wisdom in it, especially the section on chord melodies.
I really like the Polytune. TC Electronic PolyTune Clip https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZU4G0ZK/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_eJjuBbVHBZWGC
Snarks are cheap and work but I find they break or just stop working after a few months.
You’d think though with experience on a previous instrument I’d at least be able to keep a 4/4 smoothly. I still sound pretty choppy and can’t keep time well.
I’ve been using these picks , I find them easier to use than the big sharper tipped triangle ones.
I’m super tempted to buy a blue chip to see if that helps, or if there’s a difference in tone and click limiting.
I’ve been trying that method of resting there and calling it ‘home’, as a girl my hands are smaller and it limits my reach to the fretboard for that warmer tone I’m really after. If I rest there I land about half way between the bridge and the fretboard, it works but the tone isn’t as rich as I’d like.
I know I shouldn’t use my pinky, and with out a pick guard it doesn’t work any way and limits my range of motion, but dammit if it isn’t tempting to add one since it’s what I’m accustomed to with guitar.
It should look something like this:
You need a tailpiece to attach strings. If there is a small hole (bigger than a screw hole) get the replacement from stewmac. If there is a screw hole, replace it with the guitar button of your choice. Like this:
You can absolutely get into playing celtic music and American fiddle tunes without being able to read sheet music. There are huge collections of tablature (TAB) for the mandolin online. Mandolin Cafe. I got into it by buying the Mandolin Picker's Fakebook which is all TAB as well. It's also important to listen to the tunes a lot, and watch people playing them on YouTube, because it's such an aural tradition. Best of luck!
Change your grip and use a thicker pick. If you don't want to drop $35 on a pick, I highly recommend pro plec picks. Without a thicker pick, you are going to have trouble going through both pairs of strings with any speed.
Just got this book and it is awesome! I love Django Reinhardt so this was a perfect find for me: https://www.amazon.com/Gypsy-Swing-Mandolin-Play-Along-5/dp/1458413942
I also feel ya, I actually don't like bluegrass. Use to, but not really my thing these days. Lots of classical stuff you can learn as well as mentioned in other comments (mandolin=violin.)
I use these for bluegrass picking. I thin out the bottom edge a bit with a fingernail file and smooth it down, and it's pretty well perfect for my otherwise crappy mandolin playing. This is an extra thick pick, and took a little trouble getting used to. But once you get the hang of it, a thinner pick just won't do.
Except for classical playing, where I prefer a little thinner and smaller pick, like these. Since I hold the pick a little different between bluegrass and classical playing, these work out great for the other pick grip for Calace-style.
You could DIY lyric charts with a rubber stamp and find chords on the web.
Tabbing them out DIY-style helps with memorizing songs, too. I think playing tunes you like is a good way to stick with practicing, but so much of "sounding good" comes from that picking hand.
Hey thanks!! Especially so that now I know terminology for what I'm looking for.
Question - how do I know if something I'm looking at is "a relatively flat back back" versus "not a "flat back" mandolin"? Are flat backs special enough that they're labelled as such? So for example (I'm not getting either of these, just for example), I can assume that this and this are "relatively flat backs" because they don't specifically say "flat back"?
between the Loar, Kentucky, Eastman, there's lots of differences. The amazon review is good: https://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-KM-505-Artist-model-Mandolin/dp/B001OQC70K
And if you're looking at used Kentucky, they've produced a lot of instruments at a lot of factories, some were problematic: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?95589-Kentucky-KM-675-old-vs-new
I am fairly positive these are made with the same material, just lacking a transformer. I bought a pair and they work nicely.
far cheaper.
The D'Andrea Pro-346. Warm, woody tone that doesn't break the bank: http://www.amazon.com/DAndrea-PRO-346-Rounded-Triangle-12-Piece/dp/B000EEJFN0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1437332351&sr=8-5&keywords=mandolin+picks
Jesper Rübner-Petersen's The Mandolin Picker's Guide To Bluegrass Improvisation. I mentioned one of the topics in a thread over at /r/jazztheory. Also check out thesession.org for fiddle tunes.
Also, seeing your post above about budget/style, you could get the pickup above, an eastman MD315 and this preamp and still have 100 bucks to put towards a high end fog machine for live shows.
Late on this thread...
But is this the mandolin you have?
I'm trying to search for a good one to start on to see if I really get into it like I have with guitar. I also just like exploring instruments and seeing what all is out there. It would also be cool if I could get a mandolin and play with some people that have banjos and guitars and stuff like that!
I'm just worried that I will get it and not be able to set it up correctly. Did you have any problems with this?
I recently picked up a copy of this book and have been extremely pleased with the approachability for newcomers as well as the depth of lessons as you get more advanced http://www.amazon.com/presents-Mandolin-Pickers-Bluegrass-Improvisation/dp/078668237X
Gives you exercises to help you learn the scales and theory behind what you're playing as opposed to just a lead sheet or fakebook.