Eastman MD604 with P/U - Very Excited - Where to start

Hi all!

I'm very excited today. I ordered my first mandolin this morning. Expected arrival next friday.

Suggestions for starting my journey on this, hope to be wonderful relationship with this beautiful instrument.

Thanks to everyone in advance.

Tim :mandosmiley:

Welcome to the forum & to your future with learning mandolin.

1. Check the articles, links & studies under the Learn/Listen tab here at the cafe. Mandolin Cafe is my favorite hangout for all things mandolin. You can also join a social group for projects to learn and for help and encouragement. The Newbies social group would be a good place, also the Song A Week social group.

2. My favorite learning site when starting out was www.mandolessons.com - in addition, I learned a lot from www.bradleylaird.com and www.banjobenclark.com and from Pete Martin at www.petimarpress.com - check out the "Advice For Mandolin Newbies" at my website, link in signature.

3. Best for me long term has been to purchase courses from www.homespun.com - they have many sets of video series, and offer deep discounts weekly through their email list. Over the past few years, I've racked up a large volume of mandolin lesson series through them, and I use them all the time in my studies.

The Mike Marshall Homespun series titled "Mandolin Fundamentals For All Players" - a 2 DVD set from www.homespun.com - should be included with every first-time mandolin purchase, IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark Gunter

Welcome to the forum & to your future with learning mandolin.

1. Check the articles, links & studies under the Learn/Listen tab here at the cafe. Mandolin Cafe is my favorite hangout for all things mandolin. You can also join a social group for projects to learn and for help and encouragement. The Newbies social group would be a good place, also the Song A Week social group.

2. My favorite learning site when starting out was www.mandolessons.com - in addition, I learned a lot from www.bradleylaird.com and www.banjobenclark.com and from Pete Martin at www.petimarpress.com - check out the "Advice For Mandolin Newbies" at my website, link in signature.

3. Best for me long term has been to purchase courses from www.homespun.com - they have many sets of video series, and offer deep discounts weekly through their email list. Over the past few years, I've racked up a large volume of mandolin lesson series through them, and I use them all the time in my studies.

The Mike Marshall Homespun series titled "Mandolin Fundamentals For All Players" - a 2 DVD set from www.homespun.com - should be included with every first-time mandolin purchase, IMO.

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Thank you very much Mark. I'll check these out.

Tim

Another vote for MandoLessons.com

Welcome!

Thanks for the reply Kevin.

Tim

Hi Tim. I'm pretty new too, but have developed a few favorites. First of all, do you have a musical preference? If you're straight bluegrass or old time, you'll get different recommendations than if you have broader interests.

I like to spread out into rock and pop and melodies from my youth, so variety is my cup o tea.

Others have mentioned mandolessons.com. It's great, but leans toward traditional.

I've really taken to Rock and Pop Mandolin:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuw...tocnhSyGAASP5w
Everything from Beatles to punk

and
comandolin.com

which can deliver classical or Mr. Sandman.

Jim

Even though Mandolessons leans toward the traditional, focusing on fiddle tunes, it holds a great deal of helpful info on the fundamentals that I gleaned a great deal from. I do play BG primarily, but the fundamentals that Barron instilled have lent themselves to my ability to sit in with the worship band at my church and play along with the acoustic "pop" style of contemporary worship music.

Mandolessons.com has great stuff, IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oregon Jim

Hi Tim. I'm pretty new too, but have developed a few favorites. First of all, do you have a musical preference? If you're straight bluegrass or old time, you'll get different recommendations than if you have broader interests.

I like to spread out into rock and pop and melodies from my youth, so variety is my cup o tea.

Others have mentioned mandolessons.com. It's great, but leans toward traditional.












I've really taken to Rock and Pop Mandolin:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuw...tocnhSyGAASP5w
Everything from Beatles to punk

and
comandolin.com

which can deliver classical or Mr. Sandman.

Jim

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Thanks for the information Jim. My interest have always included a wide range. I like all sorts of songs ranging from folk, celtic, blue grass, just anything that would actually sound good in the language of mandolin. I'll check these sources out.

Thanks
Tim

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soliver

Even though Mandolessons leans toward the traditional, focusing on fiddle tunes, it holds a great deal of helpful info on the fundamentals that I gleaned a great deal from. I do play BG primarily, but the fundamentals that Barron instilled have lent themselves to my ability to sit in with the worship band at my church and play along with the acoustic "pop" style of contemporary worship music.

Mandolessons.com has great stuff, IMO.

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Thanks for the input soliver I have come across mandolessons.com and he will be one of my sources for sure. I'm old and have hand and wrist issues. So I won't be entering any mando - races.

Thanks
Tim

I just had a peek at the youtube link: I think that one will be very useful for me. Thanks.