Hi there
What are the first songs to learn on mandolin? I'm looking for easy songs for beginners.
TIA
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Hi there
What are the first songs to learn on mandolin? I'm looking for easy songs for beginners.
TIA
Here is a link to some great lessons - note the beginner stuff at the top
https://www.mandolessons.com/lessons/all-lessons/
Amazing Grace is something everyone knows and is pretty easy, also Wildwood Flower is a great song
I taught my wife Angeline the Baker as her first tune. She had a few banjo lessons but is not very strong musically and picked it up in a couple of days. It was also the first tune I picked out on mandolin but I already knew it on guitar.
Rhythm. Blow’n in the Wind (chord changes very recognizable)
Most Hank Williams tunes are easy play for melody or rhythm.
Melody : Beatles “Yesterday” (don’t try this for rhythm)
When I first started many people recommended a book by Bruce Dix. I bought the book but found almost nothing I had ever heard. Just my humble opinion. Hopefully you will get many recommendations more suitable than mine. These are just what worked for me.
One you can sing ?
This question depends entirely on what sort of music you want to play. I learned simple Italian tunes first.
Most other mandolin players in the USA seem to play other musical styles first.
A simple tune, but one appropriate for these last several months, would be the first tune I learned from my father over 60 years ago: The Chinese Breakdown.
If you're an absolute beginner and want something really simple, a standard first tune for violin and fiddle (tuned the same as a mandolin) students is "Twinkle, Twinkle." Undoubtedly, you know the tune. Start by picking twice on the G string then pick twice on the D string. It's easy to work out from there without written music or tabs, just by finding the right sounds. When you've got it, repeat, starting on D and moving to A this time. It won't be your show-off piece five years from now, but it'll give you a sense of accomplishment, and familiarize you with the mandolin's tuning, in fifths.
Thank you very much for your answers!
To recap (and note to myself):
- Amazing Grace
- Angeline the Baker
- Rhythm: Blow’n in the Wind
- Most Hank Williams tunes
- Melody: Beatles “Yesterday”
- The Chinese Breakdown
- Twinkle, Twinkle.
Soldier’s Joy in the key of D was my first tune.
This old favorite is a good one to start out with.
Attachment 188471
Eruption
Giant Steps :disbelief:
Ornithology
Peaches in Regalia
The Claw
Limerock :crying:
Wild Thing
(just goofin' on you!) :))
Niles, I thought you were going to recommend he tune into his inner jukebox. I was thinking about quoting you on that one!Quote:
Originally Posted by mandocrucian
Sue
That's pretty darned funny :))Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycat
:))
I will print it and put it on the wall in my bedroom :-))
Yeah, that's the same one I started out with. Piece of cake.
Attachment 188535Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycat
The B part always gave me trouble, the A part wasn't so bad:)Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycat
I am mainly working on playing fiddle these days, but I was thinking about this from that perspective recently, and I would recommend someone learn songs that will easily translate to picking up other tunes. From that perspective I think Angeline is a great choice as is Amazing Grace. You can play them in A, then move them to another key fairly easily by moving over a string and then learn them in G, also fairly easily. I think if you get those two songs in A, you can transition to a ton of other songs. Also, you can sing along with either one, so there is another skill you can work on with your two base foundational songs. Just my thought.Quote:
Originally Posted by RockinRikk