Mandolin for Dummies, etc

[zedmando]

Hmm, interesting, I check the local library for mandolin books and find Mandolin for Dummies & Mandolin Exercises for Dummies by Don Julin.
And I find out there's a connection here--kind of cool.

So far the books look good and have been helpful.
Just thinking of the connection--though not intended on my part.

Anybody else seen these books?

[derbex]

They come up in the forums pretty often, I think Don Julin posts here occaisionally . I checked out Mandolin for Dummies from our local library too -good book.

[zedmando]

I'm thinking I may get my own copies of them.

[G7MOF]

They're well worth the money. Mine helped me considerably!!!

[Mandobart]

I got the first book when it came out. Even though I've played musical instruments for over 40 years and mandolin for almost 7, I found a lot of useful info in there. I had the pleasure of attending Don's 4 hour workshop at Wintergrass last week. He is an excellent teacher and real good guy. Even let me play a tune with him. You can find some great video lessons he's done at youtube and elsewhere.

I was so impressed with Mandolin For Dummies that I went to my library to check out the Guitar and Violin for dummies books (by different authors). It is well worth going back over the basics periodically.

[SternART]

I was a technical editor for the first one....GOOD stuff!
Every mando player should have one as a reference.
And Julin is the REAL DEAL, check him out with Billy Strings & Don Julin.
These cats can really play! And like Mandobart says Don is a good guy too!!!

[DSDarr]

Another good word for these books and Don Julin. I got to hang with a bit at Wintergrass and he's a fun, easy to approach kind of guy.

I have both of his books and they are both worth getting! Especially "Mandolin Exercises for Dummies" which I think may well be the single best mando book out there. Really!

-David

p.s. good to see you at Wintergrass too "Mandobart"!

[Ryk Loske]

I'm thinking I may get my own copies of them.

Great idea. To make them more useful ... take them to some place like Staples or Office Max and have them spiral bound. WAY easier to use. If you check out Don's website there's a picture of him with his bound that way.
Don's YouTube videos are also a great source.

Ryk

[rfloyd]

BTW, the cost to have it spiral bound at Office Depot is quite low, and makes the books much more usable. Well under $10, IIRC.

[zedmando]

Cool stuff.
While there's a lot I know from years of music lessons and playing, etc--there's a lot I've forgotten and a lot I didn't know specific to the mandolin.
A lot of the books I can actually just read as well, for fun and info--and I think they'd make for great reference works.
As Don Julin writes int here--use the books to look up the info you want to know, in whatever order, (I'm paraphrasing)
But I'm probably going to play through most of them, and then start looking for my own copies.

[JeffD]

--and I think they'd make for great reference works.
As Don Julin writes in there--use the books to look up the info you want to know, in whatever order,.

I find that this is true of all of the Dummies books I have looked at. Great references - even when you know something about the subject, but especially when a new subject has been thrust into your life. The Diabetes for Dummies is an amazing reference, for example, about a subject in which I did not really want any expertise.

Don Julin has many great videos. He is a very good teacher. He makes the most complicated things look do-able. In addition to learning something, Don leaves me feeling like yea, I can do this, I can learn even more.

[KEB]

Best description of Jetrho Burns-style 3 finger chords that I've seen anywhere.

It's really a pretty amazing book when you consider how many different styles it touches on.

[Al Trujillo]

I bought the Dummies book the same week I picked my first mandolin and it really been a huge help. Be sure to download the 95 MP3 tracks that accompany the lesson plan. If there's a better instructional out there they'd have to pretty danged good to surpass Dummies. ��

[zedmando]

And thanks to the book I discovered this guy who plays blues on mandolin.
Sometimes a bit raw--but it works...

[Al Trujillo]

Great idea. To make them more useful ... take them to some place like Staples or Office Max and have them spiral bound.
Ryk

After reading your suggestion I took mine into Office Depot/Office Max and they spiral bound mine for $3.75 - great deal!

[zedmando]

Cheaper than suggested--cool.

I'll have to keep that in mind when I get my own copy.

[JeffD]

Yes I have had that done to several music books, so that they will lie flat on the table or on the music stand.

I find it best to do that right away before I dive into the book, because any frustrations I have in the beginning kind of leak into how I feel about the book in general.

[keitha]

Just bought this book, looks good, now to start working on it.

[Ted Eschliman]

The Cafe has a long standing relationship with Don. These articles may be helpful:
An Interview with Don Julin, author of Mandolin For Dummies
Don Julin Mandolin Exercises For Dummies Interview
10 Questions For Don Julin

[keitha]

The Cafe has a long standing relationship with Don. These articles may be helpful:
An Interview with Don Julin, author of Mandolin For Dummies
Don Julin Mandolin Exercises For Dummies Interview
10 Questions For Don Julin

Thanks

[zedmando]

The Cafe has a long standing relationship with Don.

That is mentioned in the books, and this site is mentioned in the reference & resource sections.

[Randy Linam]

I have MFD Exercises on ebook. I love it. Is there a lot of info in the MFD that's not in the MFD Exercises book. Should I have both?

Randy

[zedmando]

I have MFD Exercises on ebook. I love it. Is there a lot of info in the MFD that's not in the MFD Exercises book. Should I have both?

Randy

MFD is part reference book as well as stuff to play & learn that way--the books work together--so there shouldn't be an issue owning both.
Which one helps you more will depend on where you are on the mandolin, and where you want to go.

[Ky Slim]

I think the one for banjo is just called Banjo For Banjo Players.

[zedmando]

Now be nice, they can't help it...