Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: First song to learn on mandolin

  1. #1

    Question First song to learn on mandolin

    Hi there

    What are the first songs to learn on mandolin? I'm looking for easy songs for beginners.

    TIA

  2. The following members say thank you to RockinRikk for this post:


  3. #2

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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

  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Northwest Steve For This Useful Post:


  5. #3

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to CarlM For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    Pittsburgh Bill
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    1,067
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.
    Big Muddy EM8 solid body (Mike Dulak's final EM8 build)
    Kentucky KM-950
    Weber Gallatin A Mandola "D hole"
    Rogue 100A (current campfire tool & emergency canoe paddle)

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Pittsburgh Bill For This Useful Post:


  9. #5
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    One you can sing ?
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  10. The following members say thank you to mandroid for this post:


  11. #6
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    North CA
    Posts
    5,020

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.

  12. The following members say thank you to DavidKOS for this post:


  13. #7

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.

  14. The following members say thank you to eightmoremiles for this post:


  15. #8
    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Ottawa, Canada
    Posts
    1,733

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

  16. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Ranald For This Useful Post:


  17. #9

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    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.

  18. #10
    Dan Scullin dscullin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Louisville, Kentucky
    Posts
    69

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Soldier’s Joy in the key of D was my first tune.
    Dan Scullin
    Louisville, KY

  19. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to dscullin For This Useful Post:


  20. #11
    bon vivant jaycat's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Boston, Mass.
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    This old favorite is a good one to start out with.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	faerie's aire.jpg 
Views:	894 
Size:	119.7 KB 
ID:	188471
    "The paths of experimentation twist and turn through mountains of miscalculations, and often lose themselves in error and darkness!"
    --Leslie Daniel, "The Brain That Wouldn't Die."

    Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa1...SV2qtug/videos

  21. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to jaycat For This Useful Post:


  22. #12
    String-Bending Heretic mandocrucian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    3,210

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Eruption
    Giant Steps
    Ornithology
    Peaches in Regalia
    The Claw
    Limerock
    Wild Thing


    (just goofin' on you!)

  23. The following members say thank you to mandocrucian for this post:


  24. #13
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,985

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by mandocrucian View Post
    Eruption
    Giant Steps
    Ornithology
    Peaches in Regalia
    The Claw
    Limerock
    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!

    Sue

  25. #14
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,985

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    This old favorite is a good one to start out with.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	faerie's aire.jpg 
Views:	894 
Size:	119.7 KB 
ID:	188471
    That's pretty darned funny

  26. #15

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin


    I will print it and put it on the wall in my bedroom :-))

  27. #16
    Registered User j4music's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    89

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Yeah, that's the same one I started out with. Piece of cake.

  28. The following members say thank you to j4music for this post:


  29. #17
    Registered User Bobby Hall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Posts
    10

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    This old favorite is a good one to start out with.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	faerie's aire.jpg 
Views:	894 
Size:	119.7 KB 
ID:	188471
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	surprised-emoticon-smiley-vector-21045780 (2).jpg 
Views:	155 
Size:	187.8 KB 
ID:	188535

  30. #18
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Forest Grove, Oregon
    Posts
    2,775

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by jaycat View Post
    This old favorite is a good one to start out with.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	faerie's aire.jpg 
Views:	894 
Size:	119.7 KB 
ID:	188471
    The B part always gave me trouble, the A part wasn't so bad
    Not all the clams are at the beach

    Arrow Manouche
    Arrow Jazzbo
    Arrow G
    Clark 2 point
    Gibson F5L
    Gibson A-4
    Ratliff CountryBoy A

  31. #19

    Default Re: First song to learn on mandolin

    Quote Originally Posted by RockinRikk View Post
    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.
    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.

  32. The following members say thank you to Patrick Hull for this post:

    Ranald 

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •