New player -- question about learning materials

[neverenoughtea]

Hi all. I'm a new mandolin learner, waiting for my first mandolin to get here (an Eastman MD 305, probably not too surprising!) I bought a cheap mandolin a long time ago, but it turned out to be more like a toy, and it was really painful to try to play, I expect because of the action.

I live in a small town with no mandolin teachers. I studied piano for seven years as a kid using the Suzuki method, which means I have a preference for learning by ear, supplemented by standard notation. I was thinking about joining Banjo Ben's site (though I guess he uses tab), but I wondered what other resources you all might know of (DVDs, online courses, etc.) that could be helpful for a beginner who prefers to learn to play by ear but who can also read music. I also enjoy spending time learning good technique. I like bluegrass and old-time tunes, though I'm just getting into them.

Thanks in advance!

[Bill McCall]

ArtistWorks and Peghead Nation come to mind.

And lots of teachers available online.

[Kevin Winn]

MandoLessons.com

A full complement of technique lessons, plus huge collection of OT and BG fiddle tune lessons. Free (donations encouraged).

Lots of us started there.

Good choice for a first mando, BTW...

[Mitch Stein]

https://banjobenclark.com

I've been pleased with my journey through here

[Isaac Revard]

Mandolessons.com

Best beginner resource IMO. Of course artistworks and peghead are great...I’ve used them all.

[Mark Gunter]

I think by far the easiest and least expensive is mandolessons.com

He teaches note for note by ear, but also makes tab/sn available.

In my own journey, I started with bradleylaird.com and Mandolessons.com

Then used banjobenclark.com and homespun.com as well as just working stuff out by ear that you can find from anywhere.

[A-board]

When you’re ready for in-depth focus on specific genres or styles, check out Matt Flinner’s courses. He usually has an ad on the cafe when he has upcoming classes. These are paid classes that will provide intensive instruction with progressive exercises and tunes over a period of weeks. And he encourages learning by ear.

[Ash Telecaster]

Hi all. I'm a new mandolin learner, waiting for my first mandolin to get here (an Eastman MD 305, probably not too surprising!) I bought a cheap mandolin a long time ago, but it turned out to be more like a toy, and it was really painful to try to play, I expect because of the action.

I live in a small town with no mandolin teachers. I studied piano for seven years as a kid using the Suzuki method, which means I have a preference for learning by ear, supplemented by standard notation. I was thinking about joining Banjo Ben's site (though I guess he uses tab), but I wondered what other resources you all might know of (DVDs, online courses, etc.) that could be helpful for a beginner who prefers to learn to play by ear but who can also read music. I also enjoy spending time learning good technique. I like bluegrass and old-time tunes, though I'm just getting into them.

Thanks in advance!

Ditto, I just ordered my first Mandolin, an md305. I'm waiting for it to get here.

As mentioned above, a mandolin friend recommended Mandolessons.com. I'll be checking them out too.

[neverenoughtea]

Good choice for a first mando, BTW...

Thank you. YouTube was really helpful in researching what to get. There were lots of videos and comparisons for this mandolin.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions! I'm checking them all out now.

[Bob Gnann]

Congrats on your new mandolin! 20 plus years ago I went off on a musical tangent and took piano lessons for a year or so. The best take away from that was learning to read notation. You mentioned you learned notation and I would encourage you to use that to compliment any lessons you choose. I have found that what I hear (or think I hear) might be different than a printed piece on sheet music. I agree with the importance of learning the sound associated with your instrument and how to identify it by ear. And of course learning some tunes! Reading notation (mandolin and fiddle only require learning the treble clef) opens the doors to thousands of tunes in many genres.
My current interest is Canadian fiddle tunes. I can sit with a fiddle book and work through a tune in an hour or so that might take much longer if I only listened to it many times. Kind of like being able to speak a language versus being able to read a language. Welcome and enjoy the ride!

[neverenoughtea]

Thanks for the encouragement.

My current interest is Canadian fiddle tunes.

Sounds interesting! I used to watch a Canadian show called Road to Avonlea and there was a character who was fiddle player. I loved the tune he usually played, but I suspect it wasn't old, just beautiful. What are the names of some of the tunes?

[Bob Gnann]

Maple Sugar, Big John McNeil, Joys of Quebec, Maple Leaf Jig, Mouth of the Tobique, Angus Campbell, literally hundreds of great Canadian fiddlers and Canadian fiddle tunes. YT Calvin Vollrath, Natalie MacMaster, and you will hear some great music. I have had the great pleasure to play with some wonderful Canadian friends and musicians and I encourage you to give them a listen.

[Bob Gnann]

Oh and Reel de Montreal, Gaspe Reel, and some others if you want to into French Canadian fiddle music. Great stuff!

[maxr]

Neverenoughtea - however you arrange instruction, I'd suggest buying one instruction book, which I was recommended here - Mandolin for Dummies, by Don Julin. Over the years I've owned dozens of instructor books on different instruments, but I've never seen one which is so comprehensive an all-round introduction to the instrument, including lots of interesting background info. You may want more specialised material on your favourite musical genres later, but this book is just great for 'here's some of the things you can do with a mandolin, and how to do them'. It even extends to 'Ten ways to tap into the mandolin subculture', although this Forum has to be one of the best

[neverenoughtea]

Bob, I looked up some of those tunes on YouTube and they're great. I was getting some zydeco vibes, which is interesting. Looking forward to listening to more.

maxr, thanks for the book suggestion. I ordered it today.

[Hammerless]

maxr is right ... I too am brand new to learning the mandolin and just started working my way through Mandolin For Dummies and have appreciated the wealth of information it contains and the downloadable tracks are particularly helpful to me.