Mando chord cheat sheet

[dadsaster]

I prefer to organize chords by logical groupings and then practice those groupings. Here is an example:

[Mark Gunter]

I like the color and logic behind that.

[jtauxe]

Holy resurrected thread batman! 11 years! Since the OP hasn't been on the forum since '15, I wouldn't expect any more chart updates. <snip>

Surprise! I'm still here. I just don't log in very often. :P

I hope to soon update these chord charts, as the mando rolls around in the hobby cycle. I like the suggestion of grouping or aligning chords of the same type across the scales. I also have come up with a large number of interesting chords that I developed while playing in a small jazz ensemble. I should put those on a separate page.

Stay tuned! I'll get around to it eventually.

[Mark Gunter]

Thanks for the update, J!

I’ve been working on a chord project myself, check it out here: https://theamateurmandolinist.com/se...n-chord-bible/

[Bob Buckingham]

I teach kids in the Junior Appalachian Musician (JAM) program and I like to keep chords associated by key. This is the way I present them but I like your color key for degree of scale. Nice touch.

[jtauxe]

I agree with JonZ's comment about focusing on the basic chord families or shapes. If a player masters this, that takes them to a new level of understanding. I was thinking about adding a page on my chord cheat sheet that does this, without referencing any particular key.

Funny thing is that my chord shapes are completely different, since I developed them on my own from the theory I knew before I looked into what others are doing on the mandolin. Mine are mostly centered around barre chords. It made sense to me, but it takes a lot of left hand strength to play, and if I let myself get "out of shape" it takes a couple of weeks to gain the strength back so that I can make it through a whole piece like Unbroken Chain.

[Mandobart]

Nice that you're still at it and adding to the mandolin world these 16 years later! I also like the Dead and McMurtry tunes on your site!

I'll echo Bob B's suggestion to group by key. Of course this leads to repetition as the I of G becomes the V of C, IV of G becomes the I of C, etc.

Sometimes that reinforces learning though.