Recommendation for Beginning Book

[abcrzn]

Hi
Can someone recommend a beginning mandolin lesson book? I just want a book for now. No CD's, on line etc. I want to learn the notes on the individual strings and read by music notes and not by tabs. I don't want instruction on chords until I learn the basics. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[yankees1]

There are great videos on learning mandolin basics so you may want to check out petimarpress.com as Pete Martin has excellent videos on basics. Free !

[JeffD]

Marilynn Mair's book "The Complete Mandolinist" is one of the best, IMO.

What kind of music are you interested in? Every genre has specialty books that get you going in that kind of music. For general playing however, I really think "The Complete Mandolinist" will really get you started right.

[fishingtiger]

I am a beginner and have been using "Mel bays complete mandolin method" to learn reading standard notation. It is pretty easy to follow.

[DSDarr]

The book "Hal Leonard Mandolin Method" by Rich DelGrosso is very good too, and a mixture of styles. There is some tab at the very beginning to help with fingering but after that all of the music is in standard notation.

-David

[Alex Orr]

Greg Horne's beginning mandolin book. Best intro book I've seen, for any instrument. First thing he does is teach the notes and the basic of how to read sheet music. However, depending on the version you purchase, it either comes with a CD, or a DVD with video that roughly covers the first quarter of the book and contains the audio for all the other examples. Hope the inclusion of non-print media doesn't turn you off

[abcrzn]

Thank you

[abcrzn]

I am a beginner and have been using "Mel bays complete mandolin method" to learn reading standard notation. It is pretty easy to follow.

Thanks. I learned viola in elementary and junior high from Mel Bay's books. I liked them.

[EdHanrahan]

After several beginner books that missed too many of the basics, at least the basics that a converting guitarist (like most of us) thought that they/I already knew, Greg Horne's book (a series, actually) was just what I needed.

More recently, Don Julin's "Mandolin for Dummies" is excellent. Don is a frequent poster here on the Cafe.

[Mateus]

More recently, Don Julin's "Mandolin for Dummies" is excellent. Don is a frequent poster here on the Cafe.

This. I am absolutely loving it and I find it is an excellent overview of the instrument and in depth enough to keep you interested and informed as you get better and better.