Synopses & Reviews
Master the basics in no time and learn to play everything from blues and bluegrass to jazz and classical
From Vivaldi to Bill Monroe, and Led Zeppelin to Nickel Creek, the mandolin has been enriching western music with its distinctive voice for nearly three centuries. If you've been bitten by the mandolin bug and are ready to jump in with both feet, Mandolin For Dummies is your springboard. Been playing for a while and want to expand your repertoire of styles? No problem: Don Julin will fill you in on how to play all popular styles, including old-time, Irish, blues, bluegrass, swing, and jazz plus a bit of Dawg music. Newcomers and old hands alike will enjoy the mandolin trivia and history liberally sprinkled throughout the book.
- Get acquainted buy the best mandolin in your price range and discover how to tune and care for your new best friend
- Nail down your mandolin ABCs get up and running right away with mandolin basics, including counting, tablature, chord diagrams, and more
- Start making beautiful music immediately right from the start, you'll be playing basic chord patterns, backup rhythms, and simple melodies
- Quickly master right- and left-hand essentials before you know it, you'll be picking and strumming, and playing open and closed fingering and articulations like a pro
- Get the hang of a multitude of styles Celtic and old-time music, bluegrass and jazz; you'll get to grips with the defining techniques of the most popular styles of playing
Audio download includes
- The musical examples from the book so you can play along
- Exercises to help you build your skills
Open the book and find:
- A mandolin buying guide
- Instructions on changing strings, repairing your mandolin, and keeping it in top form
- How to build an accessories kit
- The basics of mandolin playing
- Left- and right-hand techniques to spice up any melody
- How to play many different styles of mandolin
- Tips for improving your playing
- The lowdown on the greatest mandolin players of all time
Learn to:
- Select the right mandolin and accessories
- Master various chords and picking patterns
- Play Irish, blues, swing, jazz, bluegrass, and old-time music
Synopsis
The fun and easy way to learn to play the mandolinThe newest addition to the highly successful Dummies instrument-instruction line, Mandolin For Dummies gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction on learning to play the mandolin. Following the time-tested Dummies format, Mandolin For Dummies provides a level of content and instruction greater than anything currently available.
Mandolin For Dummies breaks down the fundamentals of this instrument and provides the resources you need to practice and improve your ability over time.
- Packed with individualized instruction on key mandolin-friendly musical styles, including Irish and Celtic, "old time" American music, blues, bluegrass, swing, and jazz
- Files available via download provide audio tracks from the book and exercises so you can play along and build your skills -- almost 2 hours of music!
- Clear and useful photos and diagrams ensure you fret, strum, and pick with precision
- Includes a mandolin buying guide to help ensure you make the right purchases
- Tips on restringing mandolins and other DIY care and maintenance topics
If you're an aspiring mandolin player, don't fret! Mandolin For Dummies has you covered.
About the Author
Don Julin is a professional mandolin player, instructor, and recording artist. Don has spent the last 30 years challenging the boundaries of the mandolin and developing a reputation for being one of the most eclectic mandolin players on the scene today.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Being Bitten By the Mandolin Bug 7
Chapter 1: Becoming Acquainted with Your Mandolin 9
Chapter 2: Getting to Grips with Tuning and Terminology 21
Chapter 3: Getting a Handle on Your Mandolin 29
Part II: Starting to Play the Mandolin 37
Chapter 4: Making Music on the Mandolin 39
Chapter 5: Picking with the Right Hand 65
Chapter 6: Fretting Notes and Chords with the Left Hand 93
Chapter 7: Playing ‘Jethro’-Style Three-String Chords 115
Chapter 8: Playing Mandolin Music: Scales and Melody 129
Part III: Putting Playing Styles into Practice 153
Chapter 9: Playing Music from Yesteryear: Old Time, Rags and Blues 155
Chapter 10: Giving your Mandolin a Speedy Workout: Bluegrass 187
Chapter 11: Travelling to the Emerald Isle: Irish Mandolin 209
Chapter 12: Taking a Quick World Tour 225
Chapter 13: Swinging to Those Jazzy Rhythms 241
Chapter 14: Blending Styles: Dawg Music 265
Part IV: Purchasing and Caring For Your Mandolin 275
Chapter 15: Selecting and Buying a Mandolin 277
Chapter 16: Building Your Accessories Kit 291
Chapter 17: All Change: Replacing Your Mandolin’s Strings 301
Chapter 18: Caring For and Repairing Your Mandolin 311
Part V: The Part of Tens 321
Chapter 19: Ten (or so) Tips on Becoming a Good Mandolin Player 323
Chapter 20: Ten Mandolin Players You Need To Know 329
Chapter 21: Ten Ways of Tapping Into the Mandolin Subculture 335
Part VI: Appendixes 341
Appendix A: Chord Charts 343
Appendix B: Reading Standard Musical Notation 347
Appendix C: Audio Tracks 359
Index 365