Mandolins
 

So, I bought a mandolin. I have 0 experience with reading music, playing music, music in general other than singing in the shower or car. I am very excited. I got it Friday and have been fiddling with it so much that other activities are being ignored. I need to call the guy who does the lessons (who only has phone numbers?!) and set some up. My goal is to be able to play the beginning of dueling banjos* so I can freak people out when I am camping :)

Any advice/tips welcome! Maybe I'll even be able to post a video of me playing soon :eek:

I got a used Washburn A style with a gig bag, 4 picks (the guy gave me different types to try and see what I liked), a tuner, and a How to book

*Yes, I know it was written for banjos
**My fingers hurt

Well done!

The musical journey starts slow, but is really rewarding. You won't become a master in a few weeks, but you'll see yourself improve over time; you'll master a technique, then a chord, then a song, then two songs... the trip is a beautiful one.

I'm already seeing improvement, so that's really fun. Then, I get over confident and frustrated. I have to remember that I'm still beginning and it's ok that I'm still having trouble with down and up picking. :blush:

I called the guy and left a message at the shop for him, so hopefully I can get in for an initial lesson soon! I mostly want him to make sure I'm holding it right and picking right and any other tips for getting better at doing the notes and the up picking (that one's really hard).

Good idea, get to him before you develop bad habits you have to break.

EXACTLY my thoughts!

My first lesson is tonight! WOO!

♫ Lesson number one, and the series has begun, roll me over lay me down and do it again.;)

My mother taught me that song when I was little with slightly different words, but same ending

In the clover probably, I shortened it because my singing is so bad. ;)

LOL! Yep. That's the one.

So my lesson was a good one. We talked about some basic music stuff (octaves, timing, etc). He showed me a few chords. He gave me a scale to practice and the chords to brown eyed girl to practice, too. I am getting pretty good at the scale, but the chords are tough. My fingers don't want to move that way....yet. He also showed me the Tablature way of reading music for the mandolin. I was trying to learn both, but he seemed to think it was ok just to do tabs. It's MUCH easier for one who hasn't learned to read music.

He also advised that I get a strap. I'm looking for one, but I might just sew one up. My SIL suggested getting a mount or a stand so that it's out of the bag. If it's in the bag, then I won't play it as much. I agree and am looking for that, too.

It it's out of the bag it'll get dusty.
Then when you pick it up to dust it off practice for awhile.
While you're practicing pluck out that tune you were humming while you were dusting.
When the tune is complete think up some lyrics to go with it.
Now you have a song you can sell for big bucks to Madonna, or Pink, or Springsteen.
Or record it and become a big star.
You go girl!

Done! :D

Here's an actual pic of it (SIGH - of course it's rotated. I HATE that all picture programs automatically rotate the fucking thing and don't tell you).

Ya might get away with an old belt. I did.

Go to Lowe's/Home Depot, get one of those red/orange, u-shaped screw-in hangers for shovels/hoes/rakes. They make great guitar mandolin hangers.

I don't have belts 😑 I was thinking of seeing if I could make one out of material I already have. I'll update how it goes

Thanks. I may check it out, but it's kind of not pretty :right::D

The book I have for learning has some notes to the beginning of ode to joy in it. When I tried a couple days ago, it sounded like nothing I've ever heard before. I tried it again tonight and it actually sounded like music and I recognized the notes. Thinking of seeing if there is a free online copy and adding that to my practice rotation. :jig: