Mandolin Lessons: 1 Fundamentals

Learn foundations of bluegrass, classical, and Brazilian mandolin. Learn basics like holding and tuning a mandolin, positioning your hands and fingers, and playing simple chords.

Take mandolin lessons online and learn at your own pace. Mike Marshall—founder of Mandolin Symposium, Grammy nominee, and founding member of the David Grisman Quintet—teaches the fundamentals of bluegrass, classical, and Brazilian mandolin. This four-part comprehensive video library includes hundreds of online mandolin lessons, plus exclusive performances, special guest interviews, and study materials such as tab and audio samples. Part 1 covers basics such as holding and tuning a mandolin, positioning your hands and fingers, and playing simple chords. Mike also covers a bit of music theory and techniques like chops and picking, so you can start to play the mandolin in more modern arrangements. Plus, learn to play some simple tunes, including classics such as "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane" and "Wabash Cannonball," that will keep you motivated on your journey to mandolin mastery.

Note: This course is one of a 4-part series created and produced by ArtistWorks. We are honored to host this training in our library.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Getting Started

• Introduction to beginner mandolin
• About the mandolin
• Sitting position
• Sitting vs. standing
• Tuning

2. Right and Left Hand Fundamentals

• The right hand, part 1
• The right hand, part 2
• The left hand, part 1
• The left hand, part 2
• Open chords, part 1
• Open chords, part 2
• Open chords, part 3

3. Beginner Mandolin Tunes

• "Old Joe Clark", part 1
• "Old Joe Clark", part 2
• "Liberty", part 1
• "Liberty", part 2
• "Boil Them Cabbage Down"
• "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane", basic rhythm, key of G

4. Theory and Exercises

• Build your own exercise
• Fun with theory, part 1
• Fun with theory, part 2
• "Hand Me Down My Walking Cane", basic rhythm, key of D
• "I Am a Pilgrim"
• Finding minor chords
• Minor chord progression exercise
• Finding moveable chords
• The 7th or dominant chords
• 7th chords as dominants
• Playing 1-4-5 in minor

5. Chops and Picking

• Bluegrass chop chords, part 1
• Bluegrass chop chords, part 2
• Down and up picking basics
• "This Little Light of Mine"
• "Wabash Cannonball"
• Fiddle tune, "Devil's Dream" in A
• Banjo tune, "Cripple Creek" in G

Conclusion

• ArtistWorks and Next Steps