Date: Sun, 11 Apr 2004 23:39:33 -0600
Subject: Learning Mandolin

Greetings again:

Thanks for the information. Sorry my syntax was so muffed. I'm working nights and I was very tired when I wrote my e-mail. I guess that's why spell and grammar check was invented. 

Not a problem...I sometimes find myself writing in the middle of the night too...communication was clear...and that's what counts...

Ha! I really want to learn how to play the mandolin. I've been in love with the sound for as long as I can remember. What, in your opinion is the best route to take in doing so? 

The next best thing to having a teacher is having an instructional video....especially one that focuses on methodology as opposed to teaching one song after another...by methodology, I'm referring to a video that teaches the importance of proper position along with exercises and studies that establish a solid foundation...developing good habits from the start that ensure that you will always be playing at your optimal best...

I've found no teachers in Beaumont, TX, so I have to do this by reading, videos, etc. What would you recommend? 

You may also find books that offer up a methodology approach...only, it's best to start out with a visual aid such as a video...

Help me Obewan. I'm not feeling the force! Hint… this is where you plug your teaching materials. By the way, I know absolutely nothing about music at all. I listen and sing, but I know nothing about theory, scales, etc. I have dabbled with the guitar for about 2 months and I can play several cords, however my hands are small and I am very frustrated and sore from trying to learn cords that require stretching like a yoga instructor. The guitar was given to me and that is the only reason I have dabbled at all. My interest is in playing the mandolin. I'll shut up now and listen to your suggestions. Thanks again. Your web site has really helped the long nights at work go by much faster.

I hope to also include more images on establishing a solid foundation within our free online lessons section:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

This will at least get you started until you acquire your first video...

For a listing of Wisdom of the Wood instructional books and videos:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page645.htm

Mandolin Instructional Books Order Code Retail FOTW Price Further Description
Mel Bay Publications
2000 Mandolin Anthology of Songs MB-98372BCD $29.95 $23.96 Intermediate to Advanced w/CD
Deluxe Bluegrass Mandolin MB-93340BCD $19.95 $15.96 Intermediate to Advanced w/CD
Deluxe Encyclopedia of Mandolin Chords MB-98354 $9.95 $7.96 Chords Presented by Key
You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin MB-94331CD $19.95 $15.96 CD/Book Set
Easy Mandolin Solos MB-96547BCD $9.95 $7.96 CD/Book Set
Mandolin Crosspicking Techniques MB-96613 $14.95 $14.95 Methodology Book with Lots of Exercises


Mandolin Instructional Videos Order Code Retail FOTW Price Further Description

You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin MB-94331VX $29.95 $23.96 100 Min. VHS Very Basic Level
Bluegrass Mandolin Vol. 1 Video MB-94979VX $29.95 $23.96 60 Minutes VHS
Bluegrass Mandolin Vol. 2 Video MB-94980VX $29.95 $23.96 60 Minutes VHS
60 Hot Licks for Bluegrass Mandolin MB-95091VX $29.95 $23.96 60 Minutes VHS
Introduction to the Mandolin FOTW-ITTM $39.95 $34.95 140 Minutes VHS Beginning/Intermediate

Hope this helps, Mickey

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 12:07:16 -0800 (PST)
Subject: mandolin notation MICKEY COCHRAN

Can you tell me how you printed the downpick symbol? I want to print the lessons in Crosspicking Techniques in notation. Also, can you recommend any text on mandolin backup for bluegrass? Am really enjoying the Morgan, my fiddle and banjo are collecting dust! Dale

Greetings Dale,

Glad to assist if I can: Are you having trouble printing out a certain page? If so, please give me the page number.

If you're referring to one of the sample PDF files, such as "Under the Double Eagle" ...the downpick symbols here were graphically drawn and are a part of my custom tab program. It should still print out without a problem. Let me know what problems you may be encountering...

Dix Bruce has a very basic video that covers an elementay approach to playing back-up on mandolin...
"You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin"...

For more advanced Bluegrass Back-Up techniques, I'm not too sure what else would be available...

Check with the following publishers:
www.melbay.com
www.halleonard.com
www.homespun.com

Our "Introduction to the Mandolin" video does cover some back-up techniques...however, at a very basic level.

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Date: Mon, 8 Jul 2002 19:31:14 EDT

I like the Phoenix Bluegrass very much....

the thing I liked about the Rigel A+ was the pick-up/piezo.

I didn't use it very much, but nice knowing it was available.

I'm a beginning mando player so I don't have any definite
style. Probably bluegrass/old time/ rock is my music type.

I'm might be going to Niles Hokkanen mando camp in October.
(I'm in Virginia so it's only 65 miles away)

Can you recommend any beginner books/videos FOTW stocks??

well Mickey.... I'll let you go...

best wishs to you and all your staff at FOTW

thanks - Mark Davenport

Greetings Mark,

Sounds like you're an eclectic mandolinist...such as myself. I enjoy playing all styles...and, have found my Breedlove Alpine to fill the bill. It has a vast tonal range that seems to work well within most any style of music.

If you're looking to trade up, you might consider a Breedlove Master Class with toned woods...

My favorite instructional books on mandolin are methodologies as opposed to songbooks. Any instructional material that focuses on exercises and technique building are far superior to books that focus on learning one song after another by rote. By gaining a foundation in technique first, learning any song is facilitated over and beyond memorizing by rote.

Niles does have a couple of books oriented to learning scales and exercises...such as his Pentatonic Mandolin...which I highly recommend...I would also recommend anything Jethro Burns has written...my Crosspicking Mandolin Technique book is methodology based...there are many tunes in the book and all of them have preliminary studies and exercises to ensure that the technique and facility is gained before tackling the song.

Be aware, this also applies to video instruction; try to find a video that teaches methodology first and songs second...

Thanks again for keeping faith with us...

At your disposal, Mickey

Date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 14:28:04 -0600
Subject: Re: butch baldassari

mickey, i ran across the following mandolin instructional videos on the web.
they are titled YOU CAN PLAY BLUEGRASS MANDOLIN VOLS. 1&2. are you familiar
with this artist? if so, would you recommend these videos for a beginner like
myself? do you have them in your store, or could you get them? again, thanks
for your time and help. Cornbreadhall

Greetings...

Yes, I'm familiar with Butch...a phenomenal player that resides in Nashville.

I'm sure his videos are superb...if they reflect his playing quality.

We do carry these videos...they retail at 49.95; your discounted price through us would be: 39.96 Shipping would be 4.00. Mickey

Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 02:36:45 -0600
To: "S. Graham"
Subject: Choice of books for Mandolin

I would like some feedback from ya'll when you can as to what books you may
recommend that would help someone starting out .

Thanks again,
Steve

Greetings Steve...

We do have quite a few selections for mandolin.

You only need to keep in mind that books fall into two categories:
1. Songbooks
2. Methodologies

Your choice of instruction would be determined by whether you want to build a solid foundation or if you'd want to randomly learn one song after another...

For beginners, I highly recommend a methodology book, or video, that builds technique along with a strong foundation. A book, or video, that teaches mandolin exercises and along with fundamentals of music theory. With this knowledge to base your playing on, you'll find it far less frustrating to tackle the songs presented in the average songbooks.

Whereas, by starting out with songbook material, even though this material may be presented for the stark beginner, you would only be accumulating one song after another by rote at best. You wouldn't be learning what are the elements that make up the song...or, even be advancing your technique as is easily accomplished studying technique offered by methodology books.

Unfortunately, there are very few methodology books, or videos, available on mandolin...for guitar, there are plenty...

Due to this, I have considered working on a series of books and videos offering fundamentals and exercises to specifically build mandolin technique. Please stay tuned for these...and, if I come across any books offered today on building mandolin technique, I will be sure to advertise them on our website...

Hope this helps you with your research for mando learning materials...


Mickey

Subject: Mandolin Methodologies
From: "Eric Blankenship"
Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2001 14:36:46 -0400


While I have your attention, let me ask a few more questions if you have
the time. I received the mandolin about 3-4 weeks ago, and I think so far
my playing has improved tremendously. I have a guitar background, so it
wasn't terribly difficult to get started. Here's my thoughts though. I am
wondering if you could recommend a website or book that would help me with
technique. I know I have bad habits in my guitar playing and I'm trying to
avoid that as much as possible with the mandolin. I want to learn it as
properly as I can initially. Any thoughts or recommendations would be
greatly appreciated. I picked up the crosspicking book, and it looks
great, but I'm more thinking of mechanic technique. Holding the pick,
wrist movement, left hand technique, postions. One last question. I've
heard all sorts of stories about what the *best* pick is. What's your
opinion? Standard guitar pick, rounded guitar pick, round side of a
standard guitar pick, medium, thick?

Thanks for all your help.

Sincerely-

Eric Blankenship

PS- I'm going on a cross country trip in a few weeks. Where is Ruidoso
located? I wouldn't mind popping in and meeting all of you. You've been
very helpful thus far, and I just want to say thanks.

Greetings Eric,

Ruidoso is located in the Eastern Central portion of the state of New Mexico...between Alamogordo and Roswell...Please come on down and pay us a visit if you get a chance.

In answer to your questions:


1. Does adjusting string height interfere with intonation?

Only if it's a substantial adjustment...which usually is very rare. My suggestion would be to adjust the action first, then fine tune the intonation.

2. I am wondering if you could recommend a website or book that would help me with technique?

There are quite a few good mando books on the market. Be aware, there are two types, Songbooks and Methodology books. One teaches how to play songs note for note the other develops technique. My recommendation, for all beginners, is to find a methodology book that will assist you in developing technique first and foremost. Then, delve into the songbooks...since, by then, after developing solid technique, you'll find it far less frustrating to learn songs.

There are very few methodology books on the market. Most are songbooks.
A. Some of Jethro Burns books do teach exercises for technique building.
B. My "Crosspicking Mandolin Technique" (which you already made mention that you have) book does cover exercises and technique builders but is somewhat advanced in most respects.
C. All good scale and chord books would be considered methodology material.
D. For Websites: be sure to check our Mandolin Cafe www.mandolincafe.com There's many lessons offered throughout this site...bound to find some good technique builders.

3. Holding the pick, wrist movement, left hand technique, postions.

I'm hoping to finish up an instructional video that is solely a mando technique video covering all of the above points. There's nothing that I know on the market that currently covers all facets of playing a mandolin...especially, when building your first foundation for playing while eliminating all bad habits beforehand.

4. I've heard all sorts of stories about what the *best* pick is. What's your opinion? Standard guitar pick, rounded guitar pick, round side of a standard guitar pick, medium, thick?

This is subjective to the individual player's taste. Well, when first starting out on mandolin, it's very difficult to decide on a perfect pick...the problem being that you haven't played long enough to make a valid decision. There are many ways to look at "how to choose a pick?"...for instance, the style of music may dictate what size and thickness of pick to choose...many jazz players prefer the tiny teardrop pick (I can't even hold on to one myself)...If you're read my chapter in "Mandolin Crosspicking Technique" book, you'll find some points of interest such as how the thickness of a pick affects tone. A thin pick creates somewhat of an undesirable slapping noise. A thick pick will create more of a fat sound which usually has more of a thud. I've found a medium thickness offers an optimal tonal quality (no slapping sounds and no thuds).

Hope the above helps in some way...Mickey