Frequently Asked Questions About FOTW's Online Mandolin Lessons

Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 22:03:10 -0600
Subject: Re: Folk of the Wood Contact Form: THANK YOU!

Subject: THANK YOU!
Message: I recently got into Mandolins, I've never played one before, and I'm still waiting for it in the mail. So of course, I've been trying to find anything on Mandolin. I came across your site and your lessons are AMAZING. I've been a percussion player for 7 years, and knew how to read the rhythms and timing of music, but your lessons are so fantastic! I was able to refresh, and I feel confident enough that when my mando arrives i will be able to play quite a few scales. I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting this on your site. Your work is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much again,
-bh

Brittani,

Thanks so much for sharing this with me. And, I wish you the best with your new mandolin journey.

Mickey Cochran

Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:47:33 -0600
Subject: Re: mandolin technique?

Thanks for your online mandolin lessons, which I've found very helpful.

You're most welcome.

I decided it would be good to learn some more technique, and bought Gertrud Troster's "Technique on Eight strings" - several exercises from this book appear on the syllabus of the Victoria College of Music.

I'm immediately confronted by something I don't understand: on page 2, the instruction is to do the exercise with vertical | or slanted / plectrum.
Could you explain, please?

I don't have this series myself ... so I can only conjecture ... I believe they're referring to the pick slanted so that it's no longer on the same horizontal as the strings. In doing this, you gain a different tone and in some cases you can also speed up your alternating picking strokes. Additionally, I've found that by slanting my flatpick I get a more whispering tone that is contributory to slower songs.

Vertical I understand: "normal" strokes with the plectrum at right angles to the strings.
But slanted / ? Does the use of the forward slash mean the pointed end of the plectrum is angled towards the nut, so that the side of the plectrum that would normally face the bridge is being used to strike the strings?

I believe, as above, the pick when in a normal position, is perfectly aligned with the horizontal plane of the strings. And, when slanted, it's at a 90-degree angle to the horizontal plane of the strings. The point of the pick no longer strikes the string flat, but more of a slanted edge is striking the strings.

That sounds reasonable, and certainly does change the tone colour. But if so, how do you do it? Do you bend the wrist to change the angle?

I bend my wrist to achieve this angle ...

However I do it, the Troster tutor would have me changing angle just for a few notes on an eighth note run, so it has to be possible to move between | and / rapidly.

I guess they're suggesting to do this since there's more speed required in this passage. However, it's not necessary, you could still keep the pick straight and play fast ... with practice.

Any advice gratefully received!

Hope something here helps, Mickey

Malcolm Lambert
Belize
Central America

Mickey Cochran
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312

http://www.mysticwestproducts.com

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:21:23 -0600
Subject: Re: Mando Lessons...

Using the online lessons and wondering if it would matter much as far as with the down up pick stroke method, if you just could alternate each note from the beginning note with down up down up down up? It seems so much easier to do that way for me. WOuld that create more problems for me in the long run or not really??

Thanks so much.

A beginner,
Denyel

Greetings Denyel,

The down up pick strokes are critical ... and, you'll always want to be conscious of the meter, rhythm and timing so that you're plugging in the correct up and down strokes.

One of the most important things to keep in mind, as a beginning mandolinist, is that all downstrokes should be on the downbeat and all upstrokes on the upbeat ... this establishes a solid rhythm and will keep you completely on track with your flatpicking. Of course, this doesn't apply to playing arpeggios or crosspicking. Later in your studies you may run into ways to adjust your down and up strokes so that you can arpeggiate a chord or crosspick a roll.

Thusly, as you study the exercises on the FOTW site, or as you tackle one of the pieces of music, just try to tap your foot on the four beats of a measure ... and if a note falls on one of the beats when your foot is tapping down, you know to use a downstroke. And, if a note falls in between, where the foot is raising itself back up, you know to use an upstroke. This is demonstrated extensively on the "Introduction to the Mandolin" DVD through many different chordal exercises and songs.

Hope this helps,

Mickey Cochran
Mystic West Products
Acoustic Music Instruction
PO Box 2810
Alto, New Mexico 88312

http://www.mysticwestproducts.com

Subject: mandolin question
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 16:02:24 -0400

Hi I just got a mandolin. I am wondering for the tablature, since it only shows four strings do you always fret both strings like G and G at the same time for that? Is there ever a time when you don't pick both strings?

Greetings,

Yes, you always fret both strings...nope, the tradition has always been that both strings are struck by the pick and both strings are fretted together. So both your G strings are played together all the time.

There has been the extremely rare occasion where these strings were split up and played separately. This was first explored by Jesse McReynolds and was called the split string technique. It's very difficult to do and is considered non-traditional. My suggestion would be to first learn your mandolin with the traditional approach of playing both strings. Someday, you might want to explore these other unorthodox techniques.

Be sure to check out our online lessons section linked from below for comprehensive beginning mandolin instruction...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Subject: Hey there
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 10:20:56 -0500

I'm just wondering if you still plan on adding a few more tablatures to the site, i'm not sure if its still updated but I know you said you might be adding a few songs or two. I'd love to practice Opus 100, its a great song.

Brian

Greetings Brian,

Of course! I hope to add many more tabs...unfortunately time is of the essence. Thanks to your request and others, I believe the focus will be original studies and pieces. There are plenty of other sites that are handling the traditional side of mandolin well...we probably do not need to hash over the same tabs...hence, I will do my best to start tabbing out some of my originals. Thanks for the reminder and the input.

Mickey
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Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 02:58:31 +0000

Hello Mickey

Greetings,

I have been working my way through the mandolin lessons and am very excited about the method by which you teach. I have been a guitar player all my life but have only played by ear. Believe it or not, I have played in bands for 25 years and did not know that melodies in a certain key were built in the scale of that key. The light bulb has really turned on and I see all kinds of possibilities now. I have a question about lesson 7a. I am a bit confused by "Use an alternating pick direction...Down & Up Throughout" and "Use the dame Down & Up pick direction Throughout".

Yes, this essentially means the same thing: you'll be using a down picking motion on the first note and then an up picking motion on the second....and so on throughout the study....

Do these two statements mean the same thing? Another question, the mandolin I am borrowing is an Olympia mandolin, made by Tacoma and it is not bad but the fret board comes way up close to the bridge like some of the Morgan Monroes, I think. I feel at times like I should be playing closer to the neck for a fuller sound but the fretboard is in the way. Am I wrong to think I should be playing closer to the fretboard than the bridge?

Yes, you'll want to vary your picking position for softer tones...or brighter as when playing closer to the bridge...having the neck extension can be somewhat cumbersome if you dig down below the strings...I can play on the surface of the strings right above the fingerboard and still seem to get a softer lighter tone without the pick hitting the fingerboard...this only takes a little practice...many mandolinists do accomplish this...

Sorry this is so long; one more. I am seriously considering buying a mandolin from you and can go about $1300 at most. Is there any American made model available in that price range.

Sure, there are some very nice American-made, professional level mandolins, that fall within this price range:

1. Weber Hyalite: an archtop mandolin with a matte finish...very versatile and great for a variety of styles...
2. Rigel A+ Natural: another archtop with lots of volume and sweetness of tone....
3. Breedlove OF Quartz Models...lots of clarity and crispness in tone...

If not, What would you suggest in that price range that is a step up from what I am using. I think this Olympia I am borrowing sells for about $500 and is similar to the Epiphone model in that range. I would want an instrument in the classic F style with F-holes.

For an F-style, you'll want to look at the Morgan Monroe, Michael Kelly or the Kentucky 700 Series...only, keep in mind, these are all imports and do have the extended fingerboard...

Something similar in shape as the Epiphone with the fretboard stopping and not extending up close to the bridge. Thanks for your help; your teaching method has really opened my eyes musically.

Thanks so much for the kind compliments...be sure to stay tuned, I'm posting more mando lessons this next week...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 14:46:36 -0400
Subject: Great Site

Mickey,

Greetings Whit,

I purchased my mandolin a few years ago and have been getting great pleasure from it. Unfortunately, the beginning books the merchant armed me with were not enough to keep me from developing bad fingering habits. Many thanks for your simple beginning lessons. I'm now trying to rid myself of the "flying fingers" and trying my best to incorporate the fifth finger. With work, I think I can get back on the right track. No wonder I was having such difficulty with broken chords and walks! It is hard enough to find basic scale exercise books at all, and most are ridiculously priced. Your attitude in offering this help at no charge is commendable. I have been a reed musician all of my life and realize full well the importance of scale studies. Now I have some good beginning exercises to work with.

Thanks so much for the inspiring words...I'll work harder on adding even more studies and exercises...this makes it far worth the effort for me: when someone such as yourself takes the time out to write a letter of appreciation..

Many thanks, feel free to use my testimonial, and rest assured, I will avail myself of your video and other materials.

Best Regards,
Whit Davies
PS: Where can I catch you performing?

You can find me sometimes performing at our store here in Alto, New Mexico...I may be playing in our vicinity of Ruidoso this summer...additionally, you might enjoy some of our video samplers linked from here...

Thanks for asking...and keep on pickin', Mickey

Subject: Fretting
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2004 19:15:55 -0800

Hi Mickey,

In your online fret lesson, you stated: 3rd and 4th fret middle finger...do you mean on the 4th fret, the third finger?, or ring finger?

Thanks,

Susan McConnachie

P.S. I bought the Johnson Beginner's package, and find it is great, am loving it...

Greetings Susan,

The 3rd and 4th frets of a mandolin are normally fretted with the middle finger...this is the finger next to the index finger...and the concept is to make sure that you're using proper finger placement so that you do not develop incorrect habits from the start...hence, it's very critical to know your positions to ensure that you do not hinder your playing as you grow into your mandolin...

Let me know how else I might assist...Mickey

Subject: Mandolin Lessons
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 09:34:47 -0800

Mickey, I have successfully downloaded and made a notebook of all the mandolin lessons on the web site. Thanks for the tips and practice sessions. They make a world of difference when I combine them with my private lessons.

My instructor asked me to work on my timing/beat. I have a metronome and find it useful for practice. By combining this with your finger exercises and crosspicking exercises I'm getting more comfortable with the practice. My question is what is the recommended beats per minute for each exercise, at the beginner level, and then later as I progress to a more advanced level?

Walter...that's great to hear that you were successful in printing out our Mandolin Lessons section...many have not been able to accomplish this...due to the fact that I set up the online lessons to have more visibility when viewed on a computer screen...and, of course, with this effort, the notation/tablature becomes to wide for a printout...fortunately, you were able to follow my instructions about downloading each manuscript as a jpeg image and moving it to a program where you can size it for a legible printout...or, you may have been able to use the printer command: "fit to page" directly from the site...

As far as a metronome setting, I'd start out extremely slow at about 50 beats per minute which is less than a second per beat...this can then be increased accordingly as you become more familiar with the exercise...your teacher is correct in making sure that you're completely focused on an even tempo...I also suggest tapping your foot for each downbeat to ensure an even tempo...

Please stay in touch and let me know how things are going...and, be sure to stay tuned on our Mando lessons section for further updates...I'm now working on chord charts, studies and rhythm manuscripts...

Mickey

Thanks again for the great help and the great web site!

Walter Stanley

Subject: On Line Lessons
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 09:19:12 -0800

Thanks for the on line lessons - they really complement my private lessons I am taking. I have difficulty keeping the beat while warming up with Mickey's practice sheets, and trying to scroll down on the PC at the same time. Are his lessons available in print format, 8.5 x 11, or in one (or more) of the Mandolin books you offer?

Thanks.Walter Stanley

Greetings Walter,

You're welcome to print directly from the site...only make sure that your printer allows you a "fit to page" setting...if not, each manuscript, on our Free Lessons section can be saved and downloaded as an image...once you've done this, you can then take it to another art program by importing...and then size it to print...

And, yes, many of the lessons can be found in the Videos offered by Wisdom of the Wood...along with the Mel Bay publication: "Mandolin Crosspicking Technique"...there are many exercises and studies that go beyond crosspicking technique itself...

Hope something here helps...and study hard...Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Subject: Beethoven's Ninth
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 01:12:46 -0700

Subject: MANDOLIN Online Lessons
Greetings Gary,
Good news! Although I'm currently at a conference in Vegas, I took the time out to delve into writing out the sheet music on Beethoven's Ninth for flatpicking on a beginner and an advanced level...it was quite fun to harmonize the double-stops on the advanced version...so, thanks for the idea...please find these arrangements on our website on the Lessons Section...and, be sure to let me know how I might further assist...Mickey

Subject: MANDOLIN
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2004 15:25:07 -0500

Mickey, I took your advise and just kept on keepin on and finally can play the "spirit of 76" credibly. So now I wanna move on and found that dixie is now the first melody. So I am off to play dixie. Thing is it is not easy to print out the tabulature, but I managed. Next I would love to try Beethoven's Ninth, like on the video. Where can I find the tabulature for that, the video is great but I gotta work out each little bit one thing at a time so the paper really helps. Gary

Greetings Gary,
Well, I haven't done any tablature on Beethoven's Ninth...however, it may be a good idea to include it on our online lessons section...I did write out a crosspicking version of Beethoven's in the "Mandolin Crosspicking Technique" book...published by Mel Bay...however, it's an advanced version over and above playing the melody by itself. I'll add it to the list of want-tabs on our online mando lessons section...can't say how long it will be before I can complete it...

Keep on Pickin',
Mickey

Subject: Re: Fwd: Mandolin lessons
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 18:39:47 -0500

Mickey, I've done the scales and done them well. The problem for me is hitting the 5 and the 2 fret at the same time without damping the second finger with the third. I just dont get there. I can put my fingers on the frets but the damping of the third string set by the second string set finger is nearly impossible for me to avoid. I can do so only by holding the instrument like a cello and THEN moving it more to my lap. At any rate would it make sense to not attempt this. Gary

Gary, I think I know what's happening here...

Try this: Make sure your thumb, on your fretting hand, is residing behind the neck and not riding on the top....use only the very tips of your fingers directly behind the frets. And, make sure that you're keeping good overall form...how the mandolin resides in the lap and the neck angle...you'll have to experiment with what makes you most comfortable while still being able to accomplish this phrase...

Now, if you're stumped by this one passage, and none of the above helps, move on to other lessons and exercises...and, come back to this one in a month or two...you might find it easier to tackle after gaining more foundation on the mandolin through other studies.

Mickey