Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 02:02:05 -0500

Greetings Buddy,

I have a few suggestions for building speed on mandolin:

1. Use a metronome: this is an essential tool for measuring your progress and establishing good meter. You don't want to advance in speed only to lose your sense of good time.

2. Make sure that you have good form that will contribute to and facilitate your progress. Holding the pick correctly and the neck ensures that you're not impeding your ability to play fast.

3. After ensuring that you have the proper tools, such as a metronome, and you have good form and technique to base your speed studies on, you'll want to start out slowly with speed building exercises. We're not talking about songs here; we're talking about studies that focus strictly on speed. Playing song after song may help your speed, however, having focus on weak areas through studies and exercises will accelerate and ensure the speed building process.

4. Be sure to monitor and schedule your exercises and studies. You'll want to notate and record your efforts and progress. For instance, you might start out an exercise at 60 bpm for an hour a day...and a week later move up the metronome to 70 or 80...and, with this bracketed effort, you'll want to keep notes on your progress and advancements in a timeline diary.

Hope something here helps, Mickey


I have a question for Mickey. I began playing the mandolin about six mos. ago, what is your advice for the best way to build speed. I know that playing daily is a must.

Thanks for your help,

Buddy