Getting Into Jazz Mandolin  MB 20835BCD

by Ted Eschlimann
No longer confined to basic folk genres, any mandolinist aspiring to a broader comprehension of music, including swing, blues, pop, choro, broadway, and even classical can expand his/her playing and through a working knowledge of jazz fundamentals. This breakthrough approach in mandolin pedagogy takes four uncomplicated fretboard patterns (FFcP) and drills a physical familiarity into the player's fingers, softening the fear of upper frets and prepares for the harmonic alterations necessary for effective and intuitive playing of more complex contemporary music.

A brief introduction into modes, the player is eased into jamming with audio accompaniment (CD), and eventually an initiation into the most fundamental jazz chord progression of all, the 'ii V7 I' pattern. From the horizontal (melody) to the vertical (chords) and back, the results are a both instinctive and physical grasp of tonal centers and the improvisational fodder of effective performing. An emphasis on pinky strength, finger control and sustain, the book's exercises also develop the player's concepts of tone and melody. Further supportive resources including MP3 audio tracks are also available on the internet.

International Favorites for Mandolin   MB 20823BCD

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By Joe Carr
This new book and CD combination features 28 beloved melodies from around the world, especially arranged for the mandolin. Easy to play and beautiful to hear, many of the tunes are arranged for solo mandolin in a chord melody style. Over 20 different countries are represented here with dance tunes, lullabies, national favorites and even three national anthems! Popular favorites such as ‘Hava Nagila’, ‘Greensleeves’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’ are mixed with lesser known, but equally beautiful gems. For mandolin players of all levels.
Contents:
Ack Varmeland Du Skona,All Through the Night,Aloha Oe,America the Beautiful,Arirang,Battle Hymn of the Republic,Czardas,Du, Du liegst mir am Herzen,Feng Yang,Greensleeves,Hava Nagila,Herr Roloff's Farewell,Kum Ba Yah,La Marseillaise,Las Mananitas,My Old Kentucky Home,Naci En El Cumbre,O Canada,Planxty Irwin,Riu Chiu,Sakura,Sur le Pont d'Avignon,Ta Mo Chleamhnas A Dheanamh,Tarantella,The U.S. National Anthem,There's No PLace Like Home,Volga Boatman,Waltzing Matilda

Irish Mandolin Playing   MB 99777BCD

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A Complete Guide
This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Irish mandolin playing. As well as being a complete guide for the absolute beginner, this book also contains a mine of information, useful tips and ideas for the experienced player. The book takes the reader from the basics of the mandolin right through to more advanced topics such as creating variations, emphasis, improvisation, playing with other musicians, practicing effectively and much more. All the tunes and key exercises in the book are included on the accompanying 63 track CD. There is no need to read conventional music notation as all the music is written in easy-to-read mandolin tablature. However, for those interested in learning about music notation there is a handy section on this subject tailored specifically to the mandolinist as well as a chapter on modes.

Learn to Play Bluegrass Mandolin   MB 93720

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An easy-to-understand beginner's method teaching essentials of bluegrass mandolin performance. Contains chords, scales, and techniques, in addition to 21 tunes in notation and tablature.

MANDOLIN CHORDS   MB 93257

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Comprehensive and easily understood, this Mel Bay stand-by is arranged in photo-diagram form for maximum ease of use by mandolinists of all playing levels. Correct left hand positions are pictured for each chord, as is proper right hand picking position. Major, Minor, seventh, diminished, augmented, and ninth chords are shown in photos and diagrams; major seventh, sixth, minor sixth, seventh augmented fifth, and seventh diminished fifth chords are shown in diagram form only. Tuning of the mandolin using a pitch pipe or piano keyboard is also shown. A chart summarizing movable chord patterns ends the book.

Mandolin Christmas Songbook  MB 21013

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Featuring 28 well-known Christmas songs arranged for mandolin with chord symbols for an accompaniment instrument. Book contains chord diagrams for mandolin and guitar as well as common strum patterns to use for rhythm backup. All songs are arranged in standard notation and tablature for mandolin.

This book may be used along with Mel BayÆs Dobro Christmas Songbook (MB21508) and Mel BayÆs Ukulele Christmas Songbook (MB20886). All songs, except ôAway in a Mangerö are in the same key and can be played together. Most songs in Mel BayÆs Tenor Banjo Christmas Songbook (MB21014) are also in the same key and can be used together.

Mandolin Classics  94043

by Ross Cherednik & Ken Eidson - Outstanding virtuoso material for the serious mandolin student! Contains 19 solos by Mozart, Vivaldi, Hummel, Hasse, and Beethoven. The works are presented in chronological order by composer without a accompaniment in standard notation only.

Mandolin Scales Chart   MB 21774

by Lee Drew Andrews
This chart provides the most used and needed scales for mandolin in easy to read fretboard diagrams. Scales include major, minor, major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, harmonic minor and dorian. Scales are shown from a 4th, 3rd and 2nd string roots. A must have for mandolin players.

Renaissance Solos for Mandolin  MB 98222

Most of the music in this book comes from editions or manuscripts from England in the late 1500’s. There are also a few French pieces. The cittern was popular in Italy, England and France. Aside from various tunings, there were two main kinds of instruments being played during the 16th and 17th centuries: the 4 course (four sets of doubled strings), and the 6 course cittern with several editions of music to go along with both. The pieces I have chosen for this book were all written for the 4 course instrument and fall into three main categories: dance music, song arrangements and free pieces. The free pieces are basically preludes that explore the melodic range of the instrument. As the title suggests these pieces can be played very freely and need not have a very strict tempo. The dance pieces are not really meant to be danced to, but rather take their form and rhythm from the popular court dances of the time. These can be played with a wide range of overall tempo, but once a tempo is chosen, should be strictly adhered to. The song arrangements are settings of popular songs of the time as well as more formal vocal settings. Care should be taken in making the melody clear and singing. Since the range of the cittern and mandolin are the same, John Holenko has kept the melodies intact. Because of the difference in tuning however, the voicing of the harmonies have been changed so as to fit on the mandolin.

SuperCharged Bluegrass Series: Mandolin  95357VX

Joe Carr's unique musical talents have appeared on many albums and he has produced over 30 instructional videos. For this video, Joe has created new solos to classic bluegrass chord progressions and slows them down for easier learning for intermediate to advanced. This new video is a goldmine of new ideas to spice up your music.

The Irish Mandolin   MB 97201WW

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The mandolin has become an integral part of the Irish music scene. In this book, you will find a carefully graded set of lessons and tunes, designed to help you master the skill needed to play Irish music with authority. Each section includes a clear statement of goals, and a review with exercises and ideas for further development. The book encompasses a wide range of material, from the lyrical simplicity of waltz-time tunes such as Gleanntan Gaoith Dobhair to great and popular session tunes such as The Star of Munster. In between are several slides and polkas from the Sliabh Luachra area in the Southwest or Ireland. Four original tunes by the author and a special section on ornamentation included. The accomplished mandolin player coming to Irish music for the first time should find plenty of interest here. Standard notation only. The companion cassette referred to on the cover is only available directly from Waltons of Ireland.

THE MANDOLIN OF NORMAN BLAKE  HL 00641858

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Norman Blake teaches old-time and original instrumentals in Celtic and Southern mountain tradition, chosen for easy learning by intermediate-level mandolin players. He gives advice on tuning, phrasing, ornaments, double-stops, tremolos, drones and much more. 9 songs, including: John Brown's March, The Hollow Poplar, Father's Hall, Jack Danielson's Reel, Mandolin Fanfare. 90-MIN. DVD • INCLUDES TAB • EARLY INTERMEDIATE LEVEL.

You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin

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You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin is written as a teach-yourself text with play-along examples and tunes on the companion recording. In the author's words, "It is aimed at helping you get started immediately on your way to mandolinhood by giving you the basics of the mandolin and mandolin playing." With this informal, often humorous text, Dix Bruce will guide you step-by-step through the basics of learning this versatile instrument. Learn all about accompanying yourself and others, common chords, and useful strums, reading simple melodies, playing a colorful assortment of mandolin folk songs, and more. All musical examples and tunes are written in both standard notation and tablature. Diagrams of all the principal chords used on the mandolin are shown in the Chord Appendix, making this book a particularly useful study aid for the beginning mandolinist. Illustrated with drawings and photographs of vintage instruments.