This book teaches the conceptual tools needed to become adept at playing the mandolin by ear. Provides keys to learning chord progressions and playing melody by ear as well as using licks and playing in different keys. Includes many tunes in tablature.

The Mandolin Primer Book For Beginners Deluxe Edition with DVD & 2 Jam CDs by Bert Casey is designed for the beginning mandolin student who desires an easy to follow, step by step instruction method for getting started on the mandolin. Starting with the basics, the student will learn the parts of the mandolin, left & right hand technique and playing scales. Later you will learn how to play 12 popular bluegrass songs using techniques such as hammer-ons, slides, pull-offs, and double stops. The course also includes a section on how to play rhythm on the mandolin (the famous mandolin "chop"). All exercises and songs and demonstrated at three speeds on the DVD. In addition, this course includes 2 Jam CDs where each of the songs is played along with a bluegrass band at 5 different speeds.

The fun and easy way to learn to play the mandolin The newest addition to the highly successful Dummies instrument-instruction line, Mandolin For Dummies gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction on learning to play the mandolin. Following the time-tested Dummies format, Mandolin For Dummies provides a level of content and instruction greater than anything currently available. Mandolin For Dummies breaks down the fundamentals of this instrument and provides the resources you need to practice and improve your ability over time. Packed with individualized instruction on key mandolin-friendly musical styles, including Irish and Celtic, "old time" American music, blues, bluegrass, swing, and jazz Files available via download provide audio tracks from the book and exercises so you can play along and build your skills -- almost 2 hours of music! Clear and useful photos and diagrams ensure you fret, strum, and pick with precision Includes a mandolin buying guide to help ensure you make the right purchases Tips on restringing mandolins and other DIY care and maintenance topics If you're an aspiring mandolin player, don't fret! Mandolin For Dummies has you covered.

Learn from the master of bluegrass mandolin - Jethro Burns. More than 70 tunes and two dozen exercises are found in this bluegrass bonanza. The Complete Jethro Burns Mandolin Book and online audio is an incomparable resource of bluegrass mandolin repertoire - all in standard notation and tablature, just the way the maestro played them - with chord symbols for an accompaniment instrument. Presents some of Jethro's finest and most challenging solos, in addition to a special section on Jethro's mandolin techniques. Ample performance notes and performance notes and mandolin lore are provided, along with many photographs of Jethro in the latter half of a career lasting more than half a century. The recording presents 52 of the tunes in the book available online for download

A new book on improvisation is now available for bluegrass mandolin players. Based on the concept of learning by playing, this 200 page book covers a wide range of improvisation tools and how to implement them in your playing. A large number of examples are presented in both tablature and standard notation, so that a theoretical background is not required. the small amount of theory needed is simply presented and easily learned step by step.A series of exercises designed to help the player develop improvisational skills are included in the book. As an instruction tool, the book can easily be combined with the instructor's individual philosophy or by a student wishing to study alone. the subject matter is varied in difficulty and can be used by both the beginner and more advanced player as an instructional guide and reference book. the major-themes in the book are: the pentatonic sound, scale and major-chord based improvising with any Bluegrass-Tune, Double-stop improvisation, Minor chords and Keys, the blues sound, Melody oriented improvisation, How to use: Monroe Style, Cross picking, Hot licks, how to simplify a lick, and more. MP3 CD accompanies book featuring all examples.Click to hear the author discuss the book.

(Guitar Educational). Thousands of great guitarists have learned to play without the aid of traditional methods and now you can, too! This first-of-its-kind book and CD package provides a real-world approach to playing guitar in the 21st century. Includes: tools for learning your favorite songs * chords and chord progressions * single-note riffs, licks and lead lines * advanced soloing techniques * rhythm development * lessons on song structure and form * tuning methods and alternate tunings * CD with audio examples and exercises * lots of extra music info and practical tips.

If you have tried and failed to learn to read standard music notation for the mandolin or fiddle using traditional methods or you have never tried and want to, this book is for you. Learn to play from music in the mandolin- and fiddle-friendly major keys of C, G, D, A, F, and B-flat and their relative minor keys. Also learn to play in various time signatures including 4/4 (common time), 2/2 (cut time), 3/4 (waltz), and 6/8 (jig). You will also be taught to recognize and play whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and eight notes.