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Although the mandolin is extremely versatile, and you can have fun playing anything from classical melodies to blazing fiddle tunes to blues and jazz, one of the most important skills when you're starting out is playing chords. Why? So you can strum along at the next jam of course! Yes, it is very important to start out with learning how to accompany others first, before you get into hot licks and Chris Thile solos.This packed lesson is aimed at beginning to intermediate players who need to get quicker at playing chords, and want to get some basic chord moves under their fingers. We cover everything you need here to get your brown belt in strumming, from all the basic major, minor and 7th positions, to how to "pick-strum" with your strumming hand, and then some classic songs like Wagon Wheel and Salty Dog. If you just got a mandolin, or have had one for awhile and want to get to the next level beyond tuning it and plucking out happy birthday, then this lesson is for you!
Video Lesson
Charts
CHARTS
Audio
Chord Progression 1
Chord Progression 2
Chord Progression 3
Chord Progression 4
Chord Progression 5
Chord Progression 6 (Wagon Wheel)
Chord Progression 7 (Salty Dog)
Treena –
I’m a beginner. I tried jamming with friends before but it was a painfully embarrassing experience. Still, I would love to learn how to do it.
I just did a quick run-through of your Basic Chording for Mandolin video and I can honestly say this is a brilliant approach to teaching music! I have taken music lessons and have tried to learn from books and CDs as well, but your approach takes things to a new level. The way you break things down into very basic steps that new players need to know is very helpful and because it’s on video I can go through this again and again as much as I need until I can really learn things. With traditional in person lessons I tend to go home and forget all that was said and shown so I ended up struggling to figure things out on my own. That approach really didn’t get me very far. I can see how the jam along way will get me way further head quicker. Also, having the visuals for finger position (both seeing your hands and the chord diagrams) right there is very handy.
While books with CDs have been a good stepping stone in my learning, I can see how using your videos will take me to the next level. I can see and hear what I need to learn over and over again.