This crash course is for the complete beginner wanting to learn to play the mandolin. Focusing on traditional styles, the course will get you pickin’ some of your favourite melodies and learn how to accompany others, all while developing good technique and practice habits.

Whether you are new to music, or coming to mandolin from another instrument, this crash course will get you pickin’ the mandolin in no time!

The full course is available to premium members, which includes:

• All tabs, worksheets, videos, play-along and backing track’s;
• All future Beginner Lessons added to the course (while you remain a premium member);
• Plus access to all of the standard lesson’s & tab’s available on the website.

Full membership gives you access to all video lessons, tabs & charts!

Lessons

• Lesson 01 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Fundamentals & Essential Theory)

  Start here to learn the basics, like how to hold the mandolin, plectrum, tuning, basic technique & how to read mandolin tablature. Take your time to consider the points in this lesson, as they will certainly help build good habits from the beginning. Back to 101 Beginner Mandolin Crash Course 

• Lesson 02 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of D Major & Angeline The Baker)

  In this lesson, we'll cover the open position D major scale & arpeggio (plus how we can move the patterns to 2 other keys), learn a great entry level version of 'Angeline The Baker', a fiddle tune in the Key of D, and two open chords to play along with the tune. Back to 101 Beginner ...

• Lesson 03 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of G & Fireball Mail)

  In this jam packed lesson we'll cover: The open position G major scale & arpeggio (full open position); Work on an excellent right-hand, double picking exercise; Two new open chords along with several rhythm exercises and a standard turnaround chord progression; And finally, we'll learn a great version of 'Fireball Mail' with two variations. A ...

• Lesson 04 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of A & Cripple Creek)

  In this chockablock beginner lesson we'll cover: The open position A major scale & arpeggio (full open position); Work on two excellent right-hand exercises; a double picking exercise & alternate picking exercise; Four new open chords, introduce four chop/movable chords, along with several rhythm exercises and a turnaround chord progression in the key of A; ...

• Lesson 05 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Key of D & Soldier’s Joy)

  In this mammoth beginner lesson we'll cover: The open position D major scale & arpeggio (full open position); Work on two excellent right-hand exercises; a double picking exercise & alternate picking exercise; The relative chords (1 4 5 6m) in the Key of D, including both open and movable shapes, with rhythm exercises to develop ...

• Lesson 06 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (3/4 Time & Ash Grove)

  In this sixth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we'll cover: Chords relative to the key of D major and example rhythm in the 3/4 time signature; How to help the feel/groove in the 3/4 time signature; And finally, we'll learn a great version of ‘The Ash Grove', a popular waltz in the Key ...

• Lesson 07 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Wayfaring Stranger & Key of Am)

  In this seventh instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we'll cover: The A Natural & Harmonic Minor Scales, and the Am Arpeggio; Chords relative to the key of Am and Wayfaring Stranger; Double Stops; Tremolo technique; And finally, we'll learn 2 versions of ‘Wayfaring Stranger', a popular folk song. (Basic & Embellished). Back to 101 ...

• Lesson 08 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Greensleeves & Key of Dm)

  In this eighth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we'll cover: The D Natural, Harmonic, Dorian & Melodic Minor Scales; Dm & A7 Arpeggios; Common intervals used in arpeggios, scales and chords; Tremolo technique; And finally, we'll learn 2 versions of ‘Greensleeves', a well known English folk song. (Basic & tremolo). Back to 101 Beginner ...

• Lesson 09 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (Turkey in the Straw & Key of G)

  In this ninth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we'll cover: The G Major Pentatonic Scale; G, C & D Arpeggios; The "G" Chop Chord (And the C & D variations); Basic chop chord rhythm; And finally, we'll learn a version of ‘Turkey in the Straw', a well known American folk song, that is ...

• Lesson 10 – Beginner Mandolin Crash Course (The Clare Jig & 6/8 Time)

  In this tenth instalment of the beginner mandolin crash course, we'll cover: The A Dorian Minor Scale; Am, G & Em Arpeggios; the 6/8 time signature; Rhythm exercises in 6/8 time; And finally, we'll look at a great tune, The Clare Jig, using the techniques covered in the tech work exercises. Back to 101 Beginner Mandolin ...

Well done on getting to the 10th lesson! Now it’s time to explore the other beginner lessons (& potentially the intermediate lessons) here on Pickin’ Lessons. Good luck & happy picking!