In this mandolin series, we’ll cover important information that I believe will make you a better, more well rounded mandolin player. From working on building your knowledge of the fretboard, keys found in the open position, movable patterns, chords, rhythms, improvisation, useful theory and other similar topics, you will certainly grow your mandolin skills and understanding.

You could argue that mandolin players in traditional styles require a higher level of music theory and knowledge of their instrument, as we tend to not play with a capo, and are at times required to quickly jump from key to key, smoothly and with ease. The aim of this series is to help you achieve this.

Please note: before you begin, I’d suggest that you have the basics covered with the 101 Beginner Mandolin Crash Course. The Mandolin Essentials series is more progressive and I would suggest best suited for the intermediate/advanced picker.

Lessons

• Mandolin Essentials #1: Key of F Major (Open Position)

  In the first Mandolin Essentials lesson, we'll cover the Key of F Major, played in the open position. It's a great key, that can easily be overlooked, yet is quite easy to play in the open position. Areas of study include: F major scale (one octave); F major scale (full open position); F major pentatonic ...

• Mandolin Essentials #2: Key of Bb Major (Open Position)

  In the second Mandolin Essentials lesson, we'll cover the Key of Bb Major, played in the open position. It's another great key, often used in bluegrass, that can easily be overlooked as a mandolin player, yet is quite easy to play in the open position. Areas of study include: Bb major scale (one octave); Bb ...

• Mandolin Essentials #3: Key of Dm (Open Position)

  In the third Mandolin Essentials lesson, we'll cover the Key of D minor, played in the open position. It's another great key that shares the same key signature as F Major. There are a number of great tunes in Dm, and having a sound knowledge in the open position will grow your mandolin muscles ready ...

• Mandolin Essentials #4: Linking Double Stops-Part 1

  In the fourth Mandolin Essentials lesson, we'll cover how to link double stops with scales & arpeggios in one streamlined position. It's an important skill for improvisation, melody/break construction, fill licks, etc. If you're wanting to improve your improv, having a sound knowledge of these closed position patterns will grow your mandolin muscles ready for ...

• Mandolin Essentials #5: Linking Double Stops-Part 2

  In the fifth Mandolin Essentials lesson, we'll continue to cover how to link double stops with scales & arpeggios in one streamlined position. This lesson will cover an adjacent position, which we can combine with what we covered in part 1. It's an important skill for improvisation, melody/break construction, fill licks, etc. If you're wanting to ...

All future Mandolin Essentials lessons will be posted here. Happy pickin’!