Carolan’s Cottage is a traditional Irish tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Played as an Air in 3/4 time, this arrangement for the mandolin is in the key of Am. It has a slow, beautiful melody, featuring some pretty ornamentation and is well suited to the intermediate picker. Jump into the lesson and we’ll break down the tune together. Go to lesson...
In this lesson, we’ll take a look at the popular fiddle tune, Liberty. In the key of D, it makes for a great study and features the D major scale and arpeggio throughout the melody. This arrangement is well suited to the advancing beginner and as part of the lesson, we’ll breakdown the techniques, chord progression and how it relates to the melody, plus learn some great exercises using the D major scale and arpeggio patterns that directly relate to this melody. Go to lesson...
Worried Man Blues is a traditional American/Bluegrass folk song, and this arrangement for the mandolin is in the key of G. Perfect for a kick-off or break, we’re taking the basic melody and adding a bunch of licks and variation, perfect for the intermediate picker! This is a companion lesson for the Beginner Bluegrass Licks lesson, where we discuss how to approach playing licks over this progression and break down some fundamental theory. Go to lesson...
In part two of this lesson, we’ll continue to learn some great beginner friendly bluegrass licks on the mandolin! Firstly, the example solo/licks in this lesson are in the key of G, played over the chord progression from Old Home Place. The chord progression offers the opportunity to look at chords that are from outside the key signature and ideas on approaching the overall progression. Go to lesson...
John Hardy is a well known bluegrass standard, popular in picking circles. In this lesson, we’ll learn a mandolin arrangement in the key of G, suited to the intermediate picker, but still quite accomodating for the beginner. Played at a moderate to fast tempo, the break features double stops and some great licks around the melody. Go to lesson...
Lazy John is a traditional Old Time/Bluegrass song that has a wonderful melody. In this lesson, we’ll learn a mandolin arrangement that contains two variations for both parts A & B, in the key of G. Played at a moderate tempo we’ll move up & down the neck with some great variations, suited to the advancing intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Smash The Windows is a fun traditional Irish jig, played at a lively tempo, in the key of D. Jigs always sound great on the mandolin, in 6/8 time, this arrangement is a great intermediate tune, featuring the common jig rhythms, picking patterns and a handful of slurs to add some extra flavour. Go to lesson...
Bobby Casey’s is a traditional hornpipe, heard as a slow reel, in the key of Am and this mandolin arrangement is a great fit for the intermediate picker. It’s played at a slow tempo but has some excellent rhythmic variations that will challenge your right-hand. As part of the full lesson we’ll break down the techniques required to fluently play the tune. Go to lesson...
Happy Birthday on the mandolin! This arrangement is in the key of G and features four variations of varying difficulty. Approached in a bluegrass style, the first variation is in the traditional 3/4 time signature, great for the beginner and features the melody using the tremolo technique. The second variation moves into cut common time with a typical bluegrass feel, embellishing the melody to suit and is great for the beginner/intermediate picker. Go to lesson...
Cherokee Shuffle is a popular American fiddle tune, played in the key of A. This is the third version here at Pickin’ Lessons on the mandolin and is a variation that approaches the melody in a more basic way, while still capturing the essence of the tune. Well suited to the intermediate picker, this arrangement is also beginner friendly while being a handy variation for the more advanced picker when playing at faster tempos. Go to lesson...