Tag Archives: Chords

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 for the next time a song comes along in the key! Go to lesson...

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 major scale (full open position);
  • Bb major pentatonic scale (full open position);
  • The chords found in the key of Bb;
  • Arpeggios (full open position for each chord in the key of Bb);
  • And we’ll finish with a Study in Bb Major, applying and analysing the above information.
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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 scale (full open position);
  • The chords found in the key of F;
  • Arpeggios (full open position for each chord in the key of F);
  • And we’ll finish with a Study in F Major, applying and analysing the above information.
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102 Mandolin Essentials

Welcome to the Pickin’ Lessons Mandolin Essentials Series.

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.

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Learn The Neck With Triads: Guitar Lesson (Part Two)

In this course, we’ll cover a way of looking at the fretboard that is beneficial in building your knowledge of melody & harmony. By learning the neck with triads, you’ll look at the fretboard in a completely new way, giving you an awful lot of choice & freedom in your playing. Go to lesson...

Backup Banjo (Part 2): Celtic Backup

Part 2: Non-Bluegrass Backup Banjo – Celtic Backup

Backup Banjo (Part 1): Major & Minor Chords

In this second part of the course, we’ll look at five examples found in the Celtic genre; a Jig, Reel, Waltz, Polka & Hornpipe. With an example to work with in each tune variation, we’ll unpack the time signature, feels, accents and groove that we need to listen out for, all while exploring many backup options including; inversions, high tones, deep tones, passing notes, syncopation, staccato, etc…

Split in to 5 parts, the full lesson covers the following:

  1. Jig – Mug of Brown Ale – 6/8 Time
  2. Reel – Drowsy Maggie – 4/4 Time
  3. Waltz – The Ash Grove – 3/4 Time
  4. Polka – John Ryan’s Polka – 2/4 Time
  5. Hornpipe – The Boys of Bluehill – 4/4 Time
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Backup Banjo (Part 1): Major & Minor Chords

Part 1: Non-Bluegrass Backup Banjo

In this banjo course, we’ll be covering ideas that can be used to play backup banjo in styles such as Celtic, Folk, Pop, Blues, Jazz, etc. Learning about different time signatures, key signatures, vamping, rhythms, chords, grooves, triads, double stops and all the great information that will allow you to play along in any style of music. Go to lesson...

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 a great session tune, that utilises the G major pentatonic, arpeggios & chop chords covered in the lesson.
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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 of D.
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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 technique;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a great version of ‘Soldier’s Joy’, a popular session tune in the Key of D, which applies the techniques we learnt practicing our scales, arpeggios and right-hand exercises.
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