Tag Archives: Improvisation

Bluegrass Licks Vol. 1: Mandolin Lesson

In many styles of music, having some knowledge of how to phrase licks and ‘get the sound’ is important, and in this lesson, we’ll do exactly that, by learning some great sounding bluegrass licks! In the key of G, we’ll focus on licks played over the G, C & D chords, while looking at how to link and transition between the chords. Go to lesson...

Blues Lead Break (G): Mandolin Lesson

Let’s learn a blues lead break in the key of G on the mandolin! 12 bar blues with a shuffle feel, twice round, with lots of licks using the major & minor blues scale, up & down the neck. Also featuring double stops, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and a bend, this will certainly challenge the advancing picker! Go to lesson...

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. Go to lesson...

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 the next time a break comes along…in any key! Go to lesson...

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.
Go to lesson...

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.
Go to lesson...

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...