Tag Archives: Scales

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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101 Introduction To Melodic Banjo #1

The style of melodic banjo allows for intricate melody playing on the 5-string, with a very smooth or legato sound. Fiddle tunes can be played note for note, in a way that flows over the banjo neck. In this introduction to the style, we’ll cover:

  • The basics of the technique;
  • Introduce the scale positions commonly used in standard G tuning;
  • Cover the single-string technique basics;
  • Work through several exercises;
  • And finally, put it all together with a pretty tune ‘Boulavogue’.
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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 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).
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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).
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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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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;
  • And finally, we’ll learn a great version of ‘Cripple Creek’ with two variations.
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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.
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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. Go to lesson...