Mandolin For Dummies

Master the basics in no time and learn to play everything from blues and bluegrass to jazz and classical

From Vivaldi to Bill Monroe, and Led Zeppelin to Nickel Creek, the mandolin has been enriching western music with its distinctive voice for nearly three centuries. If you've been bitten by the mandolin bug and are ready to jump in with both feet, Mandolin For Dummies is your springboard. Been playing for a while and want to expand your repertoire of styles? No problem: Don Julin will fill you in on how to play all popular styles, including old-time, Irish, blues, bluegrass, swing, and jazz – plus a bit of Dawg music. Newcomers and old hands alike will enjoy the mandolin trivia and history liberally sprinkled throughout the book.

• Get acquainted – buy the best mandolin in your price range and discover how to tune and care for your new best friend
• Nail down your mandolin ABCs – get up and running right away with mandolin basics, including counting, tablature, chord diagrams, and more
• Start making beautiful music immediately – right from the start, you'll be playing basic chord patterns, backup rhythms, and simple melodies
• Quickly master right- and left-hand essentials – before you know it, you'll be picking and strumming, and playing open and closed fingering and articulations like a pro
• Get the hang of a multitude of styles – Celtic and old-time music, bluegrass and jazz; you'll get to grips with the defining techniques of the most popular styles of playing

Audio download includes

• The musical examples from the book so you can play along
• Exercises to help you build your skills

Open the book and find:

• A mandolin buying guide
• Instructions on changing strings, repairing your mandolin, and keeping it in top form
• How to build an accessories kit
• The basics of mandolin playing
• Left- and right-hand techniques to spice up any melody
• How to play many different styles of mandolin
• Tips for improving your playing
• The lowdown on the greatest mandolin players of all time

Learn to:

• Select the right mandolin and accessories
• Master various chords and picking patterns
• Play Irish, blues, swing, jazz, bluegrass, and old-time music