10 Technique Tips for Beginners /// Mandolin Lesson

Here are my top 10 technique tips for mandolinists just starting out--but really these are points for everyone. Get 5 more tips with an exclusive Bonus Lesson available on my Patreon page later this week: / davidbenedictmandolin
✅ Subscribe for even more mandolin videos and lessons - www.youtube.co...
🚀 Support my Patreon Page for tons of exclusive mandolin goodies like, pdf transcriptions, bonus lessons, and more - / davidbenedictmandolin
WATCH NEXT:
🎵 Pick Directions /// Mandolin Lesson - • Pick Directions /// Ma...
🎵 Master the Fretboard in 7 Steps /// Mandolin Lesson - • Master the Mandolin Fr...
🎬 Mandolin Technique Playlist - • Mandolin Technique
MY WEAPONS OF CHOICE:
🤡 Golden Gate 1.3mm X-Stiff Triangle Clown Barf Pick - amzn.to/3h2Mud3
🧶 D’Addario XTCM Strings - amzn.to/35iwyAt
🐟 D’Addario Micro Tuner - amzn.to/3InvSII
🧣 D'Addario Microfiber Cloth - amzn.to/35mHcqg
💪 Dan Voight Arm Rest - voightmandolins...
🛡️ Mandolin Tone-Gard - www.tone-gard....
🎸 My Apitius Vanguard F5 Mandolin - www.apitiusmand...
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:
🎥 Check out my weekly video series #mandolinmondays - • Mandolin Mondays
🎙 Give a listen to my recorded work on Spotify - open.spotify.c...
MY BANDS:
☕ Cup O’Joe - www.cupojoemus...
🚢 The Foreign Landers - www.theforeign...
LET’S BE FRIENDS:
💌 Sign up for my email newsletter - mailchi.mp/7d8...
🌍 My website - davidbenedictm...
📚 Facebook - / davidbenedictmandolin
📸 Instagram - / davidbenedictmandolin
⏱ TikTok - www.tiktok.com...
ABOUT ME:
My name is David, and I play the mandolin. I've played with multiple award-winning bluegrass bands across the world including Missy Raines, Mile Twelve, Cup O’Joe, and The Foreign Landers, and I curate the weekly mandolin video series #mandolinmondays hosted by the Mandolin Cafe. But most of all, I love sharing my love of the mandolin with others. I run an online mandolin learning community on Patreon, and I also make videos to share my thoughts, ideas, and general mandolin enthusiasm with other mando aficionados. Find out more at the links below:
🌍 My website - davidbenedictm...
🚀 My Patreon Page - / davidbenedictmandolin
*Just a little disclaimer that I’m endorsed by some of the companies represented here, and a few of my "weapon of choice" links above are affiliate links that bring in a small percentage of revenue for the channel.

[@alucardthebloodleech5293]

Just picked up my grandmother's mandolin for the first time this morning, she passed a couple months ago and my mother inherited her mandolin, and I already learned how to play "you are my sunshine" and played it for my 6month old daughter, mother and wife just now. I really wish I had started earlier and I also wish I had asked my grandma to teach me, but I'm already in love with the mandolin! For some context, I've been playing bass guitar for about 17 years so I'm not new to stringed instruments but it took a little while to figure out the cord progressions since it's tuned backwards from a bass guitar and it's written in treble clef instead of bass. Great video! Thumbs up 👍👍🤘🤘💯💯😎😎

[@thuggfrogg]

Got my first mando two days ago, watched a dozen videos for beginners, and this so far is the best video for me. The close ups are extremely helpful, as are the tactical explanations. Thanks a ton!

[@kaspersderlund5573]

Thank you for sharing this!! Priceless information, you’re a such a natural at teaching. Just wonderful :-)

[@gabrielraines1478]

Hey can I request a song for you to teach if not it's fine but it's purple rain by Dwight Yoakem😊

[@thuggfrogg]

I'm a BRAND NEW mando player, but I've played the drums for 20 years. The forearm vs wrist discussion is fascinating. As you might imagine, drummers have a lot of the same discussions - we talk about fingers vs wrist vs forearm vs elbow vs shoulder because the bounce of the drumstick is so much more violent than the bounce of the pick. Since I have that perspective, it seems obvious to me that the "correct answer" is that it's a mix of all of these muscles, and different "strokes" will require different activations (ex: light-and-fast picking vs loud strumming). But I want to also make the case that it may even be more fun to mix it up and be able to use all of your arm muscles because playing an instrument is like dancing! Let yourself do what's fun as well as what lets you play your best... As long as it doesn't lead to long term injury :) . Who knows... I might be entirely "wrong"!

[@billmacaulay]

Excellent - you even talk in steady time and your diction is so clear. A born teacher

[@danydhondt4677]

great channel David! I'm playing an Irish Bouzouki but I think technique is similar, no? Thx!!

[@koreystephens]

THANKS for adding the time stamp chapters.

[@ucielsola]

Thanks!! I recently brought back my mando from the luthier, and its sounding a lot better, and its easier to play. Your videos are very helpful. Thanks again!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Great to hear!

[@yadavpiyush182]

Tip:5 Man I feel that too. Thats why I was watching a few videos.. cause... Well I am self taught. Thanks that helped. Checking out more of ur content too now..😀

[@seamuslyden5326]

I don't know if this means anything to you, but you are the Paul Davids of the mandolin! Keep posting please!

[@davemesker9600]

Unless I want to mute the strings I hold my wrist off the strings and use my wrist and arm to strum and tremolo the strings. I use my wrist to mute strings when I do chops and I primarily use down strokes. I have short stubby fingers and a bent pinky finger so I have to work around that.

[@mikemullins8020]

Well I found you late. Live in Greer sc. Family members attended Clemson. I have been playing in band New River Bluegrass for 20yrs. And yet..have never progressed to lead playing. Tell me where to find how to play lead or breaks. Glad I found you! Check out our video In the shadow of the mill. I'll be watching you.

[@brendanobrien9996]

Planting my hand behind the bridge feels natural to me, and trying to move my forearm as demonstrated here feels really clunky to me. But I am definitely sold on the strategy for moving with the forearm and the wrist, especially considering the consistency in how you hit each string. Has anyone else felt this way, but powered through until it worked? Right now I feel like it sounds worse for me, but I’m wondering if I stick with David’s method, will it improve? Or should I stay with what feels natural.

[@kimw6698]

I went to a group jam last week. Have only been learning mando three weeks only know a few chords. It was nice to play with a group but next day my neck and shoulders ached. i have NOT found a relaxed posture. Thank you very much for this advice.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Posture makes all the difference! Best wishes on your mando journey and thanks for watching!

[@healingenso7923]

Got to stop resting my ring finger on the front of my instrument as a reference point. I think I still have wrist flexibility. But only 2 weeks into my first mandolin and now's the time to break bad habits :)

[@ghust3427]

Im a little bit depressed. I bought a mandolin and I dont know how to tune it. It says G - D' - A' - E'' but what does the ' and '' mean? My ddario tuner only got like G D A E or with # . If i try to tune it it doesnt hear like its correct. Rlly need ur help

[@christopherw4527]

How do you not have a southern accent from growing up in Clemson? Serious voice training? If so, an amazing feat.

[@zoedodson1076]

I took violin for five years and my mum was like, hey try a mandolin. So now I'm here, great tips thanks! I too live in clemson btw

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Glad to meet a fellow Clemson mandolinist!

[@katherinenay7826]

Have been playing the mandolin for 18 years. I don’t really consider myself a beginner, but I’m working on breaking 18 year old bad habits and I found this video so helpful! Thanks for sharing

[@thevoiceovercloset945]

watching this as my left-hand fingertips are throbbing from trying to develop calluses again 😳😳

[@dylanhenson7146]

About the left hand leading the right hand - I always thought it was the other way around, all because of rhythm. The right hand is going to be strumming as steady as can be, ain’t gonna to wait for the left hand so the left hand better stay in time. Your approach makes sense in terms of making clean chords, but does it not throw off your rhythm?

[@mikemullins8020]

Where are you now. I'm in Greer s.c. and play with New River Bluegrass. I need help or lessons.

[@cassieferraiuolo6663]

Hello! You mentioned an artist who has an inverted thumb that makes him have to do something different than most people. I think I have that , could you tell me the technique of this artist ?

[@shawnsartin7077]

I didnt know that each finger had its own fret area. Feel sort of silly but im trying.im a newbie here. Haha.😊

[@thermscissorpunch1787]

I’ve just picked up the mandolin, after years of playing guitar & bass, & I’ve run into two issues that I’d love some advice on; if anyone can help. First, & most important, I’ve noticed that my right hand cramps up fairly quickly while playing mandolin - an issue I don’t have on guitar or bass. I know that means I am putting to much tension on holding the pick, but, it’s subconscious tension that I often don’t notice until it’s too late & I begin losing some rhythm & power. Any ideas, aside from paying more attention to this, that anyone has to help? Secondly, I have found that it’s hard to depress multiple strings on the same fret; almost as if my fingers are too large to fit in that fret. Is this common, is there a workaround, or should I be on the lookout for a mandolin with larger frets? Just so I am clear, for the most part, I do not have these issues with other instruments. The cramps do happen, occasionally, mostly due to my psoriatic arthritis - usually after playing for an extended period of time & using too many barre chords (or is it “bar” chords - I’ve seen both). Thanks in advance for any & all advice.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Hey Therm! Let's get together for a Zoom lesson and sort it out! calendly.com/davidbenedictmandolin

[@davidsterenchock1899]

Thank you, David. I have been a beginner for longer than I wish to admit. I appreciate your lessons and have subscribed to your page. I have been a wandering Minstrel at a Renaissance Faire through September and October of 2021. I have learned a little more just playing and improvising while walking about the Faire. Now with your help I hope to develop even more. People seem to Love the mandolin and often ask me what instrument it is. Thanks again.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

God speed on your mandolin journey, David!

[@pablo6305]

Thank you for sharing your talent with rest of us. Im amazed by this instrument, but having troubles flowing to difrent notes.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Sure thing! Have you checked out the Beginner Series here on the channel? Might have some more tips for getting fluidity.

[@Dulcietta_LilliaClarke]

Coming from classical guitar background. Thanks for the tip about the corners showing when holding the plectrum. I have never ever used a plectrum so it is one of my biggest learning curves with mandolin, I was holding it so I could only see one corner, front and back and adjusting it has given me more motion, thanks ! Also the angle of fingers, I was losing tone clarity on the 5th fret, so I pretended I was playing a barre chord where we angle the fingers more, and it made a huge difference. So increasing the angle now to more pronounced than I was using. The only thing I cannot get used to is holding the thumb so high. I find it restricts the movement in my fingers by effectively shortening them, but I am used to flexing at the wrist so no tension when I do, plus I am hypermobile. Question re angle of right thumb/wrist, If I was placing hand lightly behind bridge, is it the part of my hand at base of pinky or thumb that would make contact, would thumb fingernail from my viewpoint be flat or slightly angled away from me ?

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Hi there! Thanks so much for checking out my video here! Hope it was helpful. It's tough talking about this stuff over text alone. I'd be happy to meet with you for a Zoom lesson if you're interested in talking specifics. Here's my lesson booking platform if you're interested: calendly.com/davidbenedictmandolin

[@Paul-mn8ql]

You have the longest fingers I’ve ever seen - I on the other hand, have small hands and the left hand stuff is so tough

[@ronniecraft3895]

thanks for sharing,i live in west Columbia S.C . how about that we are close , so cool !!!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

So cool!

[@clarehaven6068]

Great tips David thanks! I'm definitely someone who benefits enormously from these insights and look forward to trying these out : )

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

My pleasure!

[@anna-kaisahacklin4732]

Thank you so much! I've started to play mandolin only a couple of moths ago and this really helped with the tone.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Great to hear!

[@taco2k3]

Great video, Thank you. Been playing ukulele for over 15 years. Came across a used mandolin at a yard sale. Had always wanted to give it a try.

[@michaellandau5765]

Thanks so much for the video. I am an experienced banjo player and have just begun playing the mandolin. The only unpleasant surprise was that, compared to the banjo, I found the mandolin harder to fret and get a clear tone consistently. First of all, there's so much less space between the frets, plus your having to hold down two strings at the same time. Not as easy as the banjo!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Twice the work, but twice the fun 🤩

[@robertshorthill4153]

David, I envy you and Magnus with your looong, skinny fingers. Yeah, I know the third guy will have sausages for fingers and can play that G chop, but I haven't attained that level of nirvana as yet in spite of all the tips.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

You got this! I believe in you!

[@the_nondrive_side]

I am heading home with my first mandolin. I play uke and guitar and fix stuff so... Leaving a comment instead of a like. Its 666 right now 6 months in.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Thanks for watching, David! Congrats on the new mando!

[@Comooz]

Bro thanks help me so much i'll ve waiting for the next live

[@clawhammer704]

I say the first tip is get a good setup on ur mandolin. High strings and bad intonation is bad for enjoying the learning process.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Nice! Yeah, that's a good tip too!

[@scojomusic1]

Speaking of "crazy inverted thumb like John Reischman" pick grips, I've seen Sebastian Giniaux pick this way too. He's a top gypsy jazz player & excellent musician. I've tried it and, like you said, why not try things & learn from the best. There are specific times when I'll lower my arm & invert my pick for the tone quality. Fun stuff

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Awesome! That's so great!

[@randysanders777]

I'm from there too, Go Tigers

[@mcardlepm]

Phenomenal - thank you. Primarily a fiddle player, in my 20's I struggled with picking technique and pretty much gave up since there were no mandolin teachers within driving distance. Admittedly I'd been using a small pear shaped (though flatback) mandolin (that - fun fact- "Dawg" David Grisman bought off me on eBay). In my early 60's now, I picked up a Loar f-style, and your right hand advice has transformed my playing.

[@douglascampbell2232]

Thank you. Just bought my first mandolin this week and have enjoyed the excellent content and articulation of your videos. Are there resources for finger exercises ?

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Welcome to the mandolin club, Douglas! Check out Mike Marshall’s finger busters book for some good left hand workouts!

[@treborrelluf]

beautiful fingers: mine are like sausages!

[@robertshorthill4153]

treborrelluf. Yes, and mine I inherited from my dad. Not the longest fingers like David's, but they get the job done somewhat well. I envy his fingers, especially his left hand. I can hold a pick, no problem, but my left hand -- well, that's another story. Yet I see some of these chunky dudes that have fingers shorter than mine and way "fatter". So I guess I'm stuck with what I have, huh ? After several years I still can not hit that 7th fret B note with my pinky left finger, try as I might. Some say it doesn't matter as long as it doesn't ring out as an open G note. Well, okay, I'll go with that, no choice in the matter. So there ! Good luck, my friend and good pickin'. Bob. ( PS, Mr. Bradley Laird has an alternate G chop chord that works except the chord doesn't have a D note, and the high E string isn't played at all. Move the shape to the A chord and the high E string is played ). Bob

[@robertshorthill4153]

Look up Brad Laird's G chop chord for small hands. How do these ladies and 10 year old kids get to be so good, not to mention fast and clean ? Bob

[@thelonesomesongbirds]

Thanks for the very condensed and helpful tips!

[@johnhonsky6404]

Day 7 with my mandolin, very helpful. Sounding so much better Thanks

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

My pleasure, John!

[@davidmccue3591]

My two year old daughter is apparently having her first crush. On David Benedict. 😅 Every time I watch one of your lessons she walks uo to the TV, spreads her arms and says "Awww! Huck?", which means "hug" in two-speak. While she is in no way dating before the age of 30, I have to admit she has excellent taste. Thanks for all the great videos David. Ive been playing about a year and ive gotten as far as lesson 13. Youve been my primary teacher, so if i suck--and believe me, i do-- it's totally your fault! :)

[@johnchastain7890]

Good stuff! I just changed my strings, and I'll try these tips as soon as the bleeding stops. ;-)

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

😆 I know the pain!

[@shaileshdeshpande8539]

Thanks for such a great tips video. I am a beginner mandolin player from India. I have a question. You mentioned that left hand fingers should fall on frets to get correct sound. Is this correct? The person I bought mandolin from said to play behind the frets to get the sound. I have press hard to get clean sound. Please let me know correct way. Thanks in advance.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Thanks so much for watching! Yeah, that’s the idea-placing your fingers directly behind the feet gets the cleanest sound. But always best to follow your ear and experiment to see what works best.

[@shaileshdeshpande8539]

@@DavidBenedictMandolin Thanks. This will help me a lot

[@sophsaund304]

Thankyou! Im finding my notes sound not flowy , but staccato, which is the sustain you talk about....brilliantly explained 😊

[@Ottonic6]

I have played guitar all my life (about 45 yrs) but have never played a Mandolin. I have always wanted to play Mando (is that ok?), just never had the opportunity until recently I did some restoration work on a friends SG, and as part payment he gave me an F style mandolin. Well, now's my chance. Thank you!

[@FunkyStrider]

Thanks so much for the tips! Can't wait till morning when I can try out "leading" my right hand with my left (it makes perfect sense). Do you have any opinion on posture in the right-hand thumb? Specifically, how much do you try to stop your thumb from flexing at all when picking upstrokes?

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Hey Bruce! I try to keep my thumb straight for both down and upstrokes. Struggled with thumb flexing for a while, and it helped me just trying to maintain the same flat pressure on both pick directions. Best of luck!

[@FunkyStrider]

Thanks! Good to have an awesome players input on this (I couldn’t really find Anything about it online)

[@kdm0707]

Also just received a beautiful mandolin, but called to play it in a more Mediterranean/ middle eastern vibe way. Any tips for learning down that pathway?

[@leica_sl2]

Being a guitarist it took me all but 5min to only to learn to play chords I also play classical violin { but that's another story ) .

[@hunterpursell1693]

Dude, THANK YOU.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

You're welcome!

[@mueslimuncher1950]

Excellent advice well delivered. Thank you.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Appreciate it Bill!

[@krisshapiro6583]

Thank you... a new Patreon and Mandolin Player.. So helpful!

[@startreker8591]

W

[@vincentgrossi2885]

More demo needed especially number 10

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Have you seen the in depth beginner series that I made recently? Might have some more demonstrations if you're looking for them: kzbin.info/aero/PLCaUTc3E6s3sBvKKnaT2G0Gd1-grM2gkE

[@rennyschweiger]

Good stuff. However, I have to say your method of holding the pick is very odd. Most (me included playing various stringed instruments for 50 years) hold the pick closer to the end of the fingers, typically between the flesh of the thumb’s end joint (I.e., directly under the cuticle) and the first joint of the first finger. As well, the curling of the rest of the fingers underneath the first finger further appears to make your hand move as a single block, restricting movement of the pick separately from the rest of the hand. Letting the non-pick-holding fingers float free allows you to include the flexibility of the fingers in manipulating the pick, including the pick’s attack angle. Your pick hold almost completely eliminates the use of the fingers, making the nearest joint of movement the wrist. It’s like scratching your nose with your first knuckle (closest to your palm) instead of the fingertip. Having said all that, all your other comments are spot on, especially playing with the edge of the pick vs the flat side - it’s like you’re caressing the string into action instead of slapping it into submission. Finally, one of my favourite picks is a blue chip triangle with one corner rounded so you can alternate between a pointy end and a rounder one. SRV played with the pointy end of a teardrop shaped pick pointed toward his palm, helping him get a fat, warm tone. Hope this is useful!

[@miguelfsousa]

success for yall!

[@JonWilkinsComedyVO]

Just got my left handed mandolin and the tips seems solid far. It sure is fun to play.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Awesome! Happy picking!

[@JonWilkinsComedyVO]

@@DavidBenedictMandolin thanks!

[@brianjoyce9040]

Thank you. Just purchased a mandolin. I will watch this many times I am sure.

[@tpf1952]

Thank you so much for your tips! I’m a beginner and I am eager to learn the right habits.

[@robertkelly9788]

All super good advice.....great stuff

[@frenzyfire0005]

I am near you in SC. You still do lessons in Clemson?

[@vincentgrossi2885]

More demo needed esp #10

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Appreciate the feedback, and thanks for watching!

[@whirl.__.nix.__3840]

really nice content , thanks !!

[@henryk2689]

Thank you!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Sure thing, Henry!

[@kristenkaiser9522]

Thank you! Love that you started off as self-taught and know the struggles and pitfalls of the solitary student. Appreciate you spelling out the little details, like the different angles on holding the pick and the angle.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

You are so welcome!

[@pablo6305]

Im beginer and thought because i can play acoustic alittle but they not same. Thank you.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

My pleasure!

[@DaveByers]

What's the name of the song that starts out?

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

It's just a little ditty I made up for the channel theme song! 🎶🎶🎶

[@DaveByers]

@@DavidBenedictMandolin Pretty cool, it sounded like it should be a song.

[@WWS322]

Does a person need an education to be able to appreciate the greats, Beethoven, Valvaldi, etc.?

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

One must only need to play mandolin to appreciate all the finer things in music 😆

[@catherinegosey1234]

Thanks for the handy video! I've got a borrowed mandolin that I'm trying to learn on. I was wondering: is it normal for mandolins to be heavy at the neck? I don't have a strap and it is a lot of work to keep it from falling over while I'm holding it.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Hey Catherine! Thanks for checking out my video! And yes, that's a big struggle with the neck. Similar issue with F and A models. Getting a strap can help, but I think it's best to find a solution in how you hold the instrument even without one. I have at least 3 points of contact with the mandolin to hold it in place--between the legs, against the torso, and having your right forearm situated on the top edge. It takes a while to get used to but this works for a lot of folks. Best of luck!

[@bradleyhardin8410]

@@DavidBenedictMandolin David, Ok on your three points of contact, but what about standing and playing? What are your thoughts on wearing a strap around your neck or over the shoulder only? I've tried both ways and find around the neck provides more stability, but is also more of a hassle putting it on and taking it off, while over the shoulder is cool like Bill Monroe and many others.

[@NorthernBandit1]

Thank you!

[@michaelburns140]

You're an excellent teacher ☺️

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Glad you think so!

[@heathkrida]

Wow, dude. Just the info I needed. Just got my first Mando.

[@dshazo3714]

I got my first mandolin yesterday.

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Glad I could help!

[@bethcarr4405]

I LOVE your animation!

[@DavidBenedictMandolin]

Thanks so much, Beth!