Surprising Mistakes You're Making When Learning Mandolin

[@CarlSanford76]

I'm a blues guitar player picking up mandolin for the first time. The only thing they have in common is strings and thinning out my wallet, but I'm hooked on this thing now. Great video fellas. Thanks.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Nice, welcome to the mandolin world!

[@texhaines9957]

Thanks Jeremy!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching!

[@annann4786]

This is what I call tutorial! Thanks

[@jeanetterouse1946]

I can relate to too tense. Thanks Jeremy

[@AcousticShoppe]

Our pleasure! Thanks so much for watching.

[@carole8312]

Excellent advice. "My hand won't do that" applies to all stringed instruments... Thanks Jeremy! My compliments to the editor too. This was a very nicely presented video. The visual, sound, effects, and timing on the slides were all spot on. Cheers Guys!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you so much Carole, this comment is too kind. Glad you found it helpful! Thank you for watching.

[@rsteelecfp]

Great advice Jeremy!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching! Glad you found it helpful😄

[@meh49]

Thanks, great advice!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Our pleasure! We're glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@gregalderson128]

This was a great video and helpful. I always like and share.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Awesome, thank you! We're glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@tpf1952]

Thank you for sharing the wisdom of your experience!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching!

[@mcseacow33]

Best piece of advice I've gotten so far learning the mandolin: "mandolin is hard." By which my instructor didn't mean to say that it's harder than xyz other instrument, but simply that, in itself, it's a difficult skill to master, especially compared to many other things we do in our instant gratification society. Appreciate the same point being stressed here.

[@brez642]

learning curve from bass to mando was bigger than expected. but i loved playing more than any instrument. it’s now my favorite noodling tool

[@AcousticShoppe]

That's great!

[@gottaflylee5521]

Nicely said and done, great advice!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more!

[@mandolinic]

Plucking one string whilst turning the tuning key for another. That _never_ gets old - even after 40 years! 😄

[@kirkfraser9013]

Very insightful, thanks!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe for more tips & tricks.

[@Cailean_MacCoinnich]

I've played acoustic guitar for 20+ years, but rarely used a pick and find the Mandolin incredibly hard to play. It's got such a different feel to it with tighter strings and much harder to get clean notes than on a guitar. But I know perseverance is the key. So I'll keep at it. Thanks for a great set of tips.

[@davidmccue3591]

Never realized how much harder that second string makes it until I broke one string in a pair. And holy shit wasn't it easier to play!

[@jamesfromtexas1244]

Wow! Great CONTENT. I started playing mandolin 2.5 years ago and I fell on several of these mistakes. I will make certain not to be caught by the rest. BTW, I have an Eastman 305. Love it!

[@calebellismando]

That was an awesome video! Wish I had this when I was first learning. Me and some of my family are in the van on our way to your shop right now. Can’t wait to get there!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching! We're looking forward to it!

[@DieterLo1]

Thanks for good advise! Started 3 days ago with Mandoline. Before never hold one in my hands! But as Accordion Player used also digital Limex Sounds and loved it to use Mandoline Sounds or Violine and others. Now it is good to hold one in hands and try to understand it. As Pensioner (67) started few different instruments. Greetings from Germany!!

[@claude6141]

Great advice

[@jdschlottmann7777]

Love your playing, your songs, and your tips!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you!

[@RTCarterful]

Excellent advice, thanks so much. Love your channel.

[@HeavyMetalBluegrass]

I've enjoyed several of your videos and you're right. This was the best one yet. Cheers!

[@someginger6996]

I needed this, thank you.

[@terryremaly1902]

So good thanks

[@darleenlee9125]

Great advice! Thank you. BTW I just love watching your videos. Been watching you guys for years. 🎉 Hello from Australia 🇦🇺

[@richardbailey1295]

Good tips. I still after 20+ yrs find myself tuning the wrong string (if Im lucky).

[@AcousticShoppe]

It happens, even to the best of players, haha!

[@Road_Rash]

My biggest mistake when I first started was trying to play bluegrass on it... I had much more success & fun when I gave up & started playing rock n roll & country on it... biggest mistake I see many people make is pigeon holing it into one singular genre... it's not a "bluegrass instrument", it's a musical instrument, you play music with it, not any one particular genre... I like thinner picks...1 mm picks will fly straight out of my hand within the first couple of strums... I hate picks that are thicker than .73mm... best thing about not playing bluegrass is not having to try to get those finger crippling chop chords down... I don't have to learn them, because I never need them...

[@edsterling5258]

Tell me about your yellow mandolin. It is beautiful and sounds fantastic. Link? TY!

[@AcousticShoppe]

That's a Hinde Mandolin! Here's the link to our review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fou6pI2VgJKjqMk

[@SamFugarino]

Just bought a mandolin from you guys. Hopefully this old dog can learn new tricks.

[@AcousticShoppe]

You can do it!

[@dutchmiller704]

I like this video for sure p

[@AcousticShoppe]

We're glad😆 Thanks for watching! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more!

[@jamesakers1175]

I'm a little late at viewing this video but it was great.??? Are there alternate tunings on a mandolin like on a guitar???

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching! There definitely can be alternate tunings for mandolin such as DDAD, GDGD, or even open G - GDGB!

[@thelastjohnwayne]

What a great video.

[@robertshorthill6836]

Don't forget, Chris Thile was playing and winning advanced mandolin contests before the age of 8. His first CD was made at around the age of 12 and it was a killer. It set a standard for a lot of folks to emulate. I listened to this CD during my days working at the Gibson/Flatiron mandolin factory back in the early '90s.

[@earle4370]

One thing that I find myself doing is resting my picking hand on the bridge too much, especially when trying to get a loud solo out above the rest of the noise around me. You could probably lump that under too tense.

[@jamescoughlan8193]

I love the sound of the mandolin and love Irish trad music but am I too old at 60 to learn it to a decent level ?

[@AcousticShoppe]

You’re never too old to learn any instrument! No harm in giving it a shot 😃

[@charlesbernard9198]

I'm 70 and just started learning mandolin a year and a half ago. Although I played guitar before, it was exclusively fingerstyle, so the pick and mandolin chord shapes and scales were a whole new thing. It's been great. As long as your fingers, brain and ears are working you're not too old!

[@ES339Guy]

Next stop seven O but I just bought my mandolin from Jeremy and get it in time for Turkey day. Best of all, Jeremy is gonna teach me virtually how to play. Being a guitar player for 50+ years helps. Go for it James!

[@superblindeye1]

The hardest thing I have trouble with right now is the pic hold. Whenever I try to play at an angle, my hold seems to be too loose, and it wants to fall out of my hand.

[@mendyviola]

I figured out tip #4 right out of the gate and got a thicker pick. My most common mistake is playing on the wrong string (coming as a very long time classical violist). They are all off by a fifth! 😂

[@richard7071]

Should have bought a mandola!

[@loisbeekeeps4955]

I find it difficult to hold strings down on the first fret. Strings seem too high there. Can the nut grooves be deeper or is it something I just need to work on

[@AcousticShoppe]

If you haven't yet, make sure that you're putting your finger directly behind the fret, that should be the lowest place to get that note. Overall it is most likely something that just needs to be practiced, adjusting the nut should be like a last resort because if the nut is filed too much it can lead to buzzing. If this problem persist it may be worth it to take your mandolin to a trusted luthier but we recommend practicing more first. Hope this helps, let us know if you have any more questions! 🙂

[@julianfiller8731]

What is the name of the tune in the intro

[@AcousticShoppe]

It is "Old Joe Clark".

[@michaellandreth1392]

I would like to add. Not having a properly adjusted strap. I think trying to hold an Instruments neck while trying to learn to fret chords or play notes. Is a big issue. Let the Strap hold the instrument while you play it. Nice and relaxed. And No I don't give a Rat's Butt if your "Grand Pa Cletus" played all his life with out one. You will do better with it.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to like, share, and subscribe for more!

[@johnwashburn3793]

So,have the proper pick, don't be stressed, treat the pair as one and don't give up...are you a marriage counselor?

[@AcousticShoppe]

Not officially🤣

[@ProbableCauseBluesBand]

Lol great comment!!

[@calebellismando]

Lol I love it😂😂

[@jdschlottmann7777]

Snort!

[@luckysevenairammo1217]

Oh, so I shouldn't have started with a 12 string bowlback 😂