How To Play Lead Mandolin In Any Key

Easy Way To Learn The Pentatonic Scale

[@brianbuckley6713]

OMG, I went to a mandolin tutor in the U.K for maybe 6 or 7 years and I've learnt more in this short session than I ever did with the tutor I had. Thank you so much. All my tutor seemed to want me to do was to be able to read music and play classical pieces. All I wanted to do was to learn to play by ear and play Irish and Scottish folk music. I admit I can now read music but I have always found it impossible to join in any local sessions by playing by ear. Thanks to you I will now have some confidence to attempt to play along. I have to add, I am now 63 years young and feel I have wasted so many years being stuck but this short tut' has given me some renewed interest in my mandolin. Many, many thanks Eddy. Kindest regards.

[@diggerdave747]

I had the exact problem and I'm sure millions of other have also. I stopped my teacher and just told him what I wanted. I got into chords and backup playing first. That opens the door to playing with others. But, I do bluegrass which is a little different. Learn 5 chords and you got most bluegrass songs. You can fake it from there.

[@jeffmilkey]

Wow....10 minute lesson and I am jammin leads on my Mandolin.....Thank you so much. This is the best tutorial I have ever seen.

[@prayertool]

I sure hope you aren’t on the hit list for the mandolin players union or something similar. I have been playing “at” the mandolin for a year now and your video made me feel like I just received instructions on the secret handshake. I can’t do anymore than applaud all the 95% replies .... and to the 5% that want to pick this apart ... GET A LIFE! I picked up the instrument, which was my daughters that had passed away from cancer, to remember her and to have fun. You just opened up the world to me. In thirty minutes I opened my playlist on Spotify and could find the key of my favorites as well as somewhat play along with renewed excitement to the potential that lies ahead. Thank you so much. ... and if you want to lay another instructional video out there I am now subscribed and have rung the bell!

[@lisarichards1956]

I started over on Part 2 and was sold on you when you realized you couldn't assume we know the 1-4-5 notes. I know nothing, and appreciate your generosity in sharing your skills.

[@eddykay8962]

Wow! I wrote this lesson for my buddy in England. The file was so big I thought this would be the easiest way to send it to him. It never dawned on me other people would look at it. I'm flattered. Thanks.

[@sparrowbarnesmusic5864]

Eddy Kay hey. Yes very grateful for you uploading this for your friend. This is very good and im thankful for this lesson.

[@WinsomeJohnny]

This lesson has helped my playing immensely!

[@chadnewbern4281]

Show this to your son

[@BarberChad606]

Bought a mandolin 2 weeks ago.. I've not been able to put it down. I had hit a wall when it comes to learning something new until I saw this video. Thank you so much.. so simple, so well put, and endless possibilities.

[@sbearly]

I'm a guitar player and when I try to play mando I've been limited to just strumming the basic open chords and trying to find single notes in them. This is really a wonderful discovery. Thanks.

[@ricmcgrath1439]

I'm fairly new to mando. I've watched to many videos on the subject, most of which left this newbie feeling confused and discouraged. I have learned lots of CHORDS and chops, but what I was looking for was the proper way to use what I call "fill notes" on the leads. Of all the videos, THIS one is a gem!!thanks Ric

[@cordellbrooks6365]

This is literally the most useful video I’ve ever watched on the mandolin. I had such a hard time learning how to play in different keys.

[@allenronaldson4381]

Wow. I feel like an idiot. How can anyone thumbs down this. I’ve been trying to figure that shit out forever, and I’ve never ever heard about skip a fret. Dude you changed my life. Thanks

[@SketchingRocks]

Change it even more with part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iH2vZaOVZb6snJo

[@Jupiter-mx1mw]

poor little dude, so sorry for you :(

[@lisamooney6632]

This is the best lesson I have watched

[@womern]

I started playing mandolin a few months ago. I felt like I learned it rather quickly. I could sing with it and I found changing chords came pretty easy, but when it came to playing an intro or a fill or turn around I had just hit a wall. I watched several videos and nothing clicked. Then your skip a fret method totally made sense to me. Thanks for opening up the mandolin for me.

[@joshbarnett1176]

This just changed my life. You just made playing my mando 50x's more fun. THANKS!

[@jefpackerfan]

dude. I have played guitar and bass my whole life and I have always been a rock musician. I have played a lot of country bass, but I never was a country guy. I just got a mandolin and I love the sound. YOU LITERALLY JUST TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY COUNTRY MANDOLIN LEADS! Thank you so much.

[@jefpackerfan]

major scale with no 4 and no 7... fascinating!

[@livingyourbestlife711]

Theory is great, but this is practical and so much less complicated! Thanks Eddy!

[@mandolinic]

I was shown this exact technique by a mandolin teacher 40 years ago! And I'm still using it today. My teacher also gave me a number of fingering exercises going up and down the scale (and up and down the fingerboard) which I still call on in my lead playing. Over those 40 years, I've expanded the finger positions to extend into higher octaves and include minor scales and modes. When you can do that, you no longer need to put your first finger on the root note of the scale, but instead can use your first finger for any note. This allows you to use open strings and gives increased flexibility in choosing a position on the fingerboard, so you no longer need to play songs in G at the fifth fret - although I still do that for some songs! It helps to get a little knowledge of music theory and to understand how scales are constructed - and then you just need to keep practicing. All this is possible because the mandolin is a well designed instrument with a 100% consistent note layout on the fingerboard. Try this system on a ukulele and you'll quickly go mad! So, use this technique! It really works!!

[@jeffkraus3301]

Thanks for the lesson! I've been playing mandolin about 2 years, I knew this information but the way you demonstrated it made the information useful to me! My playing improved significantly. Thanks so much!

[@heyokaranch2545]

Play many instruments, but just picked up the mandolin for first time, been trying to find lesson, tips, theorys to help, Dude!this is by far the best, easiest to understand lesson, help, that I have seen, Thank you Soooo much for putting this up. You the MAN!

[@f1948s]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about playing the mandolin (lead). I am very thankful you posted it. Excellent.

[@beaudog59]

Brilliant. No messing about. This is the best mando lesson on KZbin.

[@mlazare]

Just got a Mandolin as a present last night and stumbled on this video today. I learned so much about guitar from the few times I was fortunate enough to play with you. I always love it when you play the mandolin in our jams now I know your secrets.

[@lisaboerner7705]

You have no idea how much this has helped me. Thank you so much for posting.

[@DavidWilliams-xr5wl]

Just learning how to play and this is really helpful. A fellow at a jam session I've been going to every week now has been talking about the scale and how useful it is. The skip a fret idea makes it easy to remember. I never took music theory so this is all pretty new to me.

[@eddykay8962]

The cool thing is it works in any key. It’s the pentatonic scale. Sit n front of the tv and practice it. Start anywhere, it’s all the same. You’ll be doing fills and leads in no time.

[@gina48100]

We also call this the Box Technique. Great job!

[@kb1056]

Amazing - probably best lesson I have ever seen on playing Mandolin! Thank you!!

[@mandolinpaulPS]

I’ve been laying mando for a long time, and can confidently play lead most of the time, but this would have gotten me there MUCH quicker. Dude, where've you been all my life! :)

[@CatGreenfield]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! This is the first time it has EVER clicked for me!!! I've been strictly a rhythm player on ally instruments for over fifteen years and now thanks to one video from you, everything I've heard but not been able to figure out has clicked!!! I'm so happy, thank you!!!!!!!!!!

[@CatGreenfield]

Like, I knew what a pentatonic scale was, but I had no idea how to use it!!! Bless you!!!!!

[@DanHarville]

Thanks Eddie. I have been fighting this for years. Now I am moving again.

[@handiman5]

Thanks for making it down to earth and simple!

[@AndreaZelones]

Finally....I understand the Pentatonic Scale. Thanks so much for posting - great video!

[@MyAutumnFall]

Just what I was looking for. I was looking for a technique that was the same as playing lead around a barre chord on guitar and this is it. Find the root and apply the same pattern up and down the neck.

[@steveorsinelli7711]

I wanted to thank you for this lesson! As a lead guitar player trying to understand this instrument, you have made the lead scales very, very easy for me to understand for the first time. I love the skip a fret method pal...Thank you, thank you, thank you

[@susank6267]

This was so very helpful!! Thank you so much for putting this on KZbin for your buddy!!

[@greglarry11]

Thank you for this. I've played guitar for years but I just started on mandolin. I found this very helpful!

[@jamiej14544]

This is a good video. There are others that make the same point; you can find the notes of the scale for any song with this "bluegrass box" or "skip a fret" formation. Simple melodic solos are easy with this strategy.

[@eddykay8962]

There are lots of blue grass 'Double Stops' within that pattern. Watch other players and you'll recognize the pattern. All modern wester music, for the most part, is based on that scale. I wrote this lesson for a friend in England. I'm no a teacher and very surprised at the interest. Thanks and Good Luck. Eddy

[@earlcharles7463]

you made this easy for me thank you . i live here now .

[@SimonUK83]

You do mention that this is pentatonic scale but this video is waaaaaaaay helpful. Thank you sir. Gonna sore up some finger tips.

[@jimmiemarasides9702]

This is one awesome instructional video. You have moved me so much father along in my quest to play breaks. Thank you.

[@TheBlueExiles]

this was very helpfull A simple pattern for the pentatonic scale in every key. Thanx Eddy. You `re the boss :)

[@stephenkos1840]

The best explanation of the scale for me. Thank you so much! Now to go practice with The Band...

[@nmgreg11]

That is so cool. No one ever explained it like that to me before. Allot of lights just went on : ) Thank You!!

[@ashleypaddon378]

This is ace!!! I play mandolin, and tenor guitar, and have never been much of a lead player, so this will almost certainly be really helpful. Thanks millions for sharing. :-)

[@sadhvacman7238]

I’ve been playing the piano by ear for years and have understood the mathematics of chord structure and scales and how everything is relative, but I’ve never been able to make much sense of it on a fretboard. This was a lightbulb moment for me. I really appreciate it! The fact that you played the last waltz, the weight, just knocked me out. I pretty much learned to play piano while playing along with the band. You’re awesome.

[@nathanrittmaier4897]

thanks for the video. I'm a beginner at guitar and am familiar with the pentatonic scale already. picked up the manolin because a friend wanted to play some music at a Renaissance festival. this was very helpful

[@brianpfeiffer9065]

Great lessons - a natural teacher!!! Thanks

[@rick00770]

Thanks Ed. I just got an Ibanez a shape electric. I'm a guitar player for about 55 yrs. I'm learning my basic chords. Which is coming along but couldn't put runs together like I wanted too. This really helped. Now all I need is practice and getting those flat chords and minors down. You play great. I subscribed.

[@slackadave]

mind blown. this is so good. thankyou

[@jmoakley1]

Fantastic! Glad to see this on here.

[@realandsurreal]

Thanks for this lesson. Skip a fret simplifies the whole fretboard. Many thanks!

[@homeslice1479]

I'm a theory-trained guitarist who snagged an Ovation mandolin on sale, and even though I figured out the scales easily enough, I didn't have the "tips and tricks" to really get going with lead lines and solos. Your video does a great job of showing those off! Thanks! Can't wait to practice 😀

[@mb4716]

You explained that all very well and kept it simple. Well done in sharing your knowledge .

[@karannewman9863]

Excellent! Many thanks for sharing! This is the same way I teach and learn. Finger positions and learning by ear. You Rock!

[@marcosw6893]

This and other lessons you have are perfect for me. Thanks!

[@krisshapiro6583]

Brilliant!!!! Confidence builder for sure. Thank you for a great tutorial

[@larryrhindress2972]

I'm just learning to play. I do play guitar, but have found it very tricky playing lead on the mandolin. That is, up until now! Eddy you have solved the problem and I am thankful ! An excellent lesson. Nova Scotia thanks you!!!

[@douglasreynolds8842]

Thanks for this! I get a mandola tomorrow, all I'll need to do is transpose down a fifth and I'll be on my way!

[@theyoodoo]

What an excellent method! This is very helpful. I'll be using this a lot.

[@matthewkeeley4479]

Well, golly mister Peabody, so that's how it is done! Thanks for the lesson, be looking for more. Had me one of those AH SO moments...

[@jimmychildress5727]

Wow!! You just opened a new door for me. Thank You, Thank You!!

[@alexquiroz9945]

you make it very easy to understand. you should do more videos like this!

[@iris3B]

Thank You! Can’t wait to start practicing this technique!

[@earlcharles7463]

You is a boss... because of you I’m playing mandolin. And loving it . Hahahahaha

[@rondawynn728]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It’s like a light bulb just came on!

[@1220freddie]

nice job. easily understandable and immediate results.

[@eugenelayton5231]

This is very informative. Thanks for sharing. I'm a guitarist who is learning banjo and mandolin. I'm preparing to teach my granddaughter mandolin and this will be something I show to her after she learns basic note and chord positions. Have a great day!

[@ski5150]

Hahahha... OMG this is AWESOME! So clear and clever! Thank you so much. Great lesson.

[@georgebarksdale7934]

the most easy found for me thank u eddy

[@gogonkt]

Master piece!

[@jsweene8]

It really works! I have been looking for this trick and it really works!

[@jimholmes341]

What a great lesson thank you!

[@lisaboerner7705]

Thank you for posting this!!!

[@bobkavanagh9885]

This is so helpful thanks so much Eddy

[@WinsomeJohnny]

Brilliant lesson!

[@debraterrill5799]

Wow this I the best video I’ve seen. It’s simple and easy

[@edwardhanson3664]

I love this. Thank you.

[@banjodeano2202]

wow...that is a real eye opener, thanks a lot

[@punarvasudosha]

Awesome tutorial!!!!! Thanks

[@chloe_cottom]

Great lesson thank u!!!❤

[@terrelspears3856]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[@waynepreston5]

Thank you kindly Sir. This is simple and very helpful indeed!

[@jfilet]

good stuff. thanks so much. solid gold man!

[@matthewkleinmann]

I am excited to take the mado out for a bit and try this. As a side note, on the advice of a learned to store the pieces I am not using all the time tuned two steps down. What he did not tell me is how playable things are tuned down that far, and how crazy good they sound. Given this is "keyless", give it a shot if you too keep your toys tuned down.

[@kkkometo]

So clear! thanks for sharing this clever knowledge

[@RobLeylandNZ]

Really helpful, thanks Eddy!

[@scorpiosings438]

Dude you just changed my life! Thank you!

[@eddykay8962]

I hope it’s a good one.

[@scorpiosings438]

Eddy Kay thank you I was struggling learning scales and you make it so simple

[@Extraterristic]

Damn boii this vid just made my dayy

[@aspektx]

Thank you, this was informative.

[@Thejukebox091982]

Hi Eddy, this is Jukebox Jenne, Great video sir.

[@susudio606]

Very nice lesson. What you are calling "skip a step"is the major pentatonic scale.

[@eddykay8962]

Thanks. I know. But 'position' learning is so much less intimidating to me. So that's the way I teach.

[@jeffmilkey]

Understand a pentatonic scale is not major or minor...it is neither. It works in both situations.

[@randygillespie152]

Thanks for the insight.

[@marcjakout]

GREAT !!! Thank you very much ! :)

[@5150show]

Incredible

[@reckonimokie123]

Love this video

[@n.proctor5917]

Excellent!

[@GaryBook]

When you do your spilt, your basically doing the root note and fifth. Nice job. I just realized, you are doing the major pentatonic scale.

[@jeffmilkey]

There is no such thing...pentatonic is neither major nor minor, yet it works in both.

[@GaryBook]

@@jeffmilkey Pentatonic means five tones, and you can have minor and major pentatonic scales. Blues scales are based on minor pentatonic scale. It is discussed here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentatonic_scale

[@properjob]

Well done for putting up something interesting and informative. Now might be a good time to do one for minor keys :)

[@jeffmilkey]

this is pentatonic...it works in major AND minor keys...BOOM

[@lindaferster4848]

Thank you. I especially liked your version of Ashokan Farewell (at the end), although I realize it was played on perhaps an octave mandolin or a mandola.

[@eddykay8962]

Thanks. It was a custom Mandola made for me in Prague by Rosta Chapek.

[@christineholtz3150]

yes !! what an ah ha moment .. Thank you !!!

[@corpseofhope8830]

wow holy shit you made that so simple and it works. thanks! mandolin is the most blackmetal instrument!

[@ryant9620]

Thanks for sharing ! For years I've been yearning to improvise but jus need proper guidance. I'm willing to put in the time. I usually play parang music here in the caribbean.