Losing My Religion (R.E.M.) - Mandolin Lesson

R.E.M.'s classic song is one of the great pop/rock mandolin tracks. It's also a tune many people want to learn when they pick up the instrument. So here is a complete tutorial, including intro, chords and signature licks. I've also posted another video on this channel with an updated version of this song's intro. Check it out too! ⚡️Mandolin TAB for this song and many others on this channel can be found here: / rockpopmandolin ⚡️
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[@roadtramppaul1981]

Great lessons, this guy is great

[@RockPopMandolin]

Oh, thanks so much!!

[@RedneckandPinay]

I’m retired in the Philippines. Brought back a mandolin on my last trip to the U.S. I’m a newbie though. Enjoying your channel.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Cool! Enjoy!

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

I really like that you don’t go too elementary. I’m good enough to work with your teaching speed. I appreciate the need for real beginners to go slowly, but it is nice to have videos that go right into the song.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Cool! Sometimes it’s a tap dance between going easy enough for beginners but not too simple to bore advanced players. Cheers!

[@chewton123]

Great lesson and easy to understand! This is one of only 3 songs I know on the mandolin after being given a 100+ yo instrument by a good friend. The other two are Copperhead Road (of course) and Rise by Eddie Vedder. The latter I learned because my son asked me to play it at his wedding last weekend in Tucson.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks, but I updated that video on the channel too. The intro is slightly different. Check it out!

[@dontfeedthemilkshake]

Good job! For the record, Peter Buck plays the intro with chords, not single notes. He uses the A strings on the 5th and 7th fret and lets the E strings drone with them. Helps keep them from sounding too thin. The F chord also sounds to me like its pulling off to the open D strings, not hammering on to the G on the 5th fret. For reference, I used the isolated mandolin from the song and live footage.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks for your input. You’re right about not hammering to G. After listening to the song again, I think he does pull off to D.

[@GaryBook]

That is how I play it as well, but both ways work.

[@matusmaca8005]

You´re such a nice guy, you radiate joy with every cell of your body, bless you man!

[@RockPopMandolin]

Oh, thanks so much! You are very kind!

[@tubahotams9437]

i looked for like this videos for beginning to play mandolin so glad to see your channel ! Thank you for effort.

[@RockPopMandolin]

No problem. Glad I could help. Enjoy the instrument!

[@alanowen3816]

Hi Mike, excellent rendition of REMs classic, my dad played the piano years ago here in Liverpool and I wanted to keep his memory alive , I looked at an instrument that I liked the sounds from, I chose the mandolin and I'm so happy you've included Beatles tracks in your sessions, who knows, one day I would love to play this in the famous Cavern Club. Keep up the good work Mike.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Hi Alan. Great story. So glad I could help you with the mando. I love the Beatles and will be doing more of their songs here in the future. I’d love to visit Liverpool someday, too!!

[@GaryBook]

Great lesson. The song is in E minor, which would be G Major. You do a great job on the strumming to get the groove of the song. Great channel. Battle of Ever more by Led Zeppelin is another great mandolin song.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks man. The song does have a nice groove, doesn't it? Simple but fun to play.

[@TheCheermeister]

Another Great lesson Mike. I grew up on the Beatles, but also Love REM. Been playing this one for years, but always able to watch your videos for better fills and solos which are usually easier than what I figure out on my own. Learning Nightswimming on piano from a KZbin tutorial right now, ( one off my all time favorites), which I used to play on mandolin. Anyhow, thanks again for sharing your talent with us all.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks for your kind comments, Rick. Really appreciate them. R.E.M. is my favourite band and Peter Buck was one of my inspirations to play mandolin. So I’m always happy to showcase his work.

[@uski59]

Now that's the way to teach... I'm taking my first steps on the mandolin & suffering thru all the crappy, redundant, monotanious, basic lessons out there. .but you did me some good.....i have decades of experience with guitar so it kinda helps....Im really amazed the number of songs that use a mandolin..... Anyhow Thanks for the streamlined no b.s. lesson....i now know 2 songs on mando...& I subscribed....

[@RockPopMandolin]

That's great, dude. I came over from guitar, too. It really helps if you already know songs on that instrument. Finding your way around the mando shouldn't be too difficult. But I had to practice tremolo technique. I'd recommend watching my Dirty Old Town video. It's got some fun mando techniques to work on.

[@samael71ful]

Thank you very much for slowing down Much appreciated. My tiny brain is no longer overloading and the fingers are mostly keeping up. Love this song too. Can't wait to see what comes next.😄👍

[@RockPopMandolin]

Excellent! Keep on playing that mando!

[@Richmoose11]

This great! Thanks so much! Love your stuff, love it.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks so much!!

[@mistahcoughdrop]

I wish I knew you were in Tokyo! I was there in 2019/2020 for an exhibition and played mandolin everywhere!

[@RockPopMandolin]

Cool! It’s a great place for live music, that’s for sure.

[@wlosinger]

You're really an inspiration

[@RockPopMandolin]

Wow! Thanks so much! Glad I could help.

[@zootallure4819]

When I get this down, I'll do a video and post it to say- This what Mike taught me. Thanks Mike.

[@RockPopMandolin]

You’re welcome! But please check out the second video I did on this song where I did a slight update on the intro part. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWe3oWZtlqatY80

[@zootallure4819]

@@RockPopMandolin This has come along nicely. Almost ready to play this one out. So..... Could you please do a lesson on "The Gael" (Last of the Mohicans soundtrack) It is easily carried by the mandolin for the entire song. Thanks Mike.

[@RockPopMandolin]

@@zootallure4819 Don't know that one. Will have to check it out.

[@nick.m02]

Thank you Mike! You rock!

[@RockPopMandolin]

No worries! My pleasure.

[@petethefeet5281]

That was great thank you - i will be having fun with this!

[@RockPopMandolin]

Most welcome. Enjoy!

[@misspurpleplum3988]

Thanx for doing this👍👍

[@RockPopMandolin]

You are so welcome!

[@lukep1888]

Awesome Mike, one of the first songs I had to learn when I got my first mandolin! It has to be in the top 5 mandolin driven rock songs right? Love the studio there Mike, stay safe out there! Thanks for sharing!

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks again, Luke. I would imagine that this is one of the first mandolin songs that someone would want to learn, especially if coming over from guitar. Take care!

[@kingsecho3351]

I picked up a mandolin about a year ago at my local music store. It’s a Harmony brand. You know anything about those? I looked it up and it’s like a seventies model. It sounds great. I got it for a great price. Got a free case and a strap with it. I’m not sure they knew what they had.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Nice! I’ve heard of Harmony mandos, but never played one. Enjoy!

[@mrtambourineman6107]

Domo Orahgatto my friend ☺️

[@RockPopMandolin]

Doitashi mashite! That means “You’re welcome.”

[@mrtambourineman6107]

@@RockPopMandolin you're welcome 🙏 friend - mushi mushi

[@scotthansen1275]

Hi Mike. Check out PIcking up the pieces by Widespread Panic. This song popped up on my Spotify, never listened to them before, but the mando on this song is sometHing else.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Okay, thanks!

[@rachelwilliams3535]

Do you have any suggestions of which of your songs/videos maybe suitable for a complete beginner?

[@RockPopMandolin]

Actually, if you wait for a few weeks, I’ll be publishing a new lesson series for beginners. It will have lessons for five easy beginner rock songs. Stay tuned!

[@generalklytus1393]

Thanks for the video - very well done and explained! Check out the video of R.E.M.'s performance of "Losing My Religion" from Austin City Limits. The filming is not all jumpy like most annoying concert videos. You can really see the mandolin fingering pretty well. RIP Bill Rieflin :(

[@RockPopMandolin]

Will do. Thanks so much!

[@michaelmcdonald6843]

So happy I just came across your channel! I’m 50 years old and I’ve been playing drums all my life. I’m a very mediocre guitar player, but have a fascination with the mandolin. Which of your videos would you recommend that may have the easiest song to give me a quick victory?

[@RockPopMandolin]

Cool! Welcome to the family. Green Day’s Good Riddance is easy, as is Tom Petty’s Free Falling. Have fun!

[@zionosphere]

Thanks for adding these, Mike. Your videos were one of the deciding factors in getting a mandolin. (Well, an octave mandolin.) Could you add the chords in the bottom of the description? I know it would help me as a reminder of what I need to know to play each song.

[@RockPopMandolin]

Wow, cool. Enjoy the new instrument. I’d love to get an octave mando too. As for adding chords, or even Tabs, good idea. However, shooting and editing the videos already takes up a lot of my time. So for now, I’ll leave it up to viewers to find them. I do explain the voicings I use as best I can. If you have any questions, send me a message.

[@zionosphere]

@@RockPopMandolin I should have suggested to provide a list of the chords. I admit that adding tabs, even of the chords, would be excessive for each song.

[@slq3263]

Thank you so much for your brilliant lessons! Do you have a patreon page?

[@RockPopMandolin]

You are so welcome! Yes, I have a Patreon page. Please check it out here: www.patreon.com/rockpopmandolin

[@mariontor8139]

Thank you for a very good tutorial. Do you have it written out and willing to post?

[@RockPopMandolin]

No, sorry. I don’t do tabs or notation.

[@notpub]

This was AWESOME, thank you!!!!Can you please offer a tutorial on Cheap Trick's "Mandocello" off their 1974 S/T debut LP please? 🤩

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks. Don’t know that song. I’ll have to check it out!

[@notpub]

@@RockPopMandolin oh wow you are so great. Thank you so much!!

[@Blindrock69]

I like your videos but I do struggle to keep up sometimes as a beginner. I'm finding it a little hard to work out the strumming pattern if anyone can help explain it

[@RockPopMandolin]

You can slow down the videos, if necessary.

[@kirkabner4592]

Tokyo huh? How cool Nice digs and am really enjoying the lessons. I've heard your name before. Have you had a previous music career?

[@RockPopMandolin]

No, but I worked in broadcasting for many years.

[@kirkabner4592]

@@RockPopMandolin that explains your fine delivery. You have reignited my enthusiasm for the mandolin.

[@RockPopMandolin]

@@kirkabner4592 Oh, that’s great to hear!

[@jodorset648]

Do you just use downstrokes playing this?

[@RockPopMandolin]

No. I use a combination of up and down strokes.

[@reesebenza4928]

All l have to say is to go slower and to do it more then two times and please slowly show how you strum in this is song or any of your videos. Still good video please take it a bit slower and man your the only mandolinist KZbinr who makes videos for songs so thank you for that. l just got a Mandolin for Christmas and l want to learn some cool mando songs

[@RockPopMandolin]

Okay, but you can slow down KZbin videos. There’s a little button below the screen to change the speed. And if you’re a beginner, my new lesson series could help you. It’s at www.rockpopmandolin.com

[@kingsecho3351]

Finally somebody on KZbin plays this correctly. Rick Beato didn’t even play it right

[@RockPopMandolin]

Thanks, bro. I tried my best to get it close.

[@MartinLubell]

Sure would help if you’d slow down a bit

[@RockPopMandolin]

There's a button on the KZbin panel that allows you to slow down the videos, mate.

[@mrtambourineman6107]

If you don't like this song, you're bloody deaf or summat 😂

[@RockPopMandolin]

Yes!!

[@frspascal]

Too quick for rookie.!!! Try to show slowly, at least 1 time.... 😮

[@RockPopMandolin]

You can use the YT controls to slow the video down.