Mandolin Tips for Guitar Players

In this video I share some ideas for guitar players who are starting out on mandolin or just wanting to get better at mandolin with more specific technique. I cover the main differences between right-hand and left-hand technique, as well as the symmetry of the mandolin fretboard.
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[@redstrat1234]

As a guitarist learning the mandolin, this is gold. Thank you.

[@mintonmiller]

So, I have been playing (with) guitar and mandolin for many years but admittedly nowhere near this level. This is by far the most informative video I have ever seen. I wish I had this information about 30 years ago because it took me a couple of years to really grasp this information by trial and error. Mr. Eicher is not only an impressive player, but a gifted teacher as well. That gift is one of the rarest of all. WELL DONE!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Incredibly nice of you 💛

[@swainsongable]

Many years ago I picked up the mando for non musical reasons - as a longhaul trucker, it fit into my sleeper more comfortably than a guitar. I taught myself by ear and, as more of a songwriter than player, it offered an entirely different tool for the craft. I never got very good with technique (which is why i still watch this kind of content) because the fretboard is too narrow for me but it sure was fun to transpose some of my guitar songs to mando and that led me to believe what I really needed was a mandocello with wider nut, which were darn near impossible to find back then. Anyway, my search included negotiating with luthiers to build one (or a cittern etc) and that serendipitously brought me to the tenor guitar, which changed my world. I gave my mando to my bass player, who also plays guitar, and now my band has a whole set of songs that feature tenor guitar accompanied by mando and/or bass. I suppose what I'm saying is that every guitar player should have a whack at the mando because it will at the very least bring clarity to your six string and expand your horizon farther than you might think - so thanks for this tutorial 👍

[@Artorias001]

Goldtone makes a mandolin guitar hybrid that you might enjoy. The neck is wider and they also make a 12 string version I think if you played around with string gauges and tuning you could have an extended range mandolin.

[@iyhgtyea8028]

very useful and easy to understand. You get such a fluid/loud/articulate/rounded sound! can't wait until I can get the same

[@Ira88881]

This was outstanding.

[@charlesbrock5806]

Excellent teacher!

[@SeaDrive300]

Very helpful, thank you! 🙂

[@andywoodmusic]

Great video brother, these will be a great series and I think you’re gonna absolutely crush with your channel! I’ll be watching every video for sure.

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Thank you, Andy! You’re the man!

[@vfn5513]

Excelente introducción a la mandolina, en particular para los guitarristas que empezamos en este instrumento, nos das una buena orientación.

[@parlorseries4864]

Really well done and helpful -- thanks

[@WWS322]

I started practicing mandolin a year ago and I fell in love and actually like it better than guitar which I've been playing off and on my whole life. My mandolin is an Ibanez and cost a little over $300 and the strings are hard to press down and my fingers get a real workout.

[@artsmockmusic]

Wonderful lesson 👍🏼 thanks for sharing! I've been a guitarist for about the last 10 years, but I've always wanted to pick up the mandolin as well. Such a magical sounding instrument. Just got a mandolin yesterday and I've had fun learning all the new chord shapes and playing in 5ths!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Excellent! Thanks for the nice comment. 🙌

[@Fernwald84]

I'm thinking of getting a mandolin so your tips are just what I need, Isaac. BTW, as I know from playing classical guitar with nails, the shape of the nail has a great influence on the sound produced. A nail shape that's rounder (has less of a peak in the middle) will produce a rounder tone. I'm guessing that's why the recommendations I've seen for mandolin picks call for ones that are rounder than those for guitar, since the mandolin's tone is already somewhat sharper than the guitar's.

[@crowcroftj]

having just been loaned a Fylde oxtave mandolin, after decades of guitar playing, this is incredibly welcome straight speaking intro to what's different - thanks!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Wow, thank you!

[@weasel3355]

Very helpful 👌 thank you very much

[@philmonk4159]

The tone of your mandolin is incredible even through a recording

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Thank you! For all these videos I set up a large diaphragm condenser mic that pics up my voice and mandolin.

[@5150show]

Brilliant, just subbed

[@jeremywolstenholme9277]

This is luxurious,

[@cywinstanley]

Excellent lesson mate! Perfect for us guitarists :)

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Cy! Thank you, brother! Haven’t seen you in a long time. Merry Christmas.

[@niedzwiedz104]

Thanks Isaak!

[@Yarnberm]

Disregard the top two strings of the guitar, flip it (EADGbe) it becomes (GDAE) mirror image.Great for mandolin players to watch rhythm guitar players chords.Example: open G on guitar.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Yep, that's how I have started doing it 😀

[@SeaDrive300]

Picks: Dunlop 513P140 Primetone Triangle Smooth Guitar Picks 1.4mm 3-pack, $6.49. Great picks for the mandolin...

[@The2Frank]

👍

[@kymcarter589]

Does gypsy (gypsy jazz, rest stroke with floating hand) picking work in the right hand? Amazing video!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Thanks for the comment. I think it’s possible to come from that picking background and get a good sound and speed, etc. I have adapted a lot of what I hear in their cadence and attack when I play that style of music. Especially at slower and medium tempos I feel like I prioritize the down strokes because of their strength and swing feel. But another thing to consider is that the mandolin has less opportunity to play on a new string in any give line, because you play with more fingers on the left hand on any give string. At the end of the day I come from a more alternate picking background and just adapt certain things that work for me!

[@pablo6305]

I been looking for tbis video for 3 years i been playing. Will you do some content on scales. I cant find anything that i can understand what frets and strings there hitting. I dont know i just suck and try not to. Tbanks.

[@isaaceichermandolin]

I’ve been thinking about doing a video on scales. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

13:01 I heard that the mandolin plays the role of the snare drum on beats 2 and 4, after the bass on beats 1 and 3. So it would be Bass Chop Bass Chop.

[@isaaceichermandolin]

You bet!

[@stephenhunt572]

Has any body noticed that a mandolin is a guitar mirror image of the base strings Guitar E A D G Mandolin G D A E So chords are the same as a left hand guitar base strings only but the note go in the opposite direction High becomes low If that makes any sense

[@axansaga]

This is gold

[@jensenhealey08]

Realising this unlocked the mandolin for me.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

Yeah... All you have to do is disregard the top 2 strings of the guitar - and invert the rest of the strings - 1st becomes 4th, 2nd becomes 3rd, etc. at the same fret.

[@dr.p3637]

Hi Isaac... What gauge strings do you prefer to use???? by the way you're probably the best mandolin player on the Internet!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Gosh, thanks. That mean a lot to me. It makes me want to keep making more videos..! The string gauge I have always used is 11 to 40, like D’Addario mediums. Cheers

[@cmguitar50]

Which Wegens are good to start with? I use Dunlop jazz picks - I'm coming from guitar playing. Thanks!

[@isaaceichermandolin]

The Wegen TF140 was my favorite for a long time. But honestly you have to find what works for you. I used purple Dunlop teardrop picks for a long time, other plastic picks and tortoise shell for different periods. Ultimately my style and technique developed in the direction of the really modern approach. It seems like the majority of mandolin players these days I see use some bigger, thicker triangle with a bevel, such as that Wegen, BlueChip, tone slab, etc.

[@alanfloyd3205]

Do you recommend a flat or radius fretboard?

[@isaaceichermandolin]

I prefer radius, but I think it’s a question of personal taste!

[@alanfloyd3205]

@@isaaceichermandolinI've been playing guitar for decades. I bought a Loar mando with a flat fret board not knowing I could get a radiused board. It seems hard to play. I wonder if a radius would make it easier.

[@davestambaugh7282]

A millimeter and a half is really thick. With average string tension of twenty five pounds you need to hit it with a hammer so that you can hear it.

[@seanc.9036]

Not sure of the solution but I have to turn your video up louder and then when the add comes in it kills my ears. Even your voice is a bit low compared to the playing. Thanks for the video, just hoping that helps

[@JJ_TheGreat]

11:50 What? How is that an A7 chord if it doesn't even have an A in it?

[@isaaceichermandolin]

It’s one of the best A7 voicings (an inversion). It sounds like A7 because it still has the other arpeggio notes. Cheers

[@glenmc517]

Does anyone know what type of mandolin this is

[@isaaceichermandolin]

Heiden F5 (2015)

[@JR-pr8jb]

Sorry, but for me the mandolin's main attraction is its small size and gorgeous scrollwork on the body and tuning head. I thought about branching out from guitar (and guitalele), but banjo makes more sense to me.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

You do know that not all mandolins have that scroll - only F-styles (which stands for Florentine). There are A-styles which are pear or teardrop-shaped. Also, if you like instruments which are small, there are other options. For example, the ukulele is a small stringed instrument, like a small guitar - and in fact, you have a variety of sizes with those (soprano, concert, tenor, baritone). So basically, you are telling us that you don't like the mandolin. I am just saying... I like it because I like its sound! It is a very unique instrument 😉

[@willdwyer6782]

Dude you flunked math. Eight strings is not less than six strings.

[@StedMuffin]

It's got 8 strings but each pair are the same note so it's really only 4 strings.

[@JJ_TheGreat]

8 strings - but only 4 notes.