My Top 5 Beginner Tips for Mandolin

Here are my top 5 tips for anyone just starting out on the mandolin! These factors will definitely hold you back and make progress much more difficult than it needs to be. Sidestep these issues and you’ll advance so much faster :) Thank you everyone and enjoy your mandolin journey!
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[@jacquelinegowe4865]

Hi! I'm viewing from South Carolina. I'm working with a teacher locally, but I like tuning in and getting some extra help! I wanted to learn Mandolin because I'm interested in playing Italian and French renaissance music. But I love it all.

[@COMANDOLIN]

That’s awesome :)

[@martinkrajcovic7430]

Hey! I am from Slovakia and I am just starting my mandolin journey. I've stumbled upon your channel just recently and have already checked several of your videos. Thanks for making them. You have a soothing voice, I just feel a great sense of tranquility watching these videos, and you also have a great way of explaining things. Your work is much appreciated! 🤗

[@COMANDOLIN]

Wow, Slovakia - that’s amazing :) Thanks so much for checking out the channel! I appreciate the kind words - Have a great day over there! Cheers :)

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Thank you - this is useful advice even for slightly more experienced players too. Would exercise the final tip with caution though: your brain will continue processing the challenge even after you put the instrument down, so when you come back after having "slept on it" you may find it easier. Kind of like when you come back to a tricky crossword clue or some problem at work the next morning and it suddenly slots into place.

[@COMANDOLIN]

For sure - so much of it is mental. Just visualizing your hands making the chords or notes is immensely helpful and your brain will definitely keep working on it long after you’ve set the instrument down :) Thanks for watching and have a great day!

[@pannekagan3700]

hello I am watching from southern sweden and i love the tutorials keep it up

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks so much in Sweden!

[@mikep6263]

Something one of my jazz instructors told me many years ago: "Don't practice until you get it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong."

[@COMANDOLIN]

I love that - Wish I’d have used it! Have a great day :)

[@cvilla5656]

Enjoyed ALL your TIPS...getting ready to buy my first Mandolin. I play Guitar and beginning to learn Ukulele - Thanks for your patience and clarity.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hey, thanks so much :) When you get your mando, I have a video somewhere on the page called “Mandolin for Guitar Players” that explains everything from the perspective of someone with a guitar mindset. So many of us - certainly, I did - came from a guitar background. Thanks again and have a great day :)

[@jonathanlee3331]

I just wanted to thank you for putting out videos on songs that others might not cover. Don't get me wrong I love bluegrass and Irish mandolin but variety is good sometimes too. Hope your day is going well.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Thanks so much - I’m definitely not going to blow anyone’s mind with my speed or technique, so I just try to think of the most non-mandoliny songs possible :) Much appreciated - Cheers!

[@f5mando]

I wish someone had told me about the two frets per finger when I started playing. It was (many, many) years before I heard it from a teacher on KZbin! The upside was that my pinky got a workout from early on!

[@CelticMandolinsGinnyAitchison]

Hey Buddy !! Hope you are well. I don't see you on FB anymore. I hope to be back up and running in a few months. We are moving - and it is consuming every moment of our lives. We won't even have internet for a while. Moving further north in Ontario, so you'll have to move my little push-pin up a bit. Talk again soon.

[@COMANDOLIN]

Hi Ginny! Glad to hear from ya :) I still occasionally post to the Mandolin group, but mostly I put stuff on the COMANDOLIN Facebook page. Hint hint ;) Good luck moving!