Play A Good Mandolin Tremolo - Mandolin Technique Lesson

[@greggpospiel629]

I play mostly Italian style mandolin as well as some jazz and country covers and I learned to play mandolin mostly by watching my Italian grandmother play. I find that even some expensive mandolin picks don't sound so good on tremolo but just trying a heavy guitar pick helps get the tremolo sound out and sometimes angling the pick slightly will give you less of a plucking sound and more of a tremolo sound. It also sounds nice when you jump between strings and or play two notes together on two different strings. I love your lessons, thank you for doing these!

[@tinkerwithstuff]

The best picks I found so far for Italian (Neapolitan) mandolin sound are _Dogal_ (strong/heavy) picks (and I order them from Italy, none found where I live...), and I hav tried _a lot_of stuff. They are simple, but somehow just work - with practise of course. Most comtemporary mando players seem to hold the pick ad quite an angle, using the tapered edges to engage the strings,which makes it easier to get a consistent sound. BUT the bright Neapolitan sound is only reach at (almost) parallel attack of the strings, and not being shy to hit those. To give a sample of what my reference sound is, listen to _Quintetto a plettro 'Giuseppe Anedda'_ perform _Czardas_ by _Monti_ - live in Rome. Especially the _mandola_ melody a few seconds in... uh... that's the sound _I for one_ am after (except in mandolin range ;) ) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ3RqYtrlN-Ae9E

[@davidwake6886]

Thanks. That was the most helpful you tube video I have found on tremolo so far. Very clearly explained.

[@MandolinSecrets]

Glad you enjoyed it David!

[@drealake]

Thank you this was my first mandolin lesson and first tremolo lesson!

[@leabethq9442]

The tremolo is growing on me. I am trying to incorporate it into my playing. Your tips today were very useful, especially holding it for the full value and not stopping to anticipate what is coming. Thank you!

[@MandolinSecrets]

Sounds good Leabeth!

[@Fernwald84]

Extremely helpful lesson, Magnus. Your videos are consistently among the very best mandolin learning channels. BTW, I was admiring your beautiful mandolin which I believe is a Phoenix. Am I correct in believing that they are no longer making mandolins? What a shame if this is true.

[@cefarther3945]

Great video; subscribed.

[@julielazaro6844]

Thanks. I'm fairly new to mandolin and have been getting tripped up trying to learn tremelo. I will practice this.

[@MandolinSecrets]

Sounds good Julie! 👍🏻

[@SamEKingataol]

1st variation -you are playing 8 : 32nd notes for tremolo (8 notes=1 beat.) followed by 2 eight notes .I suggest counting ( 4/4 time) 1 e an da AND e an da 2 and 3 e an da AND e an da 4 and 2nd variation- still playing 8 : 32 notes followed by 4 :16th's, count 1 e an da AND e an da 2 e an da 3 e an da AND e an da 4 e an da love your stuff hope this helps SK

[@MandolinSecrets]

Sounds good Steve!

[@abdulbaser4636]

very helpful. Thank u

[@rajendrapatel9201]

Very nice explanation 👌👌

[@MandolinSecrets]

Do you like to use the tremolo technique? Are you used to the evenly subdivided tremolo sound, like the one we are playing here?

[@smokycompton1893]

I love tremolo, I use it on double stops a lot playing Bluegrass

[@MandolinSecrets]

Sounds good Smoky!

[@pattysmith2467]

Just really learning the tremolo

[@MandolinSecrets]

That´s essential for mandolin playing Patty. Keep up the good work!

[@HayesGriffin]

Great exercise Magnus!

[@MandolinSecrets]

Thank you Hayes! 👍🏻

[@amarsangam9209]

Very nice exercise

[@MandolinSecrets]

Thanks Amar!

[@kandrus3]

Sir, how are you counting this exercise? With the two slower notes at the end of the tremolo exercise which one begins a change to return to melody, if that makes sense? Thanks. Kim.

[@peterritchie2990]

Thanks for another clear lesson Magnus. Could you please tell us the name of metronome site that ou have on your iPad? 👍

[@MandolinSecrets]

Peter, the app is called Tempo.

[@peterritchie2990]

@@MandolinSecrets Many thanks from your Canadian pal. 👍

[@greggpospiel629]

Also check out Eugenio Polumbo you will hear some of the best classical mandolin playing (that incorporates a good amount of tremolo) in the world.

[@Rollmop]

How are you holding the plectrum? How much of it protrudes in front of the fingers? Does that change when you're using tremelo on the higher-pitched strings compared to the lower?

[@greggpospiel629]

I play a lot of Italian style music which has a lot of tremolo and I like using a heavy or thicker guitar pick - one that doesn't have too much flex in the tip. Golden Gate mando picks are good for this however I don't seem to get as much volume with them. I try not to leave much of the pick sticking out or it will sound more like I'm plucking the string. You can also try angling the pick slightly to lesson the pluck sound and switching between strings and playing two notes together can sound nice once you get the hang of moving it around.