Right Hand Technique for Mandolin

Learn how to hold the pick, the proper motion for the right hand, & how to play rest strokes.

[@davidmccue3591]

Omg, I could seriously kiss you right now. The so-called absolute beginners mandolin videos on here skip most of the info you have included in this video. This is helping me SOOOOO much.

[@2bigmix2]

This along with the tremolo lesson is invaluable, the best I’ve seen on KZbin. Presented calmly! Thank you so much. ❤

[@mssippijim]

In addition to your talent for playing you also are a very good teacher. You should consider creating a whole series of mandolin instructional videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@modalmixture]

@fiddlinmike You usually only play rest strokes on the downstroke. And yes, above a certain tempo it becomes impossible to alternate pick with rest strokes. The idea is that by practicing it at slower tempos, besides getting more power out of your downstrokes, you are training your hand to play more cleanly at the faster tempos, even if you're not actually doing rest strokes.

[@CotnerMD]

You are absolutely right about the importance of technique. I taught myself mandolin and thought I was doing great, but ended up reaching a point where I could make no further progress until I broke some terrible habits I had fallen into. One of them was an improper pick grip. I am now using the grip you describe here. Thanks for the lessons.

[@cbearw1]

Oh how I wish I’d discovered this lesson when I first started playing mandolin 40 years ago. 🙄. However better late than never! Thankyou so much. Another excellent tutorial!

[@deltafour1212]

I was about to give up playing the mandolin until I saw this video. SUBSCRIBED!

[@Schwartz12]

WOW you are a very good teacher. I have been trying to find videos to help me with this exact thing. ive just started learning only a couple weeks now. I WANT MORE lol

[@deborahlee7044]

have just found this and it is wonderful - thank you so much for your easy to follow and clear instructions. I have only been playing for 4 years and am having to unlearn bad habits.

[@ryankmichael]

Your picking instructions have been a revelation for me. Thank you!

[@akiwayneukonmaanahoa1590]

Thank you for the quality instruction. A shoulder injury has permanently ended 20 years of playing the guitar. However, with videos like this I am slowly but confidently making the transition to my new instrument. May good things come to you, Hardrockgirl.

[@franksinatta6440]

seven years later, how is your playing?

[@DavidTaubner]

Fantastic. Thank you! This is the piece I've been missing. I really appreciate you sharing this with us.

[@boxcar79band11]

I ALWAYS come back to these essential videos. Thank you.

[@aaroncohen9896]

Thank you, You are an excellent teacher. Now on to your next lesson.

[@Benbonewilly2]

Hey Hard Rock Girl! I saw this video last night at work. I got home and started practicing rest strokes with my metronome. My tone has improved tremendously just since last night. The volume now stays consistent in the lines I play now! Wow! I can't believe I missed something so simple. Thanks for the videos.

[@seanhayes6769]

Excellent info! Totally willing to sit through the clipping to listen to this woman!

[@shawndavidevans]

This is the most helpful technical video for beginner mandolin out there. Very helpful.

[@fiddlinmike]

Thanks a bunch for the video and advice on rest strokes. I'm going to get to work on the tremelo practice today!

[@jogjendeme]

Hi, watching your video and you saying "you're not turning a door knob" referring to the right hand movement it suddenly dawned on me that this (bad) habit kept me from playing faster. So stopping this and concentrating on 'straight' up/down strokes with a loose wrist got me to a whole nother level. Thanks from Germany.

[@frankp1963]

Wow, thank you, you have a great way about conveying your message.

[@matthewwardparker]

Wow. Great. clear instruction. Thank you!

[@alexjurgens227]

Thank you for your teaching, very helpful.

[@lindabrodzik1675]

Thank you for your video's. I have an awesome instructor .....but it is so helpful to have additional info. Very clear, very helpful!

[@danielbrooks2717]

This is very good teaching Hrdrckgrl, thank you for making the time and effort on this and your other videos, very much appreciated! Instant and ongoing improvements in my playing.

[@magicdave93]

I think you are a fantastic teacher so I’ve just subscribed.

[@terrywickham325]

You're awesome for doing this

[@Bouldermandolin]

wonderful. Very clear and helpful.

[@DieterLo1]

Very good lesson! Thanks!

[@bmoraga01]

Hrdrckgrl, you explain things beautifully. Thanks very much from this old time guitarist trying to expand to the mandolin!

[@mellio9077]

Really nice thank you so much

[@robertshorthill4153]

I've observed David Benedict's playing really fast and accurate on his tunes, however he tends to put a lot of arm movement in his technique, not just his wrist. It seems to work pretty well for him, but I totally agree it should come mostly from the wrist. Sierra Hull, Chris and Sam pretty much use only picking mostly from the wrist. I try to not use my arm as David does and get the most effective technique with the wrist. Thanks for letting me comment on this important topic

[@murphmurph2124]

Whatever works for you

[@briancoleman7507]

Glad I found you!

[@ravinathmapa6631]

Very helpful..thankx lot ma'am

[@LegendaryDirector]

Great video. Amazing instructions. Please remove the background music it makes it kinda difficult understand

[@nautn]

Thanks for the lesson. Would you considerd oing more lessons? I have trouble with up strokes. Not so much up stroke picking but with up stroke strummin

[@radharcanna]

Just discovered this. A fantastic lesson. Everything is explained very clearly. Just one suggestion: The sound is very distorted and is behind sync with the pictures. Also, the mandolin track playing in the background is somewhat distracting. This level of teaching deserves a more professional approach in video production.

[@bryanprindle]

Enjoy listening to your lessons. I've been trying to learn the mandolin for about 2 years now. Tough going. Here in San Antonio have a hard time finding anybody to take lessons from. Do you teach or are you just having fun. Thanks for the time.

[@modalmixture]

@cezarsantana Actually that *is* Hamilton's version of Samba do Avião that you hear in the background :-)

[@waynechurchill7212]

I like the pick I have use one year

[@matsp888]

Very good regarding NOT turning a door knob. Applicable to guitar as well, of course. I've been playing with rotation on the guitar, but it leads to excess motion, really.

[@LoscoeLad]

good tips.. and nice that you say 'just practice these downstrokes for a week'... got my first mandolin/ first instrument today, and that is reassuring that i'm only making steady progress on right hand technique so far thanks a lot.. but yeah, but turn background tunes off and get a better microphone.. maybe you could teach lessons online?

[@donnaricks1267]

Great video. Thanks. Any suggestions for upstrokes? My time and control disappear when I play upstrokes and forget speed. I am a beginner and appreciate any suggestions.

[@JosephGaringer]

never had that explanation even in my video course

[@BradEnquist]

Is the buzzing coming from the audio on this (when she is picking a note) or my speaker?

[@fiddlinmike]

Does the rest stroke apply on an upstroke as well? What about when playing very fast?

[@petrcechura8812]

Hi, have you got any experience with 12-string mandolin? I've got one at home and I want to learn on this. Is there something different? Or its only more painful for my fingers? :)

[@alexjurgens227]

Thank you for this teaching, I’m just getting started and you were very helpful :-). I thought the background music was a nice touch to your lesson but it needs to be A little more quiet in my opinion.

[@cezarsantana]

hey hard rock girl! I can tell you listen to some good stuff...love Armandinho's version of Samba do Aviao among your background tracks...have you checked Hamilton de Holanda?? Probably yes, but if not, please do so - he definitely takes the mandolin to the next level : )

[@NualaKennedy]

@hrdrockgrrl Hello, are you still in LA? If so how to contact you? I'm a beginner, love to get a few lessons!

[@davestambaugh7282]

It is a tad fifty because it is fifty thousandths of an inch thick. If you were raised on metric this may not be apparent. The reason why it is best to use such a heavy pick on mandolin is that the mandolin has such high tension strings that you need a big hammer to get any sound out of it. This is why the speed bevel works so good. Playing tenor banjo with average of ten pounds less tension per string a much thinner pick is required. Using the thick pick on tenor banjo was a bad habit I had to drop after struggling with the mandolin for far to many years. Playing with average fifteen pounds string tension instead of twenty five pounds is far less work and twice the fun.

[@arctichare8185]

I see also that you have an attachment on your mandolin where the arm makes contact. What is the significance and would you recommend it for all?

[@modalmixture]

Just a mandolin arm rest to make playing a little more comfortable - purely optional and shouldn't affect technique.

[@PossumJoesMando]

Hrdrockgrrl, I have been trying to learn your technique, but I immediately notice my 3 unused fingers start to go to sleep.

[@cezarsantana]

@hrdrockgrrl Wow...it sounded like Armandinho's cut i have on a live cd with the chorinho group " Época de Ouro"...can send u a mp3 of it thru email if u wish...i'm a guitar player but am back into mandolin - just got myself a 10 str lil "cutie" in Rio so here i go!!!

[@bushdoc9]

I don’t understand why you put up background music. Very distracting! Good lesson though.

[@PGuj]

Ma'am do you do Skype lessons?

[@avzarathustra6164]

oh yes

[@WinsomeJohnny]

That F body mandolin tho!..Jelly!

[@joefagan9335]

starts at 0:55

[@AbHAT22]

Great informative video but very annoying background music

[@tornadojones8825]

Good video. Turn off the background music.

[@theflyingsolo]

Hey, ur clipping. Ow.

[@daves.9479]

$35 for a single flat pick?!

[@Katcocat]

Please, please lose the background music!