Step One to Learning By Ear

[@MandoLessons]

The idea for this lesson came from the story Chuck tells at 47:10 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a33chpp7ab2Dq7c. Such a great reminder of how our learning styles change as we get older and how we get less comfortable with being outside our comfort zone and not knowing the "right" thing to do or the "right" way to do it.

[@PJ-Sparkles]

I am an adult educator- and I have to say that you’ve nailed the way adults approach learning …instead of fiddling around and exploring, we have learned (or have been taught) to look for the shortest, quickest way to get the information or skill we want. What I love about music and instruments is that we use the word “play” - which is the most authentic form of research.

[@essdance]

I really like this recent thread of lessons of learning by ear! For me, being able to sing the melody is important; the more familiar a tune is the easier it is for me to be able to pick out the tune on the mando. And I have to say, I really appreciate how your encourage communication between musicians when working out tunes, and pointing out that as individual musicians, we may not have learned tunes exactly the same way, so communicating is pretty important when it comes to playing with others! Looking forward to more of your great videos!

[@CharlieMiddleton-o4k]

I like this - I think I ‘needed permission’ to escape the music sheets and just enjoy the process

[@jeffbarnard3050]

That was great!!! that is exactly how I did twinkle-twinkle and a couple other songs!!! LOVE IT!

[@kevininman2013]

This great and I think doing this in different keys is helpful as well.

[@douglasarnold5310]

Love the idea of there is no right or wrong just different ways of playing the same song... I am learning and find that different churches sing the same song wildly different, chords, tempo, even lyrics...

[@estano9111]

Excellent

[@garywhite6646]

Great idea! Thanks, Baron.

[@AnAngryGnat]

Awesome tutorial! You're the man, Baron!

[@torinsall]

Good points on learning ... though some attempts fail. I just got a mandolin so signed up for a block of 4 half hour lessons with a local instructor ... that failed ... I showed up 10 minutes early for 12:30 lessons, he showed up at 12:40 then had to get set up, then he would play the previous week's assigned exercises at professional speed ... way to fast for a newby ... then stop the lesson at 1:00 sharp. Worthless experience. So ordered and just got couple books to work thru ... "Exploring Classical Mandolin" by August Watters, "Music Reading Skills for Mandolin" by Robert Anthony, so will work thru those. Also a friend geva me a beginers violin book using Scottish fiddle tunes, which looks fun. Have also tried picking tunes from tv shows/movies ... using the pause button a lot, of course...grin. And now I can try going thru your beginner mandolin stuff...I like like your teaching style...plus seeing how you do things is so helpful. Glad I found your channel and hope to learn a lot over the next few months. Couple questions on picks ... what thickness pick do you use for steel strings vs nylgut strings and for strumming vs melody? Pointed vs round tip ... is one for strumming and one for melody? Or are pick shape-size-thickness just all personal preference?

[@MnemonicNex]

I thought I was gonna find this really hard, and as soon as I started it really became quite simple

[@MandoLessons]

So glad to hear that! Thanks for giving it a go!

[@WarlordBlade]

Excellent video thanks for all you've done, it's amazing to new learners! With this I was happy to figure out the melody pretty quick - but how do you expand to using more chords along with the melody? Some of them are easy to figure out being in the key of g and you end up on the string for G etc - but how to take it further?

[@sidewalk6774]

Doesn't this jack up your finger placement? 😮