How To Play Mandolin: 4 Points
Before we get started, getting into some of the things about playing Mandolin. There is a few things I want to let you know, specially those of you who are going to get more involved playing Mandolin. Four things to keep in mind one, is to really try working on developing your ear. One, of the things I have run into with a lot of the students I have taught is they become overly dependent on written music whether if it is standard rhythm music of tablature. And I think it is really important that, that just be one of the things that you use in your development but to really develop your ear and listen to players. When I was learning quite sometime ago, I just slowed the speed down to half speed on the final records and would lower things inactive and give us a chance to learn what the performer was doing. Now, I know there is all sorts of digital gadgets that will allow you to do that. Another thing is, it is important to find the player that you want to immolate, somebody who really excites you. Somebody whose style is just really interesting to you and you really want to try to imprint on that style and really internalize it and get that sound in your head. Another thing I want to tell you, just real briefly, is a friend of mine said, it is really important to do your art history has been around as a form of music. For not much over 60 years and so you can really go back and listen to that first generation players like Bill Monroe the originator of the music. In that way, your playing will have some foundation and finally, it is really important to play with friends, play in jam sessions that will help you develop your musicianship, your timing, your sense of how your instrument fits in with the rest of the instruments. Also, whenever possible, what is good to play with people who are more experienced and that will also be really a boost to your playing.