The Complete Mandolinist is the most comprehensive American mandolin method to be published in nearly a century. Written by Marilynn Mair, internationally acclaimed mandolinist, recording artist and teacher for over two decades, this book presents a logical approach to mandolin technique that builds on the pioneering efforts of America's mandolin teachers of the early 20th century.Starting with a foundation in basic technique and music reading, the book progresses, in the course of its 224 pages, through scales, arpeggios, tremolo, position work, shifting, rhythm studies, picking techniques and duo-style, with carefully selected exercises and musical examples that range from fiddle tunes and Brazilian choro to Vivaldi concertos and Beethoven sonatinas. the method reflects the wealth of musical knowledge Marilynn has acquired over the course of her distinguished career, and she has compiled it here for you, to encourage the versatility and intelligent musicianship you will need to become a more complete mandolinist.

Great for mandolinists who have learned the basics and are ready to take the next step. Important techniques are introduced like hammer-ons and pull-offs, different styles of tremolo, slides, cross-picking and rolls. Also included are in-depth discussions of how to learn tunes, introductions to new time signatures, and a more in-depth look at important musical styles.

The final book in this power-packed mandolin method continues with a study of advanced harmonies and provides mandolin chord forms in all twelve keys. In-depth studies of important forms such as the 12-bar blues and "rhythm changes" are included as well as chord/melody playing and chord substitution. The book also takes an exhaustive approach to melodic studies, covering the modes of the major scale, the pentatonic scales, the chromatic scale, the whole-tone scale and improvisation.

Learn from the master of bluegrass mandolin - Jethro Burns. More than 70 tunes and two dozen exercises are found in this bluegrass bonanza. The Complete Jethro Burns Mandolin Book and online audio is an incomparable resource of bluegrass mandolin repertoire - all in standard notation and tablature, just the way the maestro played them - with chord symbols for an accompaniment instrument. Presents some of Jethro's finest and most challenging solos, in addition to a special section on Jethro's mandolin techniques. Ample performance notes and performance notes and mandolin lore are provided, along with many photographs of Jethro in the latter half of a career lasting more than half a century. The recording presents 52 of the tunes in the book available online for download

Comprehensive instruction for the serious mandolinist. One of America's leading schools for contemporary music-The National Guitar Workshop-teaches you the concepts, techniques and theory you need to become a virtuoso performer. 96 pages each.

Wayne's friendly and FUN approach to learning to play has taught tens of thousands of total beginners to play bluegrass music. Join the club! In this, his 26th book, Wayne cuts through the clutter and confusion of learning to play with his SIMPLE approach to playing the melody. He then leads the beginner down the path of being able to IMPROVISE on the melody by adding several simple rhythms. With Wayne s help, you will soon be jamming up a storm. Guaranteed. This book is guaranteed to help you learn to play bluegrass mandolin. (How many books come with a personal guarantee by the author?) You WILL learn to play and improvise on: Amazing Grace, Angel Band, Banks of the Ohio, Bury Me Beneath the Willow, Cripple Creek, Cryin Holy Unto the Lord, Dig a Hole in the Meadow, Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky?, Down the Road, East Virginia, Handsome Molly, In the Pines, I've Been All Around This World, I've Just Seen the Rock of Ages, John Hardy, Keep on the Sunny Side of Life, Knoxville Girl, Little Maggie, Midnight on the Stormy Deep, My Home s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nine Pound Hammer, Paul and Silas, Shady Grove, Soldier s Joy, Roll in My Sweet Baby s Arms, Wildwood Flower, Will the Circle Be Unbroken? You Will Also Learn... How to Tune, How to Hold the Mandolin, The Best Way to Hold the Pick, How to Read Tablature, Harmony Chord Positions, Simple Rhythm Chord Positions, How to Play Harmony, Playing in the Dreaded Key of F, How to Jam, Playing Different Rhythms, How to Play Simply but RIGHT! Included Vintage Photos and lots of Friendly Advice.

In this sequel to The Complete Mandolinist, world-renowned mandolinist Marilynn Mair expands on her previous method books, presenting over 100 compositions that span 5 centuries, works she has thoughtfully edited or arranged for mandolin. Each piece is accompanied by a paragraph or two of musical context, and the book also includes 24 short essays on the evolution of musical style, drawn from Marilynn’s decades as a Professor of Music History. Music by great composers like Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Beethoven mixes with interesting compositions by little-known mandolin composers like Piccone, Barbella, Leone, and Gervasio, works Marilynn has discovered during her performing and recording career. Concert pieces range from quite easy to very advanced, with most lying between those two extremes. In addition to music of the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century, Marilynn includes contemporary pieces by some of her favorite composers writing today. This book holds a musical world Marilynn has compiled and presents to you. The Complete Mandolinist, Volume 2: Music in Context, is a book you will reach for again and again.

Marilynn Mair has enjoyed a long career as a world-renowned mandolinist, esteemed for over a thousand concert performances, more than two dozen recordings and 4 previous Mel Bay books, including the first two volumes of her series, The Complete Mandolinist. In Volume 3, Marilynn steps forward as a composer, presenting over 60 of her own pieces - nearly half written during the pandemic lockdown of 2020-2021 when live music was forced off stage. Creativity didn’t take a break for Marilynn, though, and soon compositions began to sprout from those quiet days: works for solo and duo mandolin, mandolin-guitar duets, and pieces for plucked string ensembles. They fill the pages of this book with fresh ideas, playful melodies, quirky harmonies, and romantic visions. There are scores and parts for her Fantasia, Nocturnes, Études, Choro, and Ensembles, most of the music published here for the first time. Besides sheet music, the book also includes downloads of over an hour-and-a-half of Marilynn’s performances of the music, brand-new recordings of her recent works, some pieces from her earlier CDs, and a few recordings previously made but never released. This book opens the door to a new musical vision, from a musician who has already proven herself a masterful interpreter of classical and Brazilian repertoire. In her own words, “I had friends and students in mind as I wrote, creating pieces to pass on my unique perspective on what makes classical mandolin cool.” Dive in and see what treasures you may find. Includes access to online audio.

Anyone interested in learning to play mandolin can pick up this book and get started right away. This well-paced, comprehensive method covers everything from basic to advanced techniques. Beginning concepts include reading music and TAB, basic strumming patterns, alternate picking, tremolo, slides, and bluegrass and blues styles. Intermediate topics include hammer-ons, pull-offs, cross picking, rolls, and more. The book concludes with advanced concepts like advanced harmonies, 12-bar blues, rhythm changes, chord-melody playing, modes, improvisation, and much more. Complete Mandolin Method breaks the age-old dilemma of dry, intimidating, and confusing method books to provide a step-by-step and enjoyable way to play. Online audio with demonstrations of the examples in the book is included.

Learning the mandolin should be required for every violinist: it has the same tuning and is a chordal instrument. This book provides violinists with the skills and knowledge needed to master the mandolin; it also teaches ways in which mandolin concepts can open up one's violin playing. the book offers key insights into the similarities and differences between the two instruments so that violinists can quickly learn to play the mandolin. the book and companion CD cover basic fingering and picking techniques and then move through exercises and pieces drawn from the classical, swing and folk genres.