Learning how to play the mandolin can be very fun and rewarding if you take the right steps to improve your skills. The mandolin is an 8-stringed instrument commonly used in country, folk, and bluegrass music. When learning to play the mandolin, you should practice playing single notes and simple chords before trying to play a whole song. If you practice regularly, you should be able to play beautiful notes with a mandolin in no time!
Step
Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Mandolin
Step 1. Hold the mandolin in your lap
Keep your back and shoulders straight when playing the mandolin, and don't slouch. Place the body of the mandolin on top of your feet and hold the neck with your left hand. Press the back against the stomach.
- You should feel comfortable and your muscles should not be tense or tight.
- You can attach a shoulder strap to keep the mandolin in a comfortable place when you play it.
- Position the neck of the mandolin slightly tilted upwards. This makes it easier for you to press the strings with your fingers.
Step 2. Set the mandolin to standard tuning
In standard tuning, the notes on each string from bottom to top are: E, E, A, A, D, D, and G, G. Turn on the electronic tuner, then pluck the bottom string. Turn the tuning knob at the top of the mandolin's neck until the bottom string emits an E. Continue tuning until all the mandolin strings match their standard pitch.
- The mandolin strings are tuned in pairs. When you play it, you have to hit the two strings that are paired together.
- Use a standard mandolin tuner to tune the mandolin. If you don't have a mandolin tuner, you can also use a violin tuner, since both instruments are tuned to the same note.
- The tuner must have a needle indicating what note you are playing or have a light that will turn on when the strings are properly tuned.
- The lowest string (or E string) is called the "upper" string because it produces the highest octave.
Step 3. Set the strings to a low action (distance between the strings and the board at the neck of the mandolin)
High action means that the strings are too far from the fretboard, which makes it difficult for new players to hit the strings and produce a good sound. Place the nickel between the strings and the neck of the mandolin at the 12th fret. After that adjust the knobs on the mandolin bridge until the distance between the strings and the neck is only 1 nickel.
- The bridge (brigde) is the part of the mandolin where the strings are connected to the body of this instrument.
- You have to set the action on the 4 strings at the top and 4 strings at the bottom.
Step 4. Buy a heavy pick
A heavy pick (a tool for strumming the strings) is definitely thick, while a light pick is obviously thin so it will bend when used to play a mandolin. A light pick will make it difficult for you to produce clear notes and chords. So, don't use this type of pick.
- The lightweight picks are between 0.5mm and 0.7mm thick.
- Heavy picks are between 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm thick.
Part 2 of 4: Playing Notes
Step 1. Strum the mandolin without pressing the strings
Hold the pick with your right hand, clamped with your thumb and forefinger. Move your wrist until the tip of the pick touches the string between the bridge and the neck of the mandolin. Strum the first set of strings and move on to the second set of strings. Practice strumming the different strings until you feel comfortable strumming them.
By holding the pick tighter, you can get a more metallic sound
Step 2. Press the strings and strum
The thumbs should be placed on the top or back of the mandolin's neck, while the other 4 fingers press against the strings. Press the frets firmly with your fingertips, then pluck the strings with your other hand. Keep doing this until you can produce a clear tone, no vibration and no buzzing.
- The tips of the fingers should press the two strings that are paired.
- Place your finger close to the fretboard for a clearer sound than if you were pressing the string in the center of the fret column.
Step 3. Press another fret using a different finger
Press the topmost string on the 2nd fret with your index finger, then pluck the string. Next, release the strings and hit the 4th fret with your middle finger. Do this exercise back and forth between the two notes until you feel comfortable.
This is useful for practicing pitch shifting and increasing the speed of playing with your left hand
Part 3 of 4: Picking Some Basic Chords
Step 1. Play the G major chord (key)
The chord of G major is one of the 3 most popular chords often played on a mandolin. Press the two A strings on the 2nd fret with your index finger. Next, use your ring finger to press the E string on the 3rd fret. Play a G major chord by shuffling all the strings (8 strings).
The strings are called "open" if they are not pressed by the fingers. This means, the top 4 strings must be open in this chord
Step 2. Play a C chord by moving your finger on one string above it
The C chord has the same shape as the G major chord. Move two fingers on one string above it so that your index finger will press on the D string on the 2nd fret and your ring finger on the A string on the 3rd fret. Shake the mandolin to play a C chord with the top and bottom strings open.
Step 3. Play the D chord by pressing the E and G strings on the 2nd fret
Unlike C and G, the D chord has a different shape. Play a D chord by pressing the G string on the 2nd fret with your index finger, and pressing the E string on the 2nd fret with your middle finger.
Step 4. Practice switching between chords
Once you know chord shapes and can produce a good sound, practice switching between C and G chords back and forth. These two chords are easier to move because they have the same shape. Beat the C chord 4 times, then switch to the G chord and beat 4 times as well. Once you're comfortable doing this, you can start including the D chord in this progression (chord shift in the song).
For example, you can hit each note for 1 beat and play the chords C-C-C-C, G-G-G-G, C-C-C-C, D-D-D-D, C-C-C-C, G-G-G-G
Part 4 of 4: Learning Some Songs
Step 1. Get a simple musical tablature (a way of writing music for instruments that use strings)
Search the internet for mandolin tabs and choose songs that are simple and easy to play. Children's songs are songs that are easy to learn at the beginning. Look for songs that use only a few chords and notes. Master these easy songs before you start playing more complicated ones.
Some simple songs that can be easily played using a mandolin include: "Cotton-Eyed Joe" by Rednex, "Waltz Across Texas" by Ernest Tubb, or "Hike Up the Mountain Top"
Step 2. Play the mandolin along with the music
The tablature will show you which points to press your finger on in the song, but won't say the rhythm or how long you should press chords or notes. Therefore, you can learn songs more easily by listening to them first. Get the song you want to play and listen to it while you practice.
With enough practice, you'll eventually be able to play songs just by listening (play by ear)
Step 3. Learn how to play several different scales (scales)
By learning the different scales, you can practice finger placement on the mandolin and gain basic knowledge of music theory. For example, the G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, and F♯. You can find examples of minor and major scales online or in mandolin textbooks.
Step 4. Search the internet for advanced mandolin tutorials if your skills have improved
Once you are able to play a few songs from the tablature, you can move on to more complex mandolin skills. Learn how to read music and look for more complex solo mandolin tutorials online. Find and play a variety of chords and scales, and don't forget to keep practicing until you can play the song perfectly.
