instruments

Mandolin

Learn the mandolin the right way, from your very first note

12 lessons4 modules9h 0m durationbeginner level

Instructor: StretchLearn Faculty

About this course

This course teaches the foundations of bluegrass and folk mandolin using approaches drawn from the Bill Monroe tradition, the Mel Bay and Hal Leonard methods, and the FFcP (four-finger closed-position) system popularized by Ted Eschliman. You will learn an efficient pick grip, clean double-course picking, the percussive chop chord that drives bluegrass backup, tremolo for sustaining melody, movable closed-position chord shapes, and the G and A major scales. Every lesson pairs a precise physical instruction with a measurable drill and a named tune, so you can track your own progress.

Curriculum

Module 1: Setting Up and Holding the Mandolin3 lessons

Parts of the Mandolin and Choosing an InstrumentPreview45m
Sitting, Holding, and the Pick Grip🔒45m
Tuning to GDAE and String Care🔒45m

Module 2: Double-Course Picking and Clean Tone3 lessons

The Pick Stroke on Open Courses🔒45m
Crossing Courses and Reading Tablature🔒45m
Fixing Buzz, Flam, and Muddy Notes🔒45m

Module 3: Chords and the Bluegrass Chop3 lessons

First Chords: Two-Finger and Open Shapes🔒45m
Closed Chord Shapes and the Chop🔒45m
Playing Backup Behind a Tune🔒45m

Module 4: Scales, Tremolo, and Your First Tunes3 lessons

The G and A Major Scales🔒45m
Building Tremolo🔒45m
Playing Your First Fiddle Tunes🔒45m