How to Play Bluegrass Mandolin

The exciting bluegrass music of the south gets it's homey sound from the mandolin. It's the heart of the bluegrass band. The great bluegrass artists such as Ricky Scaggs and Bill Monroe have enamored many with their talent and the instrument for decades. No wonder people want to emulate them and play bluegrass mandolin. Here is how to start.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Select a type of bluegrass mandolin. The 2 types used in bluegrass music are the A-5 and the F-5. The F-5 is the one Bill Monroe played and therefore is a much more popular style.

2. Get a lesson from the experts. Take some time and listen to some bluegrass artists play their hearts out for you. Ricky Scaggs has some superb DVD recordings so you have the benefit of hearing and seeing him display his talent. Play your favorites over and over so your get a feel for what the tones are.

3. Start playing. Find some mandolin tablature and learn some basic chords. If you need some help with the fingering, find a book or video on the mandolin. All Tabs is a terrific source for mandolin tablature on the Net.

4. Play backup to some other instruments until you get a feel for what you are doing. The mandolin's sound in bluegrass is described as a "chop" sound. This comes in between the beats of the bass. Find your place in the band and fake it till you make it.

5. Forget regimented dictator type lessons. Get together with some friends and play your hearts out. This will keep learning fun and encourage you to stick with it and continue to practice.

Resources

• Find mandolin tablature at All Tabs website.