How to Play the Mandolin Using the Two-string Shuffle

Learning to play any musical instrument takes patience and practice. The mandolin is a small guitar-like instrument with higher tones and pitches. It is commonly played in Latin American and other Latin cultures. Learning to play the mandolin not only takes patience and practice but also takes persistence. Here's how to do the two-string shuffle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the basic notes and chords of the mandolin. The basic chords and notes are set up much like a guitar and other stringed instruments. D, G, and A are the three basic chords for the mandolin. To play the D chord, place your left index finger on the second fret of the A string, place your middle finger on the third fret of the E string. This allows the G and D strings to sound clear.

2. Understand alternate picking. Alternate picking is when you pick back and forth between two strings. This can be done anywhere on the mandolin, but choose your notes carefully so the range is not too extreme. Practice this move a couple of times before mastering the two-string shuffle.

3. Get the shuffling pattern down. The two-string shuffle is done with the alternating picking you learned and practiced in Step 2. Play two notes on an open A string, followed with playing one note on the E string. Go back and forth between these two a couple of times. This is a two-string shuffle.

4. Take the shuffling up to speed. Once you have the two-string shuffle pattern down, speed it up a little and end it with a single note on each string. Play around with the sound, by choosing two other notes and completing the same sequence.