Master the Fretboard in 7 Steps /// Mandolin Lesson 

Thank you. This lesson unlocked what has been blocking this fiddler of 25 years from getting into the beginning mandolin mindset. What a big help!

This video just made you my new favorite mando channel... this explanation of learning the fretboard is the easiest one to follow I've ever seen... I almost didn't even watch it because I've never believed I could memorize the fretboard, nor did I understand how anyone could do this without years of laborious practice, but after applying it while watching, it actually works! For the first time in 12 years of hacking away at this little instrument, I finally understand the layout of the fretboard, & it didn't take long either! I'm absolutely astounded that I can locate every note on the fretboard after just one 15 min video! Made me realize just how much I don't know, which is substantial, but also cleared up what I do know & gave me a better understanding of it...🖖🏿😎👍🏿

Thanks so much. As a guitar player working on fretboard fluency with CAGED, my brain definitely responds well to consistent patterns. And it doesn't get any more consistent than perfect fifths on all strings! I went from wtf how do I play the mando to being able to solo/play along to all kinds of things (mainly in the key of C but we'll get there :) with just your video so thank you so much 🙌

This is great. I’m 63 and thinking about learning the mandolin. This was a terrific introduction to the kinds of things that go into learning the instrument. I subscribed on the spot.

I wish my mandolin intonation was as good as yours. Because I am a guitarist primary learning my octaves was a big help. I learned my G D A E by remembering GOD DIVINE ATTRIBUTES are ETERNAL.

Thank You DAVID BENEDICT for taking lot of pains and making sincere efforts to explain Notes on a Mandolin as vividly as possible.

solid foundation. Love the 2x2 and 1x5 jumps

Appreciate it! Learned some new fret relationships.

I will be revisiting this video often, thanks so much

Thanks! Jethro Chords are the best!

Many thanks for your excellent lessons! I am following you on Patreon. As a guitar instructor I tell my students that the notes on the 10th fret are a whole step below the notes at the 12th fret. Because the notes at the 12th fret are an octave above the open strings they should be easy to name and then we just go down one whole step. Notes on the 15th fret are the same as at the third fret but one octave higher. ❤️🎶🎸

I've also strated playing the circles of 4ths up and down each string individually. It ingrains in my mind where the notes are on the string.

Very helpful to see this presented visually and with a drill that actually sounds kinda perky! Now all I gotta do is practice....

Thanks!

Cheers David, having come to the mandolin a little late in life remembering anything is a bit of a struggle. This is very helpful 👍

Nicely well done lesson. Very thorough and well explained. Thanks a lot. Take care, Dave. Bob

Nice. Had your class at Steve Kaufman's Kamp a few years ago. I like your approach, and so I am subscribing. Step 6 is huge. Happy new year!

Speaking as a guitar player new to mandolin, it is in many ways counter-intuitive. The strings are fifths apart instead of fourths. I started thinking about mando as upside down, the last four strings of the guitar E-A-D-G, and reversing my chords. Bad idea, it takes way too long. I'm better off learning the mandolin as it presents itself or just retune like a guitar, an even worse idea. On guitar I mainly play chords. I know the E string notes but need a second to figure out the other strings above the fifth guitar fret. I see the need to learn all the notes on the mando fretboard but I've already got one string so only three to learn. I think I'll concentrate on the fret-dot notes and fill in the rest as I go. I LOVE the Jethro Chords; it makes perfect sense. Thanks!!

By far, the best video I've seen on Mando geography. Thanks a lot.

This video is fantastic! I've decided to learn a musical instrument for some mental stimulation and a creative outlet. Just wanted to dive into the mechanics of the instruments in my shortlist and your teaching is going to have a mandolin in my hands very shortly.

You are an Awesome Teacher! Thanks

Thank you.

Great helpful video. I am starting to learn notation and looking at the note rather than the tab. My issue is getting the fingers on the correct fret, l struggle with getting my finger tip planted on the correct fret at times. Any suggestions or exercises? I have been playing for about a year and a half. Thanks for all your videos, i really enjoy them.

This video is very helpful in helping me to understand this beautiful instrument that has come into my life. ❤

Excellent explanation and practice. What I need to do.

Im self taught on acustic and your advise is great. Thank ya for my newest breakthrough.. Im going to master the sounds of the universe and you helped me begin.lol

Absolutely fantastic video! Thank you

Thanks so much! I play tenorbj Celtic music, but the Tenor banjo is tuned the same way 😊🎶

thank you that was helpful :)

Big thanks David! I feel like this is the first time I’ve really understood the fret board and notes, and thoroughly at that. Cheers!

Excellent. And, my compliments for playing a fully fretted instrument.

Did you play the 7th fret when talking about the 10th? From the video and sound that's what it sounds like, and my mandolin agrees.

I like how you explain how to play mandolin,I'm begiinner

Thanks. It's helpful. Subscribed.

Thx

Great video man, very helpful even if you’ve been playing awhile. What exactly do you get to access when you subscribe to your Patreon?

Fantastic, just what I wanted. I know notation from studying music, (Clarinet), as a kid for 9 years. I’ve been studying the Mando for the past couple of years and I’m tired of learning music on the Mando by playing fiddle tunes by tablature and chord shapes and forms. Totally different from what I experienced previously. I want to learn music and not shapes. I’m very interested in learning the fret board and anything that can help me memorize the note positions. What Patreon membership level is this lesson being offered?

any tips on how to commit this to memory?

If I get involved with the Patreon level will I be able to copy the full tab you are playing for each song I am interested in bc it's easier to work on a song copied and placed on a sheet metal stand and my stool than it is to work on it at my laptop? I just saw your web page tonight and it looks pretty interesting but I'm just a very amateur guy and it's going to take quite awhile to pick through one of your fast complex songs. Thanks, look forward to hearing from you.

All greek to me!

Muito bom. Parabéns. Obrigado.

It's hard if one has a small hands.

❤❤❤❤❤

David, can I sign up for a one year subscription

Ok. So the body is at one end of the neck and the headstock is at the other. Wouldn’t going towards the body, away from the head be DOWN the neck? Who decided which end is UP?

Oh man, this is very complex. 😳

👍

My brain hurts. This will take a little bit of effort.

Aaa

Awesome video! Keep up the great work. If you have a second go have a browse of my account and follow if you like it 💖💛

At 6:15 the diagram doesn’t match what you’re saying about the fretboard.

Your explanations are meaningless to those learning. I think you should have explained it's not C, D, E, it's C, Csharp, D, Dsharp, then E. Use that layout of a piano. It makes no sense, just chattering. To understand the notes is to logically figure out where the notes are not just if it's here then it's same over here. I really think you needed to explain notes and how to find them. Also, the way you play, it's darn near like banjo, that's not the sound of the mandolin, I think you missed it. You know where the keys are but...mini banjo sounds.

Wow. What a nice presentation. Thanks David.