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.
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. ❤️🎶🎸
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!!
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.
@@DavidBenedictMandolin it turned up a few days ago and have learnt a few nursery rhymes on it. you sure do make this look easy. time to practice practice practice. keep up the great content!
@@T4G95 my friend Matthew,. David's new tune called Grey Owl is a nice tune to learn picking technique, pick direction, hammer on, pull off and is just a well composed piece by a Canadian metis fiddler by the name of John Arcand. It's a honey of a tune, worth learning. Cheers. Bob
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.
Hey Scott! Thanks so much for checking out my video here--glad it was helpful. I'd just say try playing through the exercises in this video really slowly so your fingers can build up that muscle memory. It will all come in time--just keep playing and enjoying!
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
Thanks! Tons of stuff on Patreon. Exclusive pdf tab, notation, diagrams, and bonus follow up lesson videos and transcriptions--even personal video exchange lessons depending on what tier you sign up for. Would love to have you on the site!
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?
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.
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?
He addresses this in the video. Going "up" the neck refers to going towards higher pitched notes, or "up" in pitch. Same with high strings vs low strings. It refers to the pitch, not the physical location.
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.