Play a simple but very efficient solo line for the jazz standard “It Don’t Mean a Thing (if you ain’t got that swing)”. In this video, I give you an improvisation framework using guidelines and target notes to get the pleasant sound of chromatics.

In Mandolin Secrets...

In this video lesson, I show you how to play a Swedish fiddle tune called Halls Lilla Vals. It was written by Jon Erik Hall (1877-1948) from Bergsjö in Hälsingland. The melody starts in D-major, and the second part begins with a B-minor chord. I find it to be an excellent and elegant...

Back on Mandolin Mondays this week, we have Swedish mandolinist Magnus Zetterlund with us playing a beautiful Swedish fiddle tune called "Halls Lilla Vals" written by Jon Erik Hall (1877-1948) from Bergsjö in Hälsingland.

Magnus is playing a sweet electro-acoustic Phoenix Jazz...

In this video, I show you how to play the bluegrass fiddle tune “Boston Boy.” This one was made famous by the shoutout Bill Monroe gives this tune in “Uncle Pen” and has since been recorded by pros like Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman, and Bearfoot. 

By the end of this...

In this video, instructor Hayes Griffin shows you how to play the classic Bill Monroe fiddle tune, “Roanoke.”

This tune is a right of passage for many bluegrass players, mainly because it is played so darn fast! Never fear though - Hayes gives you some quick tips to maximize the...

In this video, I show you how to play the HARMONY for Minous Vals by me, Magnus Zetterlund. The harmony is using thirds, sixths, and parallel movements but also some counterpoint ideas. 

 In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:

• Sheet music/tabs
• Play-a-long track
• ...

In this video, I’m showing you how to play a single note melody of the jazz-blues, Jethro’s Jungle. This is a original of me, Magnus Zetterlund, in the key of D-major, and we are using some typical jazz and swing mandolin phrases.

In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:

• Sheet...

In this video, Hayes Griffin shows you how to play the chords to the tune “Over the Waterfall.” This tune is played in bluegrass and old time circles, and is a great example of “modal mixture,” switching between D major and D mixolydian modes. 

By the end of this...

In this week’s episode, Hayes chats with special guest Marcel Ardans of Lessons with Marcel about transcription, the world of online content creation, and some tips for how to start working out music by ear.  

Here are the web links mentioned in the show:

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Play some rhythmic, driving new grass chords on the mandolin for my new bluegrass fiddle tune, Covid Fever.

The work of Bill Monroe inspires the melody, but the accompaniment uses chord voicings I picked up from players like Sam Bush and Wayne Benson.
This style...

In this video, Hayes shows you how to play the melody to the tune “Over the Waterfall.” This tune is played in bluegrass and old time circles, and is a great example of “modal mixture,” switching between D major and D mixolydian modes.   This is a basic...

In this video, I’m showing you how to play the jazz-blues in the key of D-major. We are using three-string chord shapes that work very well for this style of playing rhythm.

You will play the Freddie Green four-to-the-bar style and the Charleston rhythm. 

In Mandolin Secrets Academy...