Gypsy Jazz Chords and Rhythm // Blues for Ike // Octave Mandolin Lesson jazz mandolin mandolin lesson swing Jul 26, 2022

Play gypsy jazz rhythm on the octave mandolin. I show you the chords for Blues For Ike by Django Reinhardt in this video. This tune is a 12-bar blues with an interesting twist.

The chord progression is in A and uses the major chord instead of the conventional dominant 7th chord. This tune...

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Major 6 Chromatic Ending Phrase // Jazz and Swing Guitar Lesson guitar guitar lesson Jul 15, 2022

Looking to spice up the ending of your swing and jazz solos? Check out this chromatic Major 6th (or Minor 7th) lick!

By the end of the video, Hayes will show you how to master this lick in the key of F, so you can put it to work straight away on standards like Sweet Georgia Brown and Avalon....

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Roanoke // Chords // Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson bluegrass mandolin lesson youtube Jul 12, 2022

In this video, instructor Hayes Griffin shows you how to play the chords to Bill Monroe’s classic fiddle tune, “Roanoke.” Hayes helps you learn the basics of a good bluegrass “chop” sound, a skill that you will need for any other bluegrass tunes you want to learn in...

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3 Finger Major Scale Pattern for Guitar guitar guitar lesson Jul 08, 2022

In this video, Hayes teaches you how to play a major scale pattern for guitar that uses 3 fingers per string. Most guitarists learn some variation of “CAGED” scale patterns, but this pattern can be a great addition to those other scale patterns for things like quickly amending the...

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Banjolit Dr. Arm - Mandolin Armrest - What? Why? How? gear youtube Jul 07, 2022

In this video Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin show you the Banjolit mandolin armrest, Dr. Arm. We answer the questions WHAT it is, WHY we’re using one, HOW to get one and HOW to install one. 

Click the link to watch video

Click the link to go learn more at the Banjolit Website.
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Ultimate Right Hand Workout // Rhythmic Subdivisions // Guitar Technique Lesson guitar guitar lesson Jul 01, 2022

In this lesson, Hayes shows you a great workout to improve your ability to switch between different rhythmic subdivisions like quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, sixteenth notes, and even odd subdivisions like 5 and 7!

Add this to your daily routine and you’ll improve the strength and...

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Avalon // Jazz Mandolin Duo // Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin jazz performance video Jun 30, 2022

In this video, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are playing the swing standard, “Avalon” by Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva, and Vincent Rose. Magnus is playing a Phoenix Neo Bluegrass mandolin and Hayes is playing a Red Diamond A-style mandolin. 

In Mandolin Secrets Academy...

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Margaret’s Waltz - Mandolin Lesson - Melody mandolin lesson youtube Jun 21, 2022

In this video lesson, I show you how to play the fiddle tune Margaret’s Waltz. It was written by Pat Shuldam Shaw (1917-1977) in 1959. This is an A-major melody, and it’s a charming composition in the music traditions of England, Scotland, and the Shetlands. The mandolin arrangement...

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How to Construct ANY Major Scale on Guitar // Beginner Music Theory Lesson guitar guitar lesson music theory Jun 17, 2022

In this lesson, Hayes teaches you the secret formula to the foundation of most Western styles of music - The Major Scale!

By the end of the video, you will know how to use simple intervals like the whole step and half step to construct linear, single-string major scales on your guitar.

If you...

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The Note Name Fixer - Guitar Fretboard Mapping Exercise guitar guitar lesson Jun 10, 2022

In this video, instructor Hayes Griffin shows you a great exercise to memorize all of the notes on your guitar. This one was originally created by Magnus for the mandolin, but works great on the guitar!

After watching this video, you will have a clear method for mapping your guitar fretboard...

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Podcast Episode #17 How to play swing rhythm? podcast May 27, 2022
 

In this week’s episode, Magnus and Hayes are discussing:

  • Hayes' upcoming Western Swing Rhythm Guitar Webinar
  • Do you teach mandolin or guitar? Tell us your #1 tip for folks trying to learn!
  • What mental tools do you rely on for improvisation? Arpeggios? Scales? Sounds inside your...
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It Don’t Mean a Thing - Jazz Solo Ideas - Mandolin Lesson jazz mandolin lesson youtube May 24, 2022

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...

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