Vals Efter Pål Karl // Harmony // Nordic Folk Mandolin Lesson
In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the harmony for a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Vals efter Pål Karl. This dance tune is a waltz from the region of Älvdalen, Dalarna.
The harmony is quite interesting, following the melody in parallel movements. The intervals mainly consist of thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths. The tune is archaic and raw yet groovy in the A-Dorian mode.
Our arrangement is a three-part arrangement with a melody and harmony part on the mandolin and the chords part on the octave mandolin.
I play the tune with my friend Lena Jonsson, a fantastic fiddle player from Sweden.
There is an iconic recording of this tune on the album, "Längs Gamla Stigar och Färdevägar" by Simon Simonssons Kvartett from 1989. Ola Bäckström plays fiddle on this album, and his playing inspires my harmony.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and...
Octave Mandolin Lesson // Majblomman // Chords and Bassline
In this video, I show you how to play the chords, bassline, and rhythm for a mandolin original called Majblomman by me, Magnus Zetterlund. It’s a lively tune that is fun to play.
Majblomman (The Mayflower) is a waltz in A-major with three parts. In this lesson, we are focusing on the chords and the rhythm. Pay attention to the bass line that makes the foundation for this rhythm track.
There are also melody lessons for this tune.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Bach Menuet in G Major BWV Anh. 116 - Classical Mandolin Arrangement - Melody Lesson
In this video lesson, I show you how to play a Minuet in G major (BWV Anh. 116) by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is a delightful tune to play on the mandolin and is a lovely introduction to classical and Baroque music, even for jazz, folk, and bluegrass players like me, Magnus Zetterlund.
Our three-part mandolin arrangement includes a melody, harmony, and chords/bassline part played on the octave mandolin.
This piece was originally included in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725), which JS Bach presented to his second wife.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Mandolin Lesson // Melodic Run and Lick // Two Note Sequence
In this mandolin video lesson, I give you a melody sequence for the G-major scale. It’s a two-note pattern that is very useful to practice your technique but also in the form of a vocabulary builder that you can use as a lick in your improvisations.
I’m even demonstrating how to use this line to make variations to Irish tunes like Morning Star and Bluegrass repertoire like Big Sciota.
It’s an excellent exercise for building your technique and improving your vocabulary, a must-know line for improvisers.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Switching Backup to Melody // Mandolin Technique Lesson
In this mandolin video lesson, I give my best tips and exercises for going from backup to lead, chords to melody. This is an essential skill; we must practice it to be as fluent as we like.
I’m demonstrating the exercise with the tune Bill Cheatham, but you can use this concept for any music you play.
A few of my pro tips are:
- Keep the melody in your head all the time.
- Make TIMING the no1 priority. Accept sloppiness in tone and melodic lines.
- Play the switching with a tune you know well. Both chords and melody.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Nordic Folk Music // Vals Efter Pål Karl // Octave Mandolin Lesson
In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the chords and backup for a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Vals efter Pål Karl. This dance tune is a waltz from the region of Älvdalen, Dalarna.
The chords used are A5, D, G, and C. The melody is archaic and raw, and the chords add a driving rhythm. Our arrangement is a three-part arrangement with a melody and harmony part on the mandolin and the chords part on the octave mandolin.
I play the tune with my friend Lena Jonsson, a fantastic fiddle player from Sweden.
There is an iconic recording of this tune on the album, "Längs Gamla Stigar och Färdevägar" by Simon Simonssons Kvartett from 1989. Ale Möller plays octave mandolin on this album, and his playing inspires my accompaniment.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Right or Wrong // Melody // Swing Mandolin Lesson
In this video, Hayes Griffin shows you how to play the simple melody to the swing standard “Right or Wrong.”
This tune was written in the 1920s, but made popular by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys in the 1930s. By the end of the lesson, you will know how to play a single-note melody line with straight and syncopated rhythms.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs
- Play-a-long track
- How-to-play-instructions
Mandolin Lesson // Vals Efter Pål Karl // Swedish Traditional Music
In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Vals efter Pål Karl. This dance tune is a waltz from the region of Älvdalen, Dalarna. The melody is archaic and raw yet groovy in the A-Dorian mode.
Our arrangement is a three-part arrangement with a melody and harmony part on the mandolin and the chords part on the octave mandolin. I play the tune with my friend Lena Jonsson, a fantastic fiddle player from Sweden.
There is an iconic recording of this tune on the album, "Längs Gamla Stigar och Färdevägar" by Simon Simonssons Kvartett from 1989.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Jazz Mandolin Chords - Djangology by Reinhardt & Grappelli - Rhythm Lesson
In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the chords and rhythm track for the gypsy jazz classic ”Djangology” by Django Reinhardt/Stephan Grappelli.
Here you’ll find versatile shapes for diminished chords, Minor 7th chords, Major 6th chords, and Dominant 7th chords in different inversions.
We are using movable three-string chords that are easy on your hands. You can apply these chord shapes to many other jazz and swing tunes.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Chord charts (PDF)
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Årepolskan Harmony - Mandolin Lesson - Nordic Folk Music
In this video lesson, I show you how to play the harmony to a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Årepolskan. This dance tune is a triplet polska from the region of Jämtland.
The harmony is quite interesting, following the melody in parallell movements. The intervalls mainly consist of thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths in a true harmony matter. It is a soulful and elegant fiddle tune wandering between G-major and E-minor.
Our arrangement is a three-part arrangement with a melody and harmony part on the mandolin and the chords part on the octave mandolin. I play the tune with my friend Lena Jonsson, a fantastic fiddle player from Sweden.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Mandolin Secrets Academy
As a member, you also get Sheetmusic/Tabs and Audio tracks for all lessons.
✔️ Master the essential techniques
✔️ Play your favourite songs and tunes
✔️ Have a practice routine that gets you results
✔️ Connect with mandolin enthusiasts from all over the world
