Essential Mandolin Fretboard Pattern - Box 3 - Mandolin Lesson
Today we are playing a pentatonic lick in box number 3. This closed position pattern is one of the essential shapes for playing up the fretboard. This little etude makes you do extreme position shifts so that Box no 3 becomes effortless in your playing. I’m demonstrating the lick in C-major and F sharp major.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Octave Mandolin Lesson - Chords for Årepolskan - Scandinavian Folk Music
In this video lesson, I show you how to play the chords for a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Årepolskan. This dance tune is a triplet polska from the region of Jämtland.
The melody is interesting, wandering from G-major to E-minor in a typical way for this tradition. The chords used are G, Em, D, C, and Am. It is a soulful and elegant fiddle tune and the chords ads a pleasant touch to it.
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
Sailor’s Hornpipe // Mandolin Lesson // Melody
In this video, I will show you how to play the melody for sailor’s hornpipe on mandolin. This melody is an iconic fiddle tune that dates back to the 18th century.
This traditional music is presented in Celtic, Bluegrass, and Scandinavian music. However, my duo arrangement has a little ragtime flavour to it. The tune is sometimes referred to as "Jack's the Lad" and was also played in the animated cartoon series Popeye, so some people refer to this as Popeye's hornpipe.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Chromatic Jazz Lick // Mandolin Lesson // For Swing Bluegrass & Country
In this mandolin lesson, Hayes Griffin shows you how to play a chromatic lick that you can use to end your favorite jazz tunes or spice up your improvised solos.
We are playing a descending arpeggio line that resolves very nicely. Hayes also explains a one-chord trick that lets you use this lick for other styles like bluegrass and country music. Many others have done it before; now it’s your turn to get this classic line into your vocabulary!
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs
- Play-a-long track
- How-to-play-instructions
Årepolskan Melody - Mandolin Lesson - Nordic Folk Music
In this video lesson, I show you how to play a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Årepolskan. This dance tune is a triplet polska from the region of Jämtland.
The melody is interesting, wandering from G-major to E-minor in a typical way for this tradition. It is a soulful and elegant fiddle tune.
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
Classical Mandolin Duet - Magnus Zetterlund & Karl Tiren - Minuet in G major by J S Bach
In this video, Magnus Zetterlund and Karl Tiren play the Minuet in G major (BWV Anh. 114) by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is a delightful tune to play on the mandolin and is a lovely introduction to classical and Baroque music. Our mandolin arrangement includes a melody part and a harmony part that can be played on both mandolin and octave mandolin. Thanks to Academy member Jane Gregory for her contribution
This piece was originally included in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725), which JS Bach presented to his second wife. The piece has long been attributed to JS Bach, due to its inclusion in the Notebook, but was actually written for the harpsichord by a contemporary of Bach's, Christian Petzold.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Backing and play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
How to successfully reach your Mandolin Goals in 2023
The beginning of January is an exciting time of year. It’s a time for fresh starts, new beginnings, and a chance to look forward to what can be accomplished in the year ahead.
We want to embrace the opportunity and set some exciting mandolin goals.
In this video lesson, I will share tips for making your own SMARTER goals to set you up for a successful 2023. It’s like a workshop, helping you get concrete ideas for new projects and plans for improving your mandolin playing this year.
Worksheets, support and audio tracks for this lesson you’ll find in Mandolin Secrets Academy.
Click the link to watch the video
Nordic Folk Music on Mandolin, Octave Mandolin & Fiddle - Silkesvalsen
Happy New Year, my mandolin friend!
The first video out in 2023 is a golden memory from the previous summer.
We are playing a traditional Scandinavian dance tune on the mandolin, octave mandolin and fiddle. This is the Silkesvalsen (the Silk Waltz), a traditional dance tune from Älvdalen, Sweden.
We recorded a spontaneous jam session in Falun, Sweden early July 2022. The band is Magnus Zetterlund (Sweden) octave mandolin, Hayes Griffin (Ohio, US) mandolin, and Ondra Kozak (Czech republic) fiddle.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
Boost your creativity with a loop pedal - Mandolin Lesson
Get my top tips for how to use a looper in your practice room.
In this video, I want to show you some tips for boosting creativity using a loop pedal. It’s a fun and simple way to bring new ideas into your playing.
I will explain how you can use it for scale practicing, soloing, composing, and making harmonies.
I don’t use my loop pedal on stage in a performance setting, but I use it regularly in my studio and practice room. It’s the ultimate jamming companion that never gets tired of your playing.
This lesson is an introduction to using a looper, and if you want more of this content, I would be happy to make a series going deeper into the different aspects of this topic.
The tech and gear used in my setup are TC Electronic Ditto Looper X2, Shure SM57 Microphone, and AER Compact XL amplifier, Petri Hakala F5 mandolin.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs for the riff ideas
- Play-a-long tracks...
Harmony Lesson - Minuet in G major by J S Bach - Classical Mandolin Duet
In this video lesson, I show you how to play the harmony for Minuet in G major (BWV Anh. 114) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Our arrangement includes a harmony part that can be played on both the mandolin and the octave mandolin. I will show you both ways in this video. It is a delightful duo arrangement to play and a lovely introduction to classical and Baroque music.
This piece was originally included in the Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725), which JS Bach presented to his second wife. The piece has long been attributed to JS Bach, due to its inclusion in the Notebook, but was actually written for the harpsichord by a contemporary of Bach's, Christian Petzold.
In Mandolin Secrets Academy you’ll find:
- Sheet music/tabs (PDF)
- Play-a-long tracks (MP3)
- How-to-play-instructions
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