ISBN 9781619119512.

The octave mandolin is valued for its rich tone and wide range of potential use in a variety of musical settings. This book contains 27 easy to intermediate pieces from the Baroque era that have been carefully chosen and arranged to benefit from the longer scale and deeper voice of the big mandolin. The music is presented in both standard notation and tablature, making it easily playable on the mandocello, mandola or standard mandolin. Thirteen composers are represented, including six pieces by J. S. Bach, four by G. F. Handel and three by G. P. Telemann.

ISBN 9781619114005. The American Mandolin Method is the new standard for mandolin instruction. Master teachers and performers of the mandolin, Brian Wicklund and Ben Winship have crafted Volume 2 of their series to be used both as a follow up to Volume 1 and for intermediate players who are already experienced with the mandolin. Using clear illustrations and lucid explanations, the authors review skills such as efficiently holding the mandolin, fretting, picking technique and creating good tone. Students learn techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, bar chords, chop chords and 7th chords while progressing step-by-step through over two dozen universally played jam tunes. The very listenable, high quality, extended length online audio recording available with the book allows students to play along with the tunes to simulate jamming. Also included are folded scale exercises, and common sense tips from the authors' long experience teaching and performing. Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781619114418. Mandolinists who wish to expand their improvisational vocabulary and spice up their rhythm accompaniment are invited to try some Jazz Mandolin Appetizers. This book and accompanying audio, prepared by chef Don Stiernberg, include a batch of etudes that address the challenges every improvising mandolinist faces. These include common issues such as selecting notes that sound good with chord progressions and finding them on the fretboard. In the first section, new melodies are presented for chord progressions that are often played at swing and jazz jam sessions. These tunes will benefit players of any style. Concepts are discussed at the beginning of each tune such as harmonic analysis and the effects of certain intervals (useful groups of tones). The tablature suggestsfingerings for the melodies. The chordal section shows how chords and progressions can be made more interesting by adding color, tension and movement. Chord substitution is also demonstrated. Working through this section will prepare the player with commonly played progressions and will expand their chord voicing vocabulary up and down the neck. Lastly, a study of chord-melody style playing is presented. Playing the melody and harmony at the same time yields full sounding solo arrangements. Don Stiernberg is a leading proponent of the jazz mandolin style. He has eight available recordings, performs coast to coast and abroad, writes a column for Mandolin Magazine and teaches at several mandolin events.