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.

ISBN 9781619118430.

Theory and Improvisation for the Modern Mandolinist is a two book series that teaches improvisation in many musical styles along with theory concepts and how they apply to the mandolin. Each book provides access to different backing tracks and solo examples to help you learn. Every chapter includes scales presented in a variety of common formats: standard notation, tablature and fretboard charts. Volume 2, Jazz and Beyond will expand your knowledge of theory by teaching you advanced chords, scales, and progressions. Sample solos and progressions are included at the end of each chapter to practice with the recordings. When finished with this book, you should feel confident improvising over any chord progression, and have a great understanding of jazz theory and how it applies to the mandolin. Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781619117785.

Theory and Improvisation for the Modern Mandolinist is a two book series that teaches improvisation in many musical styles along with theory concepts and how they apply to the mandolin. Each book provides access to different backing tracks and solo examples to help you learn. Every chapter includes scales presented in a variety of common formats: standard notation, tablature and fretboard charts.A Volume 1, Building a Foundation, only requires that the reader can play notes and simple chords. It presents basic skills necessary for improvising over chord progressions found in all types of music. Sample solos and progressions are included at the end of each chapter to practice. Whether you play bluegrass, rock, pop or jazz, this book will take your solos to the next level.A Includes access to online audio.

ISBN 9781610654944. Here's a wonderfully diverse collection of 56 beginning mandolin solos in notation and tablature with suggested guitar chords. This book makes an excellent supplement to any introductory mandolin method. You'll notice your progress and gather sight-reading confidence as you read through this carefully graded series of pieces from various ethnic origins. Dix Bruce performs all of the tunes in the book on the companion online audio.

ISBN 9781610655439. This book teaches the conceptual tools needed to become adept at playing the mandolin by ear. Provides keys to learning chord progressions and playing melody by ear as well as using licks and playing in different keys. Includes many tunes in tablature.

ISBN 9781619113916. Fretboard Studies for the Improvising Mandolinist presents a collection of tools to help improve one's knowledge of the fretboard. Scales, arpeggios, patterns, intervallic exercises and progressions are included. Exercises help the player build muscle memory and musical ideas anywhere on the fretboard. A collection of tunes is also included. Connect the physical with the theoretical and become a better improviser!

Take your blues playing to the next level with the MandolinBlues Book. A collection of 101blues riffs and solos ideal for all mandolinists looking to get a good grasp ofjamming the blues.

The book covers all the essential tools needed to playblues mandolin. Start by learning the 40stylistic riffs, then the 25 one and two bar blues riffs in multiple keys, andmove on to the longer 12 bar blues rhythm riffs and extended solos.

Most of the longer rhythm riffs and solos follow thestandard 12 bar blues form, so they are readily applicable to many genres,including country, rock, jazz, folk and bluegrass, to name a few.

To further deepen your mandolin skills, study themajor, minor, blues scales and arpeggios, as well as the library of mandolin chordsand blues chord progressions in all 12 keys.

No book covers everything, but with some practice, youwill be ready to take your mandolin, jam the blues with confidence, and showoff your new skills.

For free mandolin lessons, audio tracks and videos, pleasevisit my website:

http://www.brentrobitaille.com

or

Mandolin BluesBook - Kalymi Music (brentrobitaille.com)

ISBN 9781619119857.

Franz Wohlfahrt (1833 1884), a violin teacher in Leipzig Germany, wrote several series of etudes including 60 Studies for Violin, Opus 45 from which this book of mandolin studies was derived. Originally composed for his own teaching purposes, over the past 100 years Wohlfahrts etudes have become standard works for beginning violin study the world over. Adapted for mandolin in standard notation and tablature, some violin techniques had to be altered to make these studies accessible to mandolinists. The resulting book contains progressively arranged compositional gems that include scale, tremolo, arpeggio, and position studies plus grace notes, double-stops and other techniquesall terrific sight-reading material at an intermediate to advanced level.

ISBN 9781610657327. The mandolin was brought to Brazil by Portuguese colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries, and eventually worked its way into traditional Brazilian music. The principal aim of this book is to present an overview of the several faces of the mandolin in Brazil. In this book's eighteen progressively arranged character studies, the mandolin student will find, besides a great number of aspects of the idiomatic technique of the instrument (i.e., changes of fingering positions, double stops, tremolos, arpeggios, legatos, chords, etc.), no less than fourteen different styles. All of the pieces are presented first in notation only as mandolin/guitar duets, followed by the mandolin part repeated with tablature.

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.