ISBN 9781619115453. 8.75 x 11.75 inches. If you've heard jazz guitarists like Joe Pass play chord melody, you may think that the style requires an encyclopedic knowledge of music theory, musical super-powers, or making a deal with the devil. But fear not! This book will show you how to create your own satisfying chord melody arrangements on the mandolin...and will do so in a practical, applicable, non stroke-inducing way. "Aaron Weinstein has many musical accomplishments. I am very proud to have played a small part with some of them. When he was only 12 he made his first recordings and asked me to play mandolin on them. I was knocked out to encounter someone that young that was conversant in both old-time or contest fiddling and Joe Venuti style jazz. Not long after that Aaron became interested in the mandolin and chords and he came by every so often to play and discuss voicings, improvisation and the like. I showed him some of the Jethro Burns chord melody arrangements that Jethro showed me. I've been teaching those for decades in hopes of one day playing them smoothly myself! Fast forward a few more years and Aaron has a Berklee degree, traveled the world playing hot violin music and is hobnobbing with the greatest NYC jazz stars. And oh yeah, one other thing: he took the art of chord-melody mandolin style to an entirely new level! The rich harmonies of the standard jazz and show tune repertoire, the swinging bass lines and connecting chords and independent voice movements (doing more than one thing at a time) are all present in Aaron's style, thanks to his great ear, open mind and gift at locating things on the fretboard. And now Aaron has documented, explained and shared his discoveries and approach with all of us in this book. Thank you Aaron! This is truly a step-by-step method that you will enjoy. You'll find yourself saying 'oh, of course!' as the author gets you playing and understanding things that sound very detailed and complex. The first section I would call the mandolinistic stuff: the how-to on getting things moving and connected on the fretboard. This part is laid out in a very logical manner with clear explanations and fun activities. After working through these etudes you will know the fretboard better and be a better mandolin playing musician regardless of what style of music is your favorite. As I looked this part over I recalled the parable about 'give someone a fish and he will have a meal. Teach him to fish and he'll eat the rest of his life..' The second part puts your new-found chops to work playing some great solo chord melody tunes Weinstein style. Again the author walks us gently into the material by providing two versions of each piece, the basic structure followed by a more developed version. In the history of mandolin playing there have been many examples of techniques, arrangements and music that might be thought of as 'chord-melody' style. Consider works by Raffaele Calace, or 'Duo' style from the early twentieth century American stylists and then again as modernized by Evan Marshall in the current era. Bach on the mandolin, as played by virtuosi such as Caterina Lichtenberg, Mike Marshall, Carlo Aonzo, Chris Thile and others also illustrates harmony and melody simultaneously. And of course Jethro Burns did so much in the way of bringing jazz and standards to life with chord-melody mandolin that it is often referred to as 'Jethro Style'. The book you have in your hand presents a unique and accessible route to these types of techniques and sounds. Bravo, Aaron! And thank you, my friend." Don Stiernberg.

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 9781609740818. This user-friendly and very comprehensive text is ideal for daily practice. Contents include pentatonic scales, major scales, pure minor scales, harmonic minor scales, melodic minor scales and scales presented in various positions on the mandolin fingerboard. This is an ideal book for the bluegrass, jazz or classical mandolin player. Written in notation, tab and fretboard diagrams.

ISBN 9781610659444. Brazilian Choro: A Method for Mandolin focuses on teaching bandolim technique for playing Choro. The combination of method book and online audio offers a great opportunity to add performance practice to the black-and-white notes on the page. The book, presented in both English and Portuguese, is written for two different groups--Brazilians learning to play bandolim in the Choro tradition, and non-Brazilians who play other styles and want to learn Choro. Mr. Sa, a native Carioca who as played Choro since childhood, understands Choro intuitively and brings a Brazilian perspective to the project. Ms. Mair, a classical mandolinist who has spent much of the past four years refining her Choro technique in Rio, brings an outsider's viewpoint, recognizing the subtle distinctions that make Choro style unique. Together these renowned performers and university professors have created a pathway to help you play Choro with a true Carioca accent. Music presented in standard notation. Online audio available for download.

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 9781609745912. 50 studies designed to improve right and left-hand technique for mandolin players of all levels and abilities. This book provides further practice material to build on the aspects of technique introduced in Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol. 1-Sequences, Arpeggios, Shifting, the Fourth Finger, Triplets, Chromatics, and Crosspicking. A great book to have on your music stand for a ready source of practice material. The book is divided into four parts. Part One is devoted to sequences, Part Two further explores the aspects of technique from Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol. 1, Part Three is devoted to scale-based exercises and Part Four contains practice etudes based on all the previous exercises. The book also includes 3 studies adapted from Rudolphe Kreutzer's 42 Studies For Violin. -50 Studies for improving right and left hand mandolin technique -Further explores the concepts of Mandolin Technique Studies, Vol.1 -Exercises involve Sequences, Arpeggios, Shifting, the Fourth Finger, Triplets, Chromatics, and Crosspicking.

ISBN 9781610653800. This new manual, intended for beginners, contains all you need to begin playing authentic Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and more on the mandolin. Starting with simple polkas and slides, 26 common session tunes are included. The tunes are all favorites allowing you to rapidly join the fun of session playing. A special section explains pick direction for authentic jig picking. Included are instructions on basic Irish ornamentation for reels and jigs. The accompanying online audio can be used for traditional by ear learning. Presented in mandolin tablature and standard musical notation. - Contains all you need to begin playing authentic Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and more on the mandolin - Tunes are all favorites allowing you to rapidly join the fun of session playing - Special section explains pick direction for authentic jig picking - Includes instruction on basic Irish ornamentation.

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!

ISBN 9781609742577. This encyclopedia is designed to provide mandolin players with a wide variety of chords in different voicings. This book is intended as both a starting point of learning chord voicings and patterns, as well as a dictionary of common mandolin chords. Each key section includes the first position scale for that key, as well as the chord formula and notes for each chord. If you want to learn to be a bluegrass rhythm player it helps to have a guide or 'map' to take you through the initial learning stage. This book provides a small but powerful set of starter chords used in this style of music. Once these chords are learned, you'll be able to jam with other musicians in no time. These are the same chords used by greats like Bill Monroe, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman and hundreds of other bluegrass players in this genre. While there are only a few chords presented in the "map" section, they form the foundation of bluegrass mandolin and with them you can play literally thousands of songs in every key. Chords are presented by key.

ISBN 9781609749989. You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin is written as a teach-yourself text with play-along examples and tunes on the companion recording. In the author's word, "It is aimed at helping you get started immediately on your way to mandolinhood by giving you the basics of the mandolin and mandolin playing." With this informal, often humorous text, Dix Bruce will guide you step-by-step through the basics of learning this versatile instrument. Learn all about accompanying yourself and others, common chords and useful strums, reading simple melodies, playing a colorful assortment of mandolin folk songs, and more. All musical examples and tunes are written in bothstandard notation and tablature. Diagrams of all the principal chords used on the mandolin are shown in the Chord Appendix, making this book a particularly useful study aid for the beginning mandolinist. Illustrated with drawings and photographs of vintage instruments. This book has accompanying audio and video.

ISBN 9781619113435. This book is designed for mandolinists seeking to develop their left and right-hand technique. The exercises included help reinforce fundamental actions of playing, and challenge the player to master the various permutations and combinations of these fundamentals. Each hand is given primary focus, working across all four strings or up and down the fretboard before both hands are challenged simultaneously. Through these exercises, a player can improve their functioning abilities and facilitate better control over the instrument. Practicing these workouts can help with the mechanics of playing as well, helping a player improve accuracy, speed, and agility in both hands.

ISBN 9781609748616. Comprehensive and easily understood, this essential Mel Bay resource is arranged in photo, notation and chord diagram form for maximum ease of use by mandolinists of all playing levels. Correct left-hand positions are pictured for each chord, as is proper right-hand picking position. Major, minor, seventh, diminished, augmented, and ninth chords are shown in photo, notation and chord diagram; major seventh, sixth, minor sixth, seventh augmented fifth, and seventh diminished fifth chords are shown in diagram form only. Tuning of the mandolin is also shown. A chart summarizing movable chord patterns completes the book. Includes access to online video. Video duration 125 minutes.

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)