The book Método de Mandolina begins at the very beginning of learning to play the mandolin starting with the basic tuning of the instrument how to sit position one?s head and hold one?s hands. There are many pages of exercises that lead to easy pieces and more difficult short works all in Spanish style.In this age of the Guitar it is remarkable to know that the mandolin was the most popular instrument throughout the Western world at the turn of the last century at the time of the publication of this book. For the most part at that time the virtuosi were considered to be Italian and the best instruments from Italian makers though many other companies were involvedin the production of many forms of the mandolin. This is ironic however as it is frequently asserted that the earliest form of lute or mandolin entered Europe with the Moors onto the Iberian peninsula in the shape of the oud. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries serious composers included lute parts in their major works and wrote pieces expressly for mandolinists and for the thousands of mandolin Orchestras that sprang up throughout Europe and in the New World. That Método de Mandolina remains available is a testament to its usefulness and the expertise of its author in giving teachers and students a volume from which to teach and learn.

Unlock the secrets of moving chord rhythm for bluegrass blues and swing. Using eleven tunes in six keys including old-time fiddle tunes bluegrass instrumentals and swing progressions Joe Carr shows how to create interestingmoving chordal backup for practically any song. Mandolin players can now duplicate the 'every-two-beats' chord style associated with western swing guitar. A single-note solo is included for each tune. Chord arrangements are shownin diagrams standard notation and tablature. Companion CD included.

John McGann's Guide To Octave Mandolin And Bouzouki contains twenty tunes in styles from Irish to American, in a variety of tunings, melody and accompaniment, presented in standard notation and tablature, with a stereo audio download (left channel melody, right channel accompaniment). Left and right hand techniques and chord voicings are thoroughly discussed. For the first time, the Celtic style "woven texture" accompaniment, unique to the instrument, is fully notated. The book also contains melodic Irish ornamentation, blues, jazz, American fiddle tunes with variations and improvisations (all fully notated), and a chapter "Breaking Away From Block Chords" extending knowledge of the fingerboard. Audio tracks are included to download online.