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 firstsection 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 harmonicanalysis and the effects of certain intervals (useful groups of tones). The tablature suggests fingerings 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 astudy of chord-melody style playing is presented. Playing the melody and harmony at the sametime yields full sounding solo arrangements.Don Stiernberg is a leading proponent of the jazz Mandolin style. He has eightavailable recordings performs coast to coast and abroad writes a column for Mandolin Magazine and teaches at several Mandolin events. Audio download available online.

Just for Fun: Christmas Mandolin contains over 40 classic Christmas songs. Most of the songs in the book feature three arrangements: the melody in notation and TAB, an easy rhythm option with a simple strum pattern and chords, and an intermediate-level rhythm option written in full notation and TAB. The intermediate rhythm option often combines full melody and chords, making it perfect not only for accompanying a singer and but also for solo performances for friends, family, and recitals. There's even a mandolin chord dictionary in the back of the book. Plus, this book correlates to the matching guitar, ukulele, and banjo editions, so you can have family Christmas jams and sing-alongs.TITLE COMPOSERDance of the Sugar Plum Fairy [Op. 71a, #3] Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composer)The Twelve Days of Christmas Traditional (source)We Three Kings of Orient Are Christmas Traditional (source)God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Traditional (source)Away in a Manger John R. Murray (contributor)O Christmas Tree Traditional (source)Up on the Housetop Christmas Traditional (source)It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Richard S. Willis (contributor) - Edmund H. Sears (lyricist)Jingle Bells James Pierpont (contributor)Silent Night Franz Grüber (contributor)Joy to the World George Frederic Handel (composer) - Isaac Watts (lyricist)What Child Is This? William Chatterton Dix (lyricist) - Traditional (source)I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day J. Baptiste Calkin (contributor) - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (lyricist)We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional (source)O Come, All Ye Faithful Traditional (source)I Saw Three Ships Traditional (source)A Child This Day Is Born Traditional (source)Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Ralph Blane (composer) - Hugh Martin (lyricist)Deck the Halls Traditional (source)The Holly and the Ivy Auld Lang Syne Carol of the Birds Simple Gifts The First Noel Holy Night, Peaceful Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Hark! The Herald Angels Sing In the Bleak Midwinter Carol of the Bells Good King Wenceslaus Angels We Have Heard on High Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring March of the Toys (from 'Babes in Toyland') Go Tell It on the Mountain Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Pat-A-Pan (Burgundian) O Holy Night Here We Come A-Caroling (The Wassail Song) Coventry Carol / Mandoline

This wonderful collection of music arranged for the mandolin includes bluegrass old-time fiddle tunes classical music (including the complete solo part for the Vivaldi mandolin concerto and the Canzonetta from Mozart's Don Giovanni) American Irish Jewish Russian and Italian songs reels jigs hornpipes hymns and gospel songs minstrel songs patriotic songs blues and jazz children's songs cowboy and country ballads. Over one hundred selections in standard music notation and Tab with lyrics and chord symbols for optional accompaniment. Also included are tremelo exercises a guide to fingering chord charts for guitar and mandolin the history of themandolin and interesting comments about the history and performance of each song.