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The old-time fiddle tune “Cluck Old Hen” in the key of A has become a standard at bluegrass and old-time jams everywhere and is a great first tune to learn on the mandolin. You’ll learn the standard fingering for first position on the mandolin.
The old-time fiddle tune “Chinquapin Hunting” is in the key of D, so you’ll learn the D major scale, a D major arpeggio, and a D major chord, which will help orient your fingers to the key of D. You’ll also learn basic D, G, and A chords and a simple bass/strum pattern, so you can play rhythm to “Chinquapin Hunting” and other tunes.
A must-know tune for all roots music instrumentalists, “Angeline the Baker” is also in the key of D. You’ll learn to mark time with your downstrokes, even where there’s a rest, which will help you maintain a steady tempo.
The beautiful old-time fiddle tune “Squirrel Hunters” has a haunting “modal” sound. You’ll learn how to slide into melody notes and damp notes for a rhythmic accent.
You’ve learned five great tunes, but if you want to start playing them with other people you’ll also need to learn to play rhythm. In these lessons you’ll learn get a complete overview of basic open chord shapes, some of which can be played with just two fingers. You’ll also learn a 4/4 rhythm pattern in which you play the lowest note of each chord and follow it with a strum of the higher strings. You can use this pattern to practice playing rhythm on mandolin-and-guitar practice tracks for a couple of the tunes you’ve learned. With Chord Diagrams and Charts
A well-known fiddle tune in the key of D, the melody of “The Eighth of January” was used by Arkansas school teacher Jimmy Driftwood for his 1950s hit song “The Battle of New Orleans.” You’ll also learn the technique of “finger planting,” a great way to keep the notes of a tune ringing into each other smoothly.
This bluegrass standard comes from the great banjo player Ralph Stanley, but it has a simple modal melody that suits all instruments. It has an extra beat in the second part and you’ll learn to “ghost” a note with your picking hand to make sure you get the timing right.
The old-time fiddle tune “June Apple” is a great tune to work on finger planting. You’ll learn about the importance of finger planting as a way to create “economy of motion” and play melodies in which the notes ring into each other without any gaps between notes.
A must-know tune in the bluegrass and old-time world, “Soldier’s Joy” is in the key of D, so in addition to learning the melody, you’ll learn the D major scale in two octaves.
The beautiful waltz “Midnight on the Water” comes from legendary Texas fiddler Benny Thomasson. You’ll learn how to use tremolo to play it and how to add drone notes to the melody.
Another great old-time tune in the key of D, “Over the Waterfall” is great for working on playing your upstrokes at the same volume as downstrokes. You’ll also learn to let open drone strings ring out below the basic melody.
The keys of D and A are the most important to know on the mandolin, but now you’re ready to learn a fiddle tune in the key of G. “Seneca Square Dance” is an old-time dance tune with a simple, pretty melody that sounds great played at a medium tempo.
The old hymn “Wayfaring Stranger” is a perfect tune to play on the mandolin with tremolo and it’s in the key of A minor, another key that sounds great on the mandolin.
The fiddle tune “Whiskey Before Breakfast” is a popular tune among all sorts of roots musicians. The chords to “Whiskey Before Breakfast” change fairly often, especially in the B part. Sharon shows you a handy way to memorize them so that they don’t seem so random.
Learn two embellished versions of the melody to “Old Joe Clark.”
Learn an embellished version of “Eighth of January” as well as a few variations you can add to the B part.
In this section, you'll learn instrumental solos (or "breaks") to play in between the verses of some classic bluegrass vocal songs.
Clarence “Tom” Ashley wrote “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains” and recorded it with the Carolina Tar Heels in 1929. Tim O’Brien and Abigail Washburn released a lovely version a few years back, and the song remains a favorite in bluegrass and old-time circles. Sharon teaches the song in the key of D, and in addition to the basic melody and chords, you’ll learn some techniques for rounding out the sound and enhancing the groove.
Use these videos to practice playing rhythm and melody to all the tunes in the Beginning Mandolin course at a medium tempo with Sharon and guitarist Scott Nygaard. With Chord Charts
