String School

Gear, News, Performances

Sign In

Sponsored By

Play-along Tracks

Mandolin Courses

Whether you're just starting out or have been playing mandolin for years, Peghead Nation has courses to help you develop your eight-string prowess. From beginning to advanced mandolin lessons with some of the finest mandolinists in roots music, you can delve into bluegrass, old-time, Irish, and other styles, building your repertoire of tunes and filling out your toolbox of techniques as you go. See introduction videos of all of our mandolin courses below, and check out free sample lessons as well. Enjoy!

Available Mandolin Courses

Beginning Mandolin

Beginning Mandolin

with Sharon Gilchrist

difficulty 1

Beginner

• 27 Lessons

• 16 Tunes

Get started off right on the mandolin, with basic techniques, scales and chords, and simple and popular bluegrass and old-time tunes to play. Includes downloadable Play-Along audio practice tracks for rhythm and melody on all tunes, advice on embellishing melodies and playing tremolo, and more.

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites

Bluegrass Mandolin Jam Favorites

with Joe K. Walsh

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 58 Lessons

• 57 Tunes

Learn the essential instrumental tunes you’ll encounter at bluegrass jam sessions everywhere. Designed for intermediate level mandolinists, with tunes, techniques, and solos from mandolin greats.

Old-Time Mandolin

Old-Time Mandolin

with John Reischman

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 46 Lessons

• 44 Tunes

Learn to play old-time fiddle tunes and song melodies with mandolin master John Reischman. Includes advice on picking technique and playing old-time rhythm on the mandolin.

Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials

Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Essentials

with Aaron Weinstein

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 21 Lessons

• 20 Tunes

Learn to play swing and jazz mandolin from scratch, with a step-by-step method for learning swing chord voicings, as well as simple, swingin’, melody-based solos for some of the most popular songs in the jazz and swing repertoire. Designed for newcomers to playing jazz and swing.

Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method

Bluegrass Mandolin Fingerboard Method

with Sharon Gilchrist

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 23 Lessons

• 21 Tunes

Learn to play solos to any bluegrass song in any key with Sharon's intermediate-level method for learning the fingerboard, based on arpeggios, chop-chord shapes, and double stops.

Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle

Theory for Mandolin and Fiddle

with Chad Manning

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 43 Lessons

• 6 Tunes

Learn the basics of music theory as it relates to four-string instruments tuned in fifths. Chad’s practical approach will deepen your knowledge of chords, scales, and arpeggios, and help you integrate them into your playing.

Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin

Intermediate Bluegrass Mandolin

with Sharon Gilchrist

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 80 Lessons

• 61 Tunes

Learn to play solos on classic bluegrass songs and instrumentals using bluegrass mandolin techniques like tremolo, double stops, two-string melodies, and more.

Irish Mandolin

with Marla Fibish

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 89 Lessons

• 81 Tunes

Learn traditional Irish mandolin, with an emphasis on playing the dance music of Ireland with an authentic Irish feel and rhythm.

Monroe-Style Mandolin

Monroe-Style Mandolin

with Mike Compton

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 115 Lessons

• 108 Tunes

Learn traditional bluegrass-style mandolin as exemplified by the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, with original transcribed solos and tips on reproducing Monroe’s sound, rhythm, and feel.

Melodic Mandolin Tunes

Melodic Mandolin Tunes

with John Reischman

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 64 Lessons

• 61 Tunes

Learn great traditional and original tunes in a variety of styles—old-time, bluegrass, Latin, jazz, and more—from a modern mandolin master.

The Advancing Mandolinist

The Advancing Mandolinist

with Joe K. Walsh

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 129 Lessons

• 127 Tunes

Explore all the modern mandolin techniques, from tremolo, chords and double stops, and soloing and improvisation tips, with plenty of bluegrass, old-time and swing tunes to keep you moving forward.

Chord Melody Mandolin

Chord Melody Mandolin

with Aaron Weinstein

difficulty 5

Advanced

• 74 Lessons

• 57 Tunes

Learn how to combine chords and melody to play jazz standards in the style pioneered by jazz mandolinist Jethro Burns and guitarists like Joe Pass and Bucky Pizzarelli.

Weekly Mandolin Workout

Weekly Mandolin Workout

with Ethan Setiawan

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 15 Lessons

• 8 Tunes

This series of workouts will help mandolinists learn the fingerboard, strengthen and increase the dexterity of their fingers, and expand their knowledge of chord and scale theory, with advice on picking and fretting techniques.

Swing and Jazz Mandolin

Swing and Jazz Mandolin

with Joe K. Walsh

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 27 Lessons

• 23 Tunes

Learn to play swing and jazz melodies and classic solos from jazz legends like Lester Young, Miles Davis, and Django Reinhardt, as well as swing mandolinists like Tiny Moore and Jethro Burns. For each song, you’ll learn the melody and a solo, along with tips on technique, phrasing, and improvisation.

Octave Mandolin

Octave Mandolin

with Joe K. Walsh

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 45 Lessons

• 43 Tunes

Learn to transfer what you know on the mandolin to its bigger cousin and how to exploit the octave mandolin’s potential for more complex, guitar-oriented accompaniment styles. For intermediate mandolin, fiddle, or guitar players with a basic knowledge of their instrument.

Brazilian Choro Mandolin

Brazilian Choro Mandolin

with Ian Coury

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 25 Lessons

• 22 Tunes

Learn to play Brazilian choro music on the mandolin with young Brazilian virtuoso Ian Coury, from the classic sounds of Jacob do Bandolim to the modern style of Hamilton Holanda. Includes play-along tracks with Ian’s Brazilian backing band.

Melodic Embellishment

Melodic Embellishment

with Sharon Gilchrist

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 9 Lessons

• 7 Tunes

In this workshop, Sharon will use common bluegrass and old-time tunes like “Old Joe Clark,” “Whiskey Before Breakfast,” “June Apple,” “Angeline the Baker,” and more to demonstrate her method for teaching students how to embellish and vary melodies as a way to begin to improvise.

Improvising for Mandolin and Fiddle

Improvising for Mandolin and Fiddle

with Joe K. Walsh

difficulty 4

Intermediate / Advanced

• 9 Lessons

• 8 Tunes

Learn to improvise on fiddle tunes, create new melodies over chord changes, practice the arpeggios and scales you need to play jazz tunes, and more. Joe lays out his approach to improvising and practicing improvising, with exercises and solos that illustrate his unique, widely acclaimed, freewheeling style.

Swing Mandolin: Rhythm and Chord Solos

Swing Mandolin: Rhythm and Chord Solos

with Aaron Weinstein

difficulty 3

Intermediate

• 9 Lessons

• 8 Tunes

Learn to play swing rhythm mandolin and how to create rhythmic chord solos, using eight classic jazz and swing tunes, with one of the world’s greatest swing mandolinists, Aaron Weinstein.

Live Workshop

Creative Mandolin Backup

Creative Mandolin Backup

with Sharon Gilchrist

difficulty 3

Intermediate

Sharon Gilchrist’s Creative Mandolin Backup workshop is designed for intermediate-level mandolinists who want to develop their rhythm and backup beyond the basic mandolin chord forms and chop or boom-chick rhythm. With easy-to-grasp applied theory concepts and instruction in using chord inversions.

Live Workshop Details

Mandolin Performances

Featured Videos arrow next

Bill Evans, John Reischman, Chad Manning, Mike Witcher, Jim Nunally, and Mark Schatz: “Sierra Blanca”

The California Bluegrass Reunion band plays a Bill Evans original tune at the Peghead Nation 10th Anniversary Party.

Featured Videos arrow next

Mike Compton: “Going Back to Vicksburg”

Our Monroe-Style Mandolin instructor plays an original tune at Great Lakes Music Camp.

Featured Videos arrow next

Alisa Rose with Scott Nygaard, Jesse Appelman, and Mark Schatz: “The High Road”

Peghead Nation fiddle instructor plays a Tim O’Brien tune (with two O’Boys) at our 10th Anniversary Showcase.

Featured Videos arrow next

Scott Nygaard and John Reischman: “Little Liza Jane”

Peghead Nation Co-founder plays an old-time tune with his fellow Harmonic Tone Revealer at our 10th Anniversary Showcase.

Featured Videos arrow next

Joe K. Walsh with Scott Nygaard, Alisa Rose, and Mark Schatz: “Juneau What it Means to Miss Alaska”

Founding member of Mr Sun plays an original tune with a great crew of his fellow Peghead instructors.

Featured Videos arrow next

Dan Gabel with Chad Manning and Jason Loeks: “The Last Lamplighter”

Peghead Nation President and Co-founder plays an original song with our fiddle instructor during our 10th Anniversary Showcase.

Featured Videos arrow next

Marla Fibish and Flynn Cohen: Rocky Road to Dublin, Comb Your Hair and Curl It, James Kelly’s

Peghead Nation Irish mandolin and guitar teachers play a set of hop jigs at our 10th Anniversary Party and Showcase.

Featured Videos arrow next

Bill Evans, John Reischman, Chad Manning, Mike Witcher, Jim Nunally, and Mark Schatz: “Stoney Lonesome”

A powerhouse group of Peghead Nation instructors plays a bluegrass classic at our 10th Anniversary Showcase.

Featured Videos arrow next

John Reischman, Ethan Setiawan, Mike Compton, and Kenny Smith: “Turkey in the Straw”

Three Peghead Nation mandolin instructors play a bluegrass classic at Great Lakes Music Camp.

Mandolin Demos

demo post image

Featured Videos

Bourgeois Aged Tone M5O Black-Top Octave Mandolin

Joe K. Walsh demos Bourgeois’ new A-style instrument.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Northfield Flat Top Octave

Peghead Nation co-founder Dan Gabel and instructor Joe K. Walsh demonstrate Northfield’s popular octave mandolin.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Northfield WaveLength

John Reischman demonstrates Northfield’s new compact octave mandolin.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Eight Mandolin Picks

Joe K. Walsh demonstrates eight of his favorite picks, including picks from Apollo, Bluebird, BlueChip, D’Andrea, and Wegen.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Shubb Fine Tune Capo on Octave Mandolin

Joe K. Walsh demonstrates using Shubb’s yoke-style capo on a Northfield octave mandolin.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Apollo John Reischman Picks

The mandolin legend and Peghead Nation instructor demonstrates his signature flatpicks.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Flynn Cohen’s Mandolin Setup

Peghead Nation instructor demonstrates the Northfield F5S and other gear that he uses on tour.

demo post image

Featured Videos

The Brazilian Mandolin

Peghead Nation’s Brazilian Choro Mandolin instructor Ian Coury demonstrates eight-string and ten-string mandolins and discusses their roles in Brazilian music.

demo post image

Featured Videos

Bourgeois Aged Tone M5A

Bourgeois introduces its first mandolin in collaboration with Eastman Music.

Browse By Instrument

gift

Give the gift of music

with a Peghead Nation gift subscription!

3-month, 6-month, and 12-month subscriptions available.

Sponsored By

subscribe

sample lessons

Peghead Partners

Huss & Dalton Trey Hensley Signature Model

Huss & Dalton Trey Hensley Signature Model

Huss & Dalton's Brian Dickel shows the company's new signature model at the 2025 NAMM show.

Follow Us:

About Us Shop Support Contact Us Email Sign up Advertise Sitemap FAQ Privacy Terms

Subscribe

Sign In

● Courses

● Live Workshops

● Instructors

● Sample Lessons

● Play-along Tracks

● Notation Guide

● For Beginners

● Workshops

● Advice

● Repertoire

Instruments & Gear

● Instrument Demos

● Vintage Vault

● New Gear

● Fine Lutherie

● Recordings

● Events

● Breaking News

Featured Videos

● In The Studio

● Live Onstage

● Backroom

● New Products

● Inside Look

● Performances

● Partner Pages

© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com

Subscribe
Sign In

● Courses

● Live Workshops

● Instructors

● Sample Lessons

● Play-along Tracks

● Notation Guide

● For Beginners

Instruments & Gear

● Instrument Demos

● Vintage Vault

● New Gear

● Fine Lutherie

● Workshops

● Advice

● Repertoire

● Recordings

● Events

● Breaking News

Featured Videos

● In The Studio

● Live Onstage

● Backroom

● New Products

● Inside Look

● Performances

● Partner Pages

© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com