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Mandolin Basics

Learn How to Play the Mandolin

MANDOLIN BASICS - FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

There are three prominent types of mandolin: the neapolitan bowl-back, the arch-top and the flat-back. It is the flat-back mandolin that is mostly used in the Irish folk tradition. Mandolin Basics is aimed at the absolute beginner mandolin player

By the end of the course, you will have a repertoire of eleven popular Irish tunes, the ability to play basic chords and triplets and a deeper understanding of the Irish music tradition. The course has 18 lessons, broken into 3 to 4 tutorials each, where tunes are taught phrase by phrase.

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  • 18 lessons teaching how to play 13 very popular Irish tunes
  • PDF sheet music & mp3’s to download & keep for each tune
  • Progress at your own pace, pause & repeat videos
  • Access to 14 instruments, 60+ courses, 1000+ tutorials
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BONUS!

  • Access our Entire Course Catalogue for Every Instrument
  • Library of over 150 popular Irish tunes to practice along with
  • Virtual Reality Sessions for the unique Irish Pub Session experience – a real treat for the Irish music lover
  • Community Forum of students and teachers, all friends with a love of Irish music

Your Tutor

Paddy Cummins
Paddy Cummins was born and reared in Drimnagh, Dublin and began experimenting with music at nine years of age. His first instrument of choice was the mandolin, as played by his father, then the guitar before eventually being saddled with a banjo aged fourteen. Paddy attended some brief tuition at Comhaltas branches in Monkstown but is largely self-taught and spent his teenage years completely dedicated to his music practice. After finishing in secondary school, Paddy enrolled at University of Limerick's B.A in Irish Music and Dance and was mentored by John Carty. He also received masterclass tuition from established players such…
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Course Structure

This course is aimed at the absolute beginner mandolin player and begins with the basics like how to hold the instrument, proper hand/finger posture and good basic technique. There is a progressive study of scales, plectrum motions, and ornamentation throughout the lessons. The course teaches a solid foundation from which to build your expertise as a mandolin player in the Irish music genre.

The popular Irish session tunes taught in this course are:

  • Molly Malone
  • The Kerry Polka
  • The Foggy Dew
  • Britches Full Of Stitches
  • The Ballydesmond Polka
  • The Lilting Banshee
  • The Connacht Man’s Rambles
  • The Kerry Jig
  • Sporting Paddy
  • O’Carolans Draught
  • 48 Dogs In The Meathouse
Sample Sheet Music
Download Download Molly Malone ABC Sheet Music. Download Download Molly Malone Tabs. Download Download Molly Malone Standard Notation Sheet Music.

Recommended Mandolin for Beginners by Paddy Cummins

If you already play Bluegrass music, I’m guessing you own an F-style, arch-top mandolin. If it is of good quality then you can start learning Irish music on this straight away. If you haven’t purchased a mandolin yet and want to focus mostly on Irish music, I would suggest purchasing an A-style, oval hole mandolin. Eastman and Kentucky are two companies that make high quality, affordable instruments and are well worth the extra few quid over the untunable McBride’s range! If you want to splash out on a higher grade instrument there are plenty of vintage Gibsons on the market (A1, A2, A3 and A4 models are superb) or, otherwise, there are countless makers across the world. In Ireland, Joe Foley has built a strong reputation over the decades for making great mandolins and in the US there are countless companies, albeit usually specialising in Bluegrass instruments e.g. Weber, Northfield & Collings.

Advice Starting Out with the Mandolin

Enjoy the journey. It is highly recommended to be familiar with any tune you are learning before learning how to play it, so download the mp3 file and listen to it frequently first before picking up your instrument to play it. Lessons are structured in progressive sequence, each building on the last. You are advised to follow the sequence and not skip a lesson for better progress.

Molly Malone
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FAQ's

Is the mandolin tuned the same as the Irish tenor banjo and fiddle?

Yes, the tuning system is GDAE (low to high) with each string doubled-up. It is in the same octave as the fiddle and one higher than the banjo.

Can I play Irish music on a neopolitan or F-hole instrument?

Whilst, in my opinion, the flat-back, oval hole variety have the nicest sound for Irish music, you can play on any kind of mandolin. With the neopolitan versions, they can be quite suited to slower pieces of music and the repertoire of composers like O’Carolan such is the classical influence on the compositions. They are a smaller instrument so can be quite claustrophic and may not be entirely suited to the highly decorated, faster paced dance tunes. Arch-top, F-hole instruments have a strong tone but it isn’t as “Celtic” a sound as the oval hole, flat tops. If you really want to have that Celtic sound, the oval-hole, flat top is the best but by no means necessary.

What kind of pick should I use for Irish mandolin?

It needs to be pretty thick. If you come from a tenor banjo background you may be used to playing in the 0.5mm – 0.73mm range. If you play an arch-top, you need to start working in the 0.9mm – 1.5mm range for mandolin and this is because the tone is so important. This is comparable to bluegrass picks. You could probably work in the 0.73mm – 0.88mm range for oval hole instruments. Neopolitan are a different kettle of fish and some would recommend tortoise shell variety for these instruments.

Is the technique on mandolin the same as tenor banjo?

There is a lot of crossover in technique but the greater sustain on the mandolin affords other kinds of technique not possible on the banjo. The opposite is also true. Tremolo, for example, is much more suited to mandolin.

Can I use the mandolin to provide chordal accompaniment at an Irish session?

No. The mandolin is not used in this context in Irish traditional music. The accompaniment section is exclusive for guitarists, pianists, bouzouki players and rhythm (bodhran). Using old-time style chords or bluegrass chops will not be appreciated in an Irish session. Mandolin must play the melody.

More detailed questions and discussion on the course can be found in the Community Forum*
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Mandolin Basics Lessons

1
Basic
Introduction

Introduction to the Instrument / How to tune the strings

Melody
Focus on Technique
2
Basic
Hand and Finger Positioning Frere Jaques

Hand and Finger Positioning / Frere Jaques

Melody
3
Basic
The Scale of G Major

The Scale of G Major

Melody
G Major
4
Basic
Molly Malone

Exercises on the Scale of G Major

Melody
G Major
Waltz
5
Basic
The Scale of D Major

The Scale of D Major

Melody
D Major
6
Basic
The Kerry Polka

Exercises on the Scale of D Major

Melody
D Major
Polka
7
Basic
The Foggy Dew

The Scale Of E Minor

Melody
E Minor
March
8
Basic
Britches Full of Stitches

The Scale of A Major

Melody
A Major
Polka
9
Basic
The Ballydesmond Polka

The Scale of A Minor

Melody
A Minor
Polka
10
Basic
Plectrum Motion

Plectrum Motion

Melody
Jig
11
Basic
The Lilting Banshee

Plectrum Motion For Jigs

Melody
A Minor
Jig
12
Basic
The Connacht Mans Rambles

Plectrum Motion For Jigs / Use of the High B Note

Melody
D Major
Jig
13
Basic
The Kerry Jig

Exercise in the key of D Major / Use of the Bass String

Melody
D Major
Jig
14
Basic
How To Play Chords On The Mandolin

How to Play Chords on the Mandolin / Strumming Patterns

Accompaniment
G Major
Focus on Technique
15
Basic
Sporting Paddy (1)

Use of the High B

Melody
A Minor
Reel
16
Basic
Sporting Paddy (2)

Transposition of the tune down to the lower strings. Ornamentation: triplets and rolls

Melody
A Minor
Reel
17
Basic
O’Carolan’s Draught

Playing Slow Tunes on the Mandolin

Melody
G Major
Planxty
18
Basic
48 Dogs in the Meathouse

The Scale of C Major / Syncopation

Melody
C Major
Reel
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