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Don Julin, author of "Mandolin For Dummies" and owner/operator of "Mandolins Heal The World" has put together a incredible diverse roster of mandolin instructors. While some are performers you will se at many of the top festivals and camps around the world, some stay closer to home and enjoy teaching more than touring. They all are great, passionate mandolin instructors sharing years of experience through the videos included on this educational website. Below the photo and short bio of each instructor, are links to all lessons currently available. Explore and have fun learning new tunes and concepts on the "Prince" of all stringed instruments: The Mandolin.

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Click the lesson titles to access full lessons.

(0.2) Swing 42: Preview

(0.3) Mr Natural: Preview

(0.3) Wheel Hoss: Preview

(0.4) Big Mon: Preview

(0.4) E.M.D.: Preview

(0.5) Kickin' Mule: Preview

(0.5) Tipsy Gypsy: Preview

(1.0) Down Yonder: Preview

(1.0) Groovin' High: Preview

(1.0) The Girl I Left Behind: Preview

(1.1) Golden Slippers: Preview

(1.1) Red Haired Boy: Preview

(1.1) Straight No Chaser: Preview

(1.2) Liberty: Preview

(1.2) Scrapple From The Apple: Preview

(1.2) Stone's Rag: Preview

(1.3) Blue Monk: Preview

(1.3) Bluegrass Stomp: Preview

(1.3) It's All In The Wrist: Two basic wrist actions: one for picking and one for strumming.

Don Julin

(1.3) Transposing A Riff: This video demonstrates how to take a simple lick in G and move it to the key of C and the key of D.

Don Julin

(1.3) Whiskey Before Breakfast: Preview

(1.4) East Tennessee Blues: Preview

(1.4) Lonesome Moonlight Waltz: Preview

(1.4) Over The Waterfall: Preview

(1.5) Doxy: Preview

(1.5) Evening Prayer Blues: Preview

(1.5) St Anne's Reel: Preview

(1.6) Billy In The Lowground: Preview

(1.6) Workin' That Riff: Preview

(1.7) Cuckoo's Nest: Preview

(1.7) Slow Cookin': Preview

(1.7) Uncle Bill: Preview

(1.8) Salt Creek: Preview

(1.9) Squirrel Hunters: Preview

(10.1) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 1): This six part lesson will take you through the process building a traditional bluegrass style break for the bluegrass standard Long Journey Home .

Don Julin

(10.2) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 2)

(10.3) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 3)

(10.4) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 4)

(10.5) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 5)

(10.6) Building A Traditional Bluegrass Style Break (step 6)

(2.0) Monroe Blues: Chris Henry

This lesson is not a song but a lesson in style. Chris Henry breaks down some of the essential elements in Monroe's blues style mandolin playing. He then constructs mandolin breaks for the three songs: Rocky Road Blues, Columbus Stockade Blues, and True Life Blues. If you are looking to add some grease to your bluegrass playing, I highly recommend spending some time with this video.

(2.1) Shenandoah Breakdown: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1) The String Changing Tune: Preview

(2.1a) Texas Blue Bonnet: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1b) Fair Play: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1c) Helton Creek: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1d) Your Love Is Like a Flower: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1e) Down The Road: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.1f) Gold Rush: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.2) Big Sandy River: Preview

(2.2) I'll Fly Away: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.3) Afternoon In Paris: Preview

(2.3) Crossroads: Preview

Chris Henry

(2.4) Sailin' Shoes: Preview

Chris Henry

(3.0a) Getting To Know The Notes Pt. 1: Open Strings & The Musical Alphabet: Notes and people are alike in that they both appreciate it when we remember their names.

(3.0b) Getting To Know The Notes Pt. 2: The Notes D, G, C, and F: Learn were the notes D, G, C, and F are on all four strings.

(3.0c) Getting To Know The Notes Pt. 3: Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db.: Learn were the notes Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db are on all four strings.

(3.0d) Getting To Know The Notes Pt.4: F#, B, E, and A: Learn were the notes F#, B, E, and A are on all four strings.

(3.0e) Getting To Know The Notes Pt. 5: Six Notes in Ascending & Descending Patterns: This lesson uses the six notes A, G, F, Eb, Db, and B in ascending and descending patterns.

(3.0e) McReynolds Style Cross-Picking: I-IV-V Patterns G Major: Jordan Ramsey

(3.0f) Bury Me Beneath The Willow: Jordan Ramsey

(3.0f) Getting To Know The Notes Pt. 6: The Other Six Notes in Ascending & Descending Patterns: This lesson uses the six notes Bb, Ab, F#, E, D, and C in ascending and descending patterns.

(3.0g) Counting 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4: Learning to count and identify the beat is a crucial skill that all good musicians understand. At first, this can one of the most difficult parts to learn but will become easier over time.

(3.0g) Dividing by 2, 3, and 4: Dividing the beat by two, three, and four. AKA 1/8 notes, triplets, and 16th notes.

(3.0i) Counting 8th notes, triplets, and 16th notes: Once you can hear the strong beats, it is time to start subdividing beats bt two, three, and four smaller beats.

(3.0j) Playing The Rests Pt.1: This exercise uses whole notes, half notes and quarter notes and their equivelent rests. The concept is to be able to continue counting whether you are playing a note or waiting for the next note by playing a rest. Be sure to mute the note at the beginning of the rest so that the end of the note is just a precise as the beginning of the note. Remember that rests are silent.

(3.0k) Playing The Rests Pt. 2: This exercise introduces you to ties and dots. Ties linking two notes together and a dot placed directly after the note are two ways of increasing the length of the note. The tie combines two notes by adding their length together, so two quarter notes tied together is the same as one half note. A dot increases the length of the note by 50% so a half note followed by a dot would be worth three beats.

(3.0l) Playing The Rests Pt.3: This lesson includes eighth notes. In general eighth notes are where mandolin players start using alternate picking requiring an understanding of which notes are played with a down-stroke and which one are to be played with an up-stroke.

(3.0m) Practice Tips: Alan Epstein

(3.1a) Basic Alternate Picking: An essential mandolin picking technique.

(3.1aa) Basic Left Hand Fingering: Which finger goes on which fret?

(3.1b) Four Easy Picking Exercises: Developing a good organized right hand is essential in becoming a mandolin player.

(3.1c) Intro to Tremolo: The king of all mandolin techniques: The Tremolo! It all starts with being able to keep a steady down-up motion with your pick while staying in time with the music.

(3.1d) Free/Expressive Tremolo: Free or expressive style tremolo varies in speed and intensity to fit the mood of the music.

(3.1e) Syncopated Picking Exercises: Syncopated melodies and rhythms are more challenging than straight melodies and rhythms. Mandolin players need to pay close attention to pick direction in order to handle syncopated rhythms.

(3.1f) Right Hand Exercises: These right hand coordination exercises are favorites of many of todays mandolin superstars. These will surely improve your overall timing and alternate picking skills.

(3.1g) The Mighty Downstroke: Alternate picking works fine for fiddle tunes but your blues, jazz, and ballads just won't sound as good as they can until you have spent some time playing only downstrokes.

(3.1i) Staggered 16ths: Chris Henry

Chris demonstrates a common Monroe-ism in this lesson on what he calls Staggered 16th Notes.

(3.1j) McReynold Style Cross-picking Basics: Jordan Ramsey

(3.1k) McReynolds Style Cross-Picking: I-IV-V Patterns A Major: Jordan Ramsey

(3.1l) McReynolds Style Cross-Picking: I-IV-V Patterns D Major: Jordan Ramsey

(3.1m) McReynolds Style Cross-Picking: I-IV-V Patterns C Major: Jordan Ramsey

(3.2a) Left Hand Muting: A dampening technique used to stop a note.

(3.2b) Two Types of Slides: Slides are a common left hand ornament. This lessons cover two basic types of slides.

(3.2c) Hammer-ons: A left hand slurring technique.

(3.2d) Adding Drone Strings: Adding an open string to your melody can really add a dimension to your sound.

(3.2f) Two Pinky Exercises: Two exercises that will strengthen your fourth finger.

(3.3a) Basic Old Time Strumming: This strumming technique can come in handy when playing old time music or traditional country songs.

(3.3b) Pop Strumming Patterns in G: These strumming patterns work in a variety of musical styles.

(3.3c) Old Time Style Strumming Variations: A couple variations to spice up you rhythm playing.

(3.3d) Non-Strumming Rhythm: This rhythm style is great for ballads, love songs, and a variety of places where strumming seems too much.

(3.3e) 3/4 Time "Waltz" Strumming

(3.3f) The Chop Chord: This technique will turn your mandolin into a percussion instrument, the driving force of a bluegrass band.

Don Julin

(3.3g) Swing -Jazz Rhythm: Don Julin

(3.3h) Bossa Nova (heartbeat)

(3.3i) Bossa Nova (syncopated)

(3.3j) Choro Rhythm pattern (one bar)

(3.3k) Samba Rhythm Pattern (two bars)

(3.3l) Choro Rhythm Pattern (two bar)

(3.3m) Clave with Backbeat Rhythm Pattern: This strumming pattern is useful in many styles of popular music.

MANDOLINS HEAL THE WORLD

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In This Category

Click the lesson titles to access full lessons.