Customer Reviews

Mel Bay's Complete Mandolin Method/93221

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have never picked up a mandolin and would like to learn this unique little instrument then this book is for you. The book is thorough and very clearly written. It begins with explaining how to read music and walks you through the steps to gradually develop this skill. At the same time Mel Bay provides musical examples to develop your technique. By studying from this book in it's entirety the student will aquire both the technique and musical knowledge to learn and play a variety of styles on the mandolin. Highly recommended.

A superb book for beginners who may need the essentials of music--notes, staffs, etc--before even beginning the mandolin. The book overwhelmingly uses melodies for learning, as opposed to chords. In fact, chords basically get only a brief mention at the end of the book. I'm sure this is because the mandolin does often carry the melody, but I was surprised, because Bay's "You Can Teach Yourself Mandolin" video begins with, you guessed it, chords. This book will improve your note reading abilities, as tablature is rarely used. A CD would be very helpful for hearing the pieces.

This book is good for people who do not know how musical notation. It introduces all of the scales, and key signatures, basic music theory. However there was no description of how to pick, exercises in chords, rhythm. I already play the violin, and basically you could just as well play everything in the on the violin, so this book did not add any "mandolin" knowledge.

Having learned guitar through the Mel Bay method, teaching myself the mandolin with this book was a piece of cake! Virtually all the songs have also been used at some point in the guitar books -- and, of course, it helps that all the mandolin strings are tuned like guitar strings in standard tuning (even though they're in a different order). Those learning the mandolin as a first string instrument will also appreciate the sound, well-paced musical training that is the hallmark of the Mel Bay instruction books.

I have seldom been more disappointed by a music book and I don't think I've ever been more disappointed by a Mel Bay title. Had I been able see a representative preview, I would have never purchased the book. The "Look inside" shows the instrument basics (string tunings, holding the pick, etc.) but none of the music instruction. I bought based on the Mel Bay name, but not in the future.
Other than teaching you the note fingerings, there is almost nothing in this book specific to the mandolin. Nearly everything could have been (and possible was) lifted from a guitar method book with the chord references removed. None of the examples provide a single reference for what chords should be used. If these were provided, you could at least get a chord speller to teach yourself some chords or have someway play rhythm guitar also side you for practice. Also, other than introducing all of the major (and minor) key signatures, this complete "method" is in fact very basic. Early on, it uses the phrase "playing in the first position" in passing, but other about playing in other positions.
The worst thing about this book is that there is almost nothing about chording the mandolin anywhere in the book. There is a mention of chording and a list of cord names on the last page, along with a warning that you need to be familiar with music theory. Nothing about playing chords on the mandolin, no chord references (other than the list), nothing. The book completely ignores an important side of playing the mandolin. Had I know this before, I would not have purchased the book.

As a beginer I believed there would be more practical aspects such as picking etc. However it is a valuable tool for my learning.

This thick book gives you everything you need to know on how to read notation. There is a 2nd book that is needed called "easy mandolin solos." The book suggests that you buy this one for practice.

This course is meant for the lover of classical music. It starts with explaining the classical music notation. This increases the difficulty for beginners: you have to learn the classical notation and also learn to play the mandolin. As it doesn't have the tablature notation it will take some time before you can really play a tune. Bit old-fashioned teaching style.

I was looking for configurations for all sorts of chords, and this book fulfilled my search.