A new book on improvisation is now available for bluegrass mandolin players. Based on the concept of learning by playing, this 200 page book covers a wide range of improvisation tools and how to implement them in your playing. A large number of examples are presented in both tablature and standard notation, so that a theoretical background is not required. the small amount of theory needed is simply presented and easily learned step by step.A series of exercises designed to help the player develop improvisational skills are included in the book. As an instruction tool, the book can easily be combined with the instructor's individual philosophy or by a student wishing to study alone. the subject matter is varied in difficulty and can be used by both the beginner and more advanced player as an instructional guide and reference book. the major-themes in the book are: the pentatonic sound, scale and major-chord based improvising with any Bluegrass-Tune, Double-stop improvisation, Minor chords and Keys, the blues sound, Melody oriented improvisation, How to use: Monroe Style, Cross picking, Hot licks, how to simplify a lick, and more. MP3 CD accompanies book featuring all examples.Click to hear the author discuss the book.

(Mandolin). This collection of 130 mandolin solos is an invaluable resource for fans of bluegrass music. Each song excerpt has been meticulously transcribed note-for-note in tab from its original recording so you can study and learn these masterful solos by some of the instrument's finest pickers. From the legendary Bill Monroe to more contemporary heroes like Sam Bush and Chris thile, and even including some non-bluegrass greats like Dave Apollon and Jethro Burns, this book contains a wide variety of music and playing styles to enjoy.

Modes on the Mandolin: Improve Your Improvisation is a collection of exercises for the mandolin student to work through to better understand the fretboard and expand their musicality. The collection includes scales, modes, arpeggios, patterns, intervalic and rhythmic exercises, and progressions. It will serve as a valuable resource and a supplement to, but not a substitute for, a good teacher.You do not need to follow the chapters in order, as all of them will help you play and improvise over progressions. The exercises are tools to help you build muscle memory and musical ideas anywhere on the fretboard. Connect the physical with the theoretical. There are examples of common tune chord progressions with ideas applied to them. By creating your own musical ideas over the same progressions, you will find that the practical information given (exercises) turns into functional use (playing and improvising). Once you gain a better understanding of the fretboard, you will notice more fluidity and creativity in your playing

In music, the term bluegrass describes the hot string-band style pioneered by Kentuckian Bill Monroe, which blends old-time country music with blues rhythms and jazz-influenced improvisation. This book contains 101 authentic bluegrass mandolin licks in the favorite bluegrass keys of C, G, D, and A minor written in notation and tablature. the licks are broken down into phrases of two, four, and eight bars. In addition, several endings and crosspicking licks are included. Each lick is played to a chord progression that is standard in bluegrass, country, and folk music. All 101 examples are recorded on the companion CD with guitar accompaniment at a moderate tempo. Whether you are a fan of old-time country music, traditional bluegrass, or newgrass, you are sure to find lots of great ideas in this new collection of bluegrass licks. So, grab your instrument, put on the CD, pull up a chair, and let's start pickin'.

In this book, Ray Valla shares the insights of a veteran bluegrass mandolinist. This method would best be appreciated by a student with some previous musical experience, as fundamentals of note-reading on the mandolin are not addressed. This is, however, the ideal book for the intermediate to advanced player. It is filled with practical hints to improve your general musicianship and increase the speed of your progress. for example, Ray suggests learning a new tune by mastering its individual licks before attempting to assemble the whole. the book's 27 well-known bluegrass tunes are shown in standard notation and tablature with arrows indicating picking direction. Illustrated with photographs, charts and diagrams.

No longer confined to basic folk genres, any mandolinist aspiring to a broader comprehension of music, including swing, blues, pop, choro, broadway, and even classical can expand his/her playing and through a working knowledge of jazz fundamentals. This breakthrough approach in mandolin pedagogy takes four uncomplicated fretboard patterns (FFcP) and drills a physical familiarity into the player's fingers, softening the fear of upper frets and prepares for the harmonic alterations necessary for effective and intuitive playing of more complex contemporary music.A brief introduction into modes, the player is eased into jamming with audio accompaniment (CD), and eventually an initiation into the most fundamental jazz chord progression of all, the 'ii V7 I' pattern. from the horizontal (melody) to the vertical (chords) and back, the results are a both instinctive and physical grasp of tonal centers and the improvisational fodder of effective performing. an emphasis on pinky strength, finger control and sustain, the book's exercises also develop the player's concepts of tone and melody. Further supportive resources including MP3 audio tracks are also available on the internet. http://www.jazzmando.com/webtracks.shtml