Description

This terrific  two-part series will help aspiring mandolin players improve technical  prowess, build repertoire and develop formidable musicianship. Sam  teaches traditional fiddle tunes Ragtime Annie, Bile Them Cabbage Down,  Blackberry Blossom and Sally Goodin, showing you how to create  variations on the melodies, use drone strings for fiddle-like effects,  employ crosspicking techniques for a smoother sound and move up the neck  to play in higher positions.A long admirer of Bill Monroe, Sam details the bluegrass master’s unique  approach to his instrument, teaching Big Mon and the ear-catching  cross-tuning effects in Get Up John. He then goes into his own  challenging arrangements of Brilliancy, Whayasay and Big Rabbit, all of  which will help you develop technical proficiency and dexterity on the  mandolin.Sam is one of the instrument’s great rhythm players, and he shows the  essentials of damping, chopping and strumming for bluegrass, reggae and  other styles. You’ll also get detailed instruction in pick technique,  scales, speed building, warm-up exercises, tremolo, improvised soloing  and much more.As a bonus, Sam provides an up-close look at his mandolins, and talks  about his equipment, favorite strings, fret sizes, pick gauges,  electronics and the ways that his instruments have been set up to suit  his exacting requirements.