lc47 - Posted - 12/29/2010:  02:17:02

Hi
I have been learning the Tenor Banjo for about 8 months now (CGDA tuning) and fancied a Mandolin so bought one earlier this month and told my husband it could be his Xmas present to me:) (Well I got away with that one)!!!
I shall start having lessons in the new year, I am also not reading any more TAB in the New Year so it will be a very slow process but I hope lots of fun. My total ability on the Mandolin at the moment is a very slow version of 'Scarborough Fair'
Looking forward to making lots of new friends here as I have done on BHO.
Happy New Year
Regards
Linda

Rob - Posted - 12/29/2010:  03:26:01

Hi Linda,

Welcome to the Brit mando gang, I hope you love playing your mandolin. I'm sure that this site is going to prove a great resource for new players in general and you can search the members list to see if there are players near you to hook up with if you need help or encouragement.

Cheers
Rob

Susan H - Posted - 12/29/2010:  05:05:21

Linda, welcome to the site! I was addicted to tablature and forced myself to read notation. It has opened up a whole new world for me. I used Debora Chen's book "Standard Notation for the Tab Addicted Mandolinist" wonderful book. Very sensable. Good luck to you.

Susan
Have you hugged your mandolin today?

lc47 - Posted - 12/29/2010:  08:30:26

Hi Rob & Susan
I shall see if there are any other members of MHO near to my address. It would be especially nice if they too were beginners at the Mandolin.
The Debora Chen book sounds just what I need - Thank you Susan for the tip.
Regards
Linda

mandogryl - Posted - 12/30/2010:  01:34:13

The Debra Cohen book is highly regarded in the mandolin community.
Being able to read Standard Notation will open up a whole new world to you,
not having to depend on tabs. I have a guitar student right now who I am teaching
notation to, because she wanted to get away from tabs.
Good luck, and welcome aboard!

lc47 - Posted - 12/30/2010:  05:36:04

Thank you Stephanie
I was in a music shop today in town and forgot to take the piece of paper with the name on with me!
But I do wonder if I will be able to buy it in England or whether I shall have to buy it online from USA?
Regards
Linda

mandogryl - Posted - 12/30/2010:  05:38:38

That I do not know, Linda. But don't let that stop you.
I get The Strad magazine from England, and violin posters, and it just takes a little longer.
Good luck with that!

paire-berline - Posted - 12/30/2010:  15:17:34

Ditch the tab and start standard notation. When I began trying to read music all I knew was FACE and Every Good Boy Does Fine. Best of all is standard notation with tab written underneath.

danjo - Posted - 01/02/2011:  07:25:33

i would suggest learning the scales.i've said it before,start with "c" then"g',"d' then 'a"this will sort to get you learning the sharps that make up the different keys.i hope this makes sense,try a song in "c" then try the same song in"g"...it will hopefully start making sense...danjo

Woodman - Posted - 01/03/2011:  06:04:38

I'm also new to mandolin and have shied away from thoughts of relearning notation. Lazy avoidance, I know.

Would be better off to bite the bullet and learn it anyway. I've also just discovered that I learn faster, and retain better with the lesson videos than from tabs. And with several vids available covering the same songs, you get variations too.

paire-berline - Posted - 01/03/2011:  06:38:43

I notice from your profile that we are the same age. For years trying to play 5-string banjo and some rhythm guitar I refused to learn tab or notation-if you couldn't "play it by ear" you were not a real bluegrass musician according to me. A few years ago I started on mandolin and then a few years later fiddle.

I also began playing mostly Irish tradition music with a young man (32) who is probably the best all round musician I've ever played with. He started out playing and winning classical piano contests at about age 12. He can both read music and play by ear. It took me months to learn a version of Cattle in the Cane by ear. I played it for him one night and he played it back to me in about 10 minutes on a keyless flute.

Considering my age and the influence of this young musician, I have changed my attitude concerning reading music. I need all the tools I can get. So my advice is play by ear when you can and read the music when you need to.

mandoteacher - Posted - 01/03/2011:  07:28:29

This is awesome. Usually my students come to the tenor from mandolin! I wish you the best of luck.

lc47 - Posted - 01/03/2011:  12:10:12

I am learning the C scale right now and will progress onto G and so on over the next few weeks...
just hope it will all sink in the grey matter and stay there!!!
Regards
Linda

redriver - Posted - 01/03/2011:  14:29:30

Hi another newbie to the mandolin and I'm coming from clawhammerland and maybe this is a question for the banjohangout but as you've mentioned the Chen book I was just wondering is there an equivalent for the banjo. I'll get the Mando book but as I've just acquired the NLCR Old Time Stringband Songbook I figured its about time I learned to decipher the hieroglyphics of notatation?

Bassora - Posted - 01/03/2011:  16:32:11

I read music. Sometimes it's helpful (and sometimes it's a hindrance).

I have tried to use tablature when it is the only source readily available. It is helpful when first starting an instrument, getting those first few songs under the belt. It is also useful when playing in a key you are not familar with, but in general I avoid tablature.

Generally speaking, I try to learn as much as I can by ear, "feeling" my way through a tune or song. Not only do I learn the notes but hopefully learning the "feeling" of the piece.

I wouldn't totally abandon tablature (sometimes its is the only thing available for a tune you might want to learn; and it is useful when trying to play in a new key), but using notes is generally the best way to go if you need a written format.

Bassora
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mandoteacher - Posted - 01/03/2011:  18:09:27

I think the only reason to learn to read music is if you plan on playing with other people. If you're going to sit at home and piddle away yourself, there's no great advantage to reading.

If you're going to play with other people, then it's better to read real music and not tab. Tab is only useful for beginning IMHO

JJMandolin - Posted - 12/23/2014:  11:06:42

I can see all kinds of amazing reasons to learn to read notation, not the least of which is that you don't have to limit yourself to music that someone decided would sound good on the mandolin and tabbed it out for you - you can read any music, piano, flute, violin of course, anything written you have immediate access to.

On the other side, I can think of only one reason not to learn to read notation, and that is because its not easy, and who wants to do hard things.

OregonGal - Posted - 12/23/2014:  21:36:05

I just got the mandolin picker's fake book and OMG it is all in tablature. I've been reading music since I was 10 and with my eyesight, trying to read TAB is insane. I might just have to send it on back to Amazon. I was looking at two different music books and must have gotten them confused in my mind - because, for sure, I got the wrong one. How does anyone deal with reading TAB after knowing all your life how to read music notation?

Donnie - Posted - 12/24/2014:  12:09:55

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY Ic47, have fun with that mandolin, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

jkgarner - Posted - 12/28/2014:  03:01:17

Hmm, music notation, tablature, by-ear... I am relatively new to the Mandolin (7 months), but I play may other instruments. I have seen people use tablature as a crutch; I have seen people use notation as a crutch; I have seen them use ear-ability as a crutch. Must justify his or her approach as being authentic, and then despise those of other abilities or are jealous. Notation and tablature were both created by musicians to capture the ideas of music. The truth is, every musician is unique and brings different abilities to the table. Each musician has his or her own sensibilities, and the music should reflect these, thus each musician has his or her own style and flair to add. The fun is coming together and bringing the idea of the song to life in a unique and living performance. Whether that idea was captured in notation, tablature, or only exists as a sketch of chords in someone's head, is irrelevant.. Music is about connection with others and fun. Let's keep making music, and encouraging each other to improve our talents for playing, reading, listening and understanding music!