mandobaron - Posted - 02/26/2014:  09:42:26

Hi Everybody.



For the past 5 or so years I have been working on a website that provides free video mandolin lessons. Updating the site got pushed to the back of my list for a couple years, but I have been putting a lot of work in to in the the past couple months, adding more content and cleaning things up. As with any website, it is a constant work in progress, but I am happy with the way it is heading. 



I'd love to get some feedback on the site, from thing you think work, to things you think don't work, typos, ideas for new or missing lessons, etc. etc. I find I can dig myself into a hole on one aspect of the sight and lose sight of other areas that need work, and would greatly appreciate some other eyes and ears looking at things.



In any case, the website is www.mandolessons.com



Thank you very much,

Baron

mandoteacher - Posted - 02/26/2014:  12:59:38

I'm concerned a bit...mainly because of your left and right hand posture. The left wrist should be straight, you "cup" the neck as a guitarist would. And the right wrist should rest gently against the strings behind the bridge on the hell of the hand with the fingers curled gently under. You pick as if you're picking a guitar.

TSSN - Posted - 02/27/2014:  04:19:45

First, thanks for sharing the link and for the time you have invested.

I don't teach mandolin, but I do teach for a living, so I'll go with what I know.  Your tone is loud enough and even (but not monotone).  You speak clearly, and what you are describing in words seems quite clear to me, esp. with the video behind it.  Video and sound quality seem to be good in the few that I have watched so far.  My only complaint would be in future videos, always try to have both hands visible when you demonstrate something unless it is a right (or left) hand critical technique.

I am not questioning mandoteacher's post, but I am not sure I agree entirely.  I have had formal, in-person lessons, but have also watched a great many commercial videos of the MelBay/HomeSpun variety.  I guess I struggled to see what was different in the few videos I have seen so far here.  Aside from being free, the content was reminiscent of much of what I had seen on video before.  Then again, that's not bad, especially for beginners.  I will be visiting again to see your progress.   Good luck.

Ben Venuti - Posted - 02/27/2014:  14:26:25

I'm not sure I completely agree with mandoteacher either but from what I observed 1) You seem to have rather long fingers and 2) You hold the instrument a little differently than some others. I tend to have the mandolin close to my body but to the left(I am right handed) which rotates my left hand left (out?) or straight maybe you would say. If I move the mandolin more to the right my hand wants to rotate right or up (in?) much like I do when playing a guitar so I would have to agree on that. Hand position is fairly important especially on those long reaches and bluegrass chop chords. Like I said you have longer skinny fingers --lucky you -- and might not have a problem making those reaches but someone with little fat sausages may. I have spent decades working on Rev. Gary Davis stuff and there are somethings that I could never get or understand why I couldn't get it --then with the internet came the videos --the guy had sub human monster hands --his reach was incredible---There is no possible way I could do what he did sometimes.
As to right hand technique -I have watched and studied all my favorite players -my top 100 is probably everyone else's top 100 -just the order may vary. Right hand technique is what it's all about. I pretty much think that everyone figures out where the notes are -left hand is pretty easy for almost anyone eventually. The difference between the good and great players is the right hand -it's where the tone and feeling -soul, and individuality, if you will, comes from and really great is kind of rare. With that said I have watched and listened to all these great players, had lessons with some famous well known players and what I found is that there is no standard rule for the right hand --some rest their hand as suggested above, Some plant,some do not. Some pick diagonally across the strings,some pick straight across the strings. Some close to the bridge and some close to the fretboard -fingers tucked, finger dangling--wrist loose, wrist tight. It's all over the map, When it's wrong it's easy to spot -it doesn't sound good -so you figure out how to make it better. Best I guess is to find someone with really great tone and copy that one, cause Sam and Dave and Chris and Jesse etc. each do it differently and each one is right!

TI_USER - Posted - 03/30/2014:  09:36:45

It's been a while since I've been on the Hangout, but I noticed this post and had to respond.  I agree with most all of Ben's comments.  I get so tired of hearing so called "experts" tell everyone what they are doing wrong.  Technique varies so much with different pros and even non pros.  What tells me someone's technique is incorrect is if their playing is lousy.  Tell Adam Steffey or Sam Bush that their technique is wrong.  Both are excellent players, however their technique couldn't be more different from each other.  If your tone, cleanliness and timing are good then your doing something right. There is no one way to play.  The correct way to play is the one that provides the results you are seeking.

m - Posted - 03/30/2014:  16:23:54

quote:

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Originally posted by TI_USER

 

It's been a while since I've been on the Hangout, but I noticed this post and had to respond.  I agree with most all of Ben's comments.  I get so tired of hearing so called "experts" tell everyone what they are doing wrong.  Technique varies so much with different pros and even non pros.  What tells me someone's technique is incorrect is if their playing is lousy.  Tell Adam Steffey or Sam Bush that their technique is wrong.  Both are excellent players, however their technique couldn't be more different from each other.  If your tone, cleanliness and timing are good then your doing something right. There is no one way to play.  The correct way to play is the one that provides the results you are seeking.

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I don't post much here either and I have to say that agree with you 100%.

steve617 - Posted - 04/06/2014:  06:18:44

From a novice side of it. I did one lesson and will be doing many more. It's the best ive found. I'm sure their are other good ones out there. The only thing I would like to see added is a few jazz songs that incorporates his jazz techniques.

Ben Venuti - Posted - 04/06/2014:  16:26:21

There is something else and it really separates the great players from the rest of us. They all have it right and are all different.. Michael Johnson(the runner) once commented on how all the experts say that his technique is incorrect. His response to that was that he has "ALL GOLD and none of that silver crap!"

The great players are like that and they each have their own technique. Part of what makes them great is just that. You can listen to a John Reischman or a Sam Bush recording and immediately know within a few notes who it is that is playing. "That's Sam !" "That's John !!" and pretty much down the line they are all the same, each individually different and different from anyone that ever came before them. Some of them at least, Andy Statman for one, I know 'cause I have heard him do it,can demonstrate how a tune would be played by another player. Mon would do it like this and McReynolds would play it like that and he can sound exactly like almost any of the big name players if he so wishes but he doesn't --he has found his own distinct voice and that is what he does..The 10,000 hour thing doesn't get you there --I don't know if it's something you have at birth and all you have to do is find it or---. Is it like "Class" in an aristocracy? You either already have it because if you don't there is no way to get it!" or is attainable to anyone if they practice hard enough to get the muses to pay them a visit?



As for the instruction video --I find it difficult sitting directly across from a player and particularly a mandolin player to see exactly what they are doing -it's like a mirror image and the neck is small and the hands are big, less difficult watching a guitarist. I have wondered how it would work if the video was shot as a POV --like down and over the shoulder so that the student is basically seeing what the teacher is seeing. That an old thought of mine but a little over a week ago I went to a 30 people venue with John Reischman playing. I sat in the front of the stage but over to the left (stage right) side.The stage was so small that they ended up removing it (couldn't accommodate Sharon Gilchrist's bass John and Scott Nygaart's guitar) and they played standing on the floor. Bill Evan's came along later and sat in for a couple of tunes --"sat in" in that he had to sit in the audience because there was no room in front to play with the band. It so happened that John was on my side and I spent the whole concert closer to John's astonishing Loar than my ears are to each other (well almost-- for sure closer than my knees are to my head while sitting) but a little to the side and a very interesting view looking down the strings as opposed to head on. I could see his hands from the palm side if I crooked my neck a little. I took the opportunity to carefully watch what he was doing. His clarity of tone is unrivaled in my opinion -a very pretty player. I did notice one thing--he picks different than anyone I ever saw. It's hard to explain. He's right handed but his angle of attack is kind of like he is a left handed player playing a right handed instrument it's odd --kind of backwards like --real Michael Johnson stuff!. He doesn't look amazing when he plays, it's just smooth and easy with no effort seemingly on his part--it just sounds amazing!

Edited by - Ben Venuti on 04/06/2014 16:31:55