

It will also help any blisters turn into calluses more quickly.
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Many professional musicians use Witch Hazel after shows to ease the pain in their fingers. When finished practicing, try soaking your fingers in a product called “Witch Hazel.” This astringent is great for taking the sting out. You should expect to experience some finger pain and discomfort as a beginner – this is normal. Martin Lights are the perfect strings for beginners as they are durable, but not too painful for the fingers.

You’ll have less volume, but starting with light gauge strings will make playing much more comfortable. This can be difficult on the fingers for a beginner to the mandolin, so it’s important to purchase light strings when just starting out. So while the tablature for the mandolin reads like any other four string instrument, in reality you will have to press down two strings every time you want to play one note. Mandolins are slightly more difficult than other stringed instruments in one aspect: they have two strings per note instead of just one string. Lastly, if you want to play Irish music you might want to consider a larger A style mandolin, or perhaps even a mandola. If you want to play classical or European folk genres, a bowl backed (AKA “potato bug”) shaped mandolin will be a better fit. These two styles of mandolin are the most popular for bluegrass players. A style mandolins are more tear-drop shaped. F style mandolins have the swoopy curl at the top of the body near the neck. While it’s true that you can play any genre on any mandolin, some designs are more appropriate for certain genres.ĭo you want to play bluegrass music? Then you might want to purchase an F style or an A style mandolin. The style of music you choose to learn will affect several aspects of the mandolin you should purchase. Once you’ve decided which genre you’d like to focus on, a mandolin teacher can personalize your lessons accordingly and teach you relevant techniques for that style of playing. This will help you decide which one fits your musical preferences. Last but not least, country and bluegrass mandolin players (such as Bill Monroe and Jethro Burns) have made their mark with the instrument as well.Īs a beginner to the mandolin, it’s important to listen to music from each of these styles. Irish musicians have used the mandolin to great effect in traditional folk tunes. Classical composers have written great pieces for the mandolin. For example, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton have both been recorded playing the mandolin on folk and blues songs. Throughout the years, the mandolin has been featured in recordings from a wide range of musical genres.
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It also has less strings than many other instruments, like the guitar, which makes reading tablature much easier. It’s lightweight and compact so you can practice anywhere. Many people ask, “Is the mandolin easy to play?” or “Is it hard to play the mandolin?”įortunately, the mandolin is not a difficult instrument to learn.

For beginners to playing an instrument, the mandolin is a great option for starting your musical journey.
