Alfred's Basic Mandolin Method 1 (Revised): Mandolin Book, CD & DVD

The integrated DVD with video instruction from Jared Meeker removes the guesswork from foundational technique. Beginning mandolin students see proper hand position, finger placement, and bowing mechanics demonstrated in real time rather than trying to interpret still photos, which accelerates confidence and accuracy from lesson one.

Picking up a mandolin feels intimidating until you realize the familiar song melodies arriving by page 15. The book balances technical foundation with actual music, so you're not drilling exercises in isolation but playing recognizable tunes like "Aura Lee" and "Tom Dooley" while building real skills.

This is the standard choice for mandolin students starting from scratch, whether learning in a group setting or privately. It works equally well for young beginners and adults discovering the instrument for the first time.

• Watch the DVD segments multiple times before attempting each new technique. Pause frequently to observe hand position and finger angle, then replicate what you see before moving forward.
• Use the included CD to hear how completed exercises should sound. This trains your ear and helps you self-correct phrasing and tempo before your instructor hears the mistake.
• Practice the tremolo and drone passages slowly at first. These techniques define mandolin tone quality, and rushing them early creates habits that are hard to break later.
• Apply the chord shapes and strum patterns to familiar melodies beyond what the book assigns. This builds muscle memory faster and shows you how the fundamentals apply to music you actually want to play.

This book serves as the primary text for mandolin instruction programs or private studios, supporting weekly lessons and home practice. It also works well for folk music ensembles or community mandolin groups that need consistent, paced material to move students from fundamentals through basic repertoire.

• Holding the mandolin correctly and understanding basic anatomy of the instrument
• Tuning by ear and reading pitch reference from the included CD
• Right-hand tremolo technique and sustained tone production
• Left-hand fingering, finger spacing, and chord formation
• Reading standard notation and tablature simultaneously
• Understanding basic strum patterns and rhythm notation
• Playing drones and developing left-hand independence