As Tears Go By: Mandolin TAB

This collection brings rock standards within reach for mandolin players without reducing them to oversimplified versions. Each arrangement preserves the melodic and harmonic identity of the original while respecting the mandolin's natural strengths, creating arrangements that sound intentional rather than compromised. Mandolinists often struggle to find contemporary repertoire that doesn't feel like a novelty; this book offers genuinely playable rock songs that students actually want to perform.

Rock and roll arranged for mandolin creates an unexpected energy, combining the instrument's brightness and articulation with the swagger and groove of iconic songs. These arrangements feel fresh without sacrificing the emotional core of the originals, whether you're exploring the wistful reflection of "As Tears Go By" or the carefree spirit of "Margaritaville."

Mandolin players at the early intermediate level who want accessible rock repertoire that doesn't require years of classical training to enjoy. Teachers seeking contemporary material to keep students engaged in daily practice and performance will find these songs motivate practicing in ways that purely technical exercises often do not.

• Pay attention to the rhythm notation in the tab; rock grooves rely on precise rhythmic feel, and mandolin benefits from locking into the written pulse rather than rushing ahead.
• Work through the suggested chord changes separately before focusing on melodic passages, especially in songs that modulate or use unexpected harmonic movement.
• Use the simplified voicings as a foundation, then gradually add embellishments or variations once the basic melody and progression are secure in your hands.
• Listen to the original recordings of each song to internalize the groove and phrasing, then adapt what you hear to mandolin technique.

Feature one or two selections on a chamber concert alongside traditional mandolin repertoire to demonstrate the instrument's versatility to audiences. Assign songs from this collection as sight-reading studies throughout the year, or use them as motivation for students building toward solo recital repertoire.

• Reading mandolin tablature in rock contexts
• Playing melodic lines over repeated chord progressions
• Rhythmic accuracy in groove-based music
• Translating guitar-based arrangements to mandolin technique
• Connecting written music to the sound and feeling of well-known songs