This beginning Mandolin method book is based on the solid system created by Brian Wicklund for the best-selling books The American Fiddle Method. Master teachers and performers of the Mandolin BrianWicklund and Ben Winship use clear illustrations and lucid explanations to guide beginning Mandolin players through necessary skills such as efficiently holding the Mandolin fretting picking technique creatinggood tone chop chord and open chord backup. Students learn the techniques while mastering over thirty common jam tunes which they can practice with using the included audio online.

An extremely handy chord reference guide specifically for the mandolin showing basic major and minor chords in all keys. Relative minor chord relationships are also shown. A unique additional feature of this premium chart is theinclusion of a mandolin fingerboard diagram. This diagram is appropriate not only for the beginner but also as quick and ready reference for the more advanced player. A must for the mandolin enthusiast!

Just for Fun: Christmas Mandolin contains over 40 classic Christmas songs. Most of the songs in the book feature three arrangements: the melody in notation and TAB, an easy rhythm option with a simple strum pattern and chords, and an intermediate-level rhythm option written in full notation and TAB. The intermediate rhythm option often combines full melody and chords, making it perfect not only for accompanying a singer and but also for solo performances for friends, family, and recitals. There's even a mandolin chord dictionary in the back of the book. Plus, this book correlates to the matching guitar, ukulele, and banjo editions, so you can have family Christmas jams and sing-alongs.TITLE COMPOSERDance of the Sugar Plum Fairy [Op. 71a, #3] Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composer)The Twelve Days of Christmas Traditional (source)We Three Kings of Orient Are Christmas Traditional (source)God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Traditional (source)Away in a Manger John R. Murray (contributor)O Christmas Tree Traditional (source)Up on the Housetop Christmas Traditional (source)It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Richard S. Willis (contributor) - Edmund H. Sears (lyricist)Jingle Bells James Pierpont (contributor)Silent Night Franz Grüber (contributor)Joy to the World George Frederic Handel (composer) - Isaac Watts (lyricist)What Child Is This? William Chatterton Dix (lyricist) - Traditional (source)I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day J. Baptiste Calkin (contributor) - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (lyricist)We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional (source)O Come, All Ye Faithful Traditional (source)I Saw Three Ships Traditional (source)A Child This Day Is Born Traditional (source)Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Ralph Blane (composer) - Hugh Martin (lyricist)Deck the Halls Traditional (source)The Holly and the Ivy Auld Lang Syne Carol of the Birds Simple Gifts The First Noel Holy Night, Peaceful Night O Little Town of Bethlehem Hark! The Herald Angels Sing In the Bleak Midwinter Carol of the Bells Good King Wenceslaus Angels We Have Heard on High Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring March of the Toys (from 'Babes in Toyland') Go Tell It on the Mountain Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Pat-A-Pan (Burgundian) O Holy Night Here We Come A-Caroling (The Wassail Song) Coventry Carol / Mandoline