Mandolin
Exploring the Roots of Bluegrass: A Deep Dive into Historical Mandolin Styles
In the heart of bluegrass music lies the enchanting twang of the mandolin, a stringed instrument that has become synonymous with the genre's soulful and energetic sound. As we journey through the roots of bluegrass, it's crucial to unravel the historical mandolin styles that have shaped the distinctive character of this beloved musical tradition. Join us on a melodic expedition as we delve into the rich tapestry of mandolin history, tracing the intricate threads that have woven the fabric of bluegrass music.
Classical Mandolin Lesson: An Introduction to Tremolo
Instruments are designed, for the most part, to emulate the sonic capabilities of the human voice. What’s beautiful about the human voice, particularly in the context of music, is its ability to convey a vast array of complex emotions by using subtle inflections and intricate nuances within a musical passage. These nuances can be as simple as slightly wavering the volume of a single note or chord—a technique referred to as tremolo—which can completely alter the emotional character of a performance.
The Ultimate Guide to Building Speed on the Mandolin for Bluegrass Players
When it comes to playing bluegrass mandolin, speed is not just a skill—it's an art. Achieving fluid, rapid-fire notes while maintaining clarity and tone is a goal for many aspiring mandolinists. In this ultimate guide, we'll explore various techniques and exercises to help you build speed on your mandolin, along with valuable resources from ArtistWorks and our free mandolin lessons to enhance your learning experience.
Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson: Finding Minor Chords
When first learning how to play the mandolin, or any instrument for that matter, the first two types of chords that students typically learn are major and minor harmonies. These harmonies each offer drastically different emotive characteristics and tonal qualities but are very closely related. In fact, there is a simple relationship between the two harmonies that allows players to easily determine one from the other. Understanding this fundamental relationship between major and minor chords is critical and will help you further understand a variety of music theory concepts.
Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg’s Mandolin World Retreat in Umbria, Italy 2024
We’re excited to announce that world-renowned mandolinists and ArtistWorks master mandolin instructors, Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg, will again take their “Mandolin World Retreat” to Italy this coming summer. Hosted on a working, family-run farm resort on top of a ridge in the heart of the Umbrian countryside, the retreat will feature four days and four nights of immersive mandolin music and fun-filled Italian vacationing from June 3-7, 2024.
Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg’s Mandolin World Retreat 2024
We’re excited to announce that world-renowned mandolinists and ArtistWorks master mandolin instructors, Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg, will once again be hosting their annual “Mandolin World Retreat” in Benicia, CA. This year, it will be over an extended, 3-day weekend from March 8-10, 2024.
The Virtual Mandolin Roundtable with Mike Marshall, Sierra Hull, & Caterina Lichtenberg
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11:30 am PT / 2:30 pm ET, ArtistWorks will be hosting a free virtual live-streamed event featuring all three of our world-renowned mandolin instructors: Mike Marshall, Sierra Hull, and Caterina Lichtenberg.
Mike Marshall Celebrates 9,000 Video Exchanges PLUS 3.5+ Hours of New Mandolin Lessons Added to His Course
Since beginning his professional music career at 18, Mike Marshall has become a pillar in the world of acoustic music. Not only is Mike an icon of the mandolin, but he’s also a master of the mandocello, violin, and guitar, a mentor to countless bluegrass, jazz, classical, and even Brazilian Choro artists, and an inspiration to innumerable musicians around the globe.
Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson: Tag Endings
Bluegrass, like many musical traditions, is a primarily improvisational art form. When bluegrass tunes are performed, there is a common song structure that is typically followed in order to keep all the musicians organized and on the same page. A song typically begins with the band performing the tune’s predetermined melody. From there, each member of the band typically performs an improvised solo over the tune’s chord changes. After most, if not all, of the band members have performed their solos, the tune’s melody is performed once again and the band then prepares to end the song. But, how do all of the musicians end the performance in a smooth and coordinated manner? The answer: tag endings.