All Lessons Listed By Category

This is the master list of every lesson available on the website. New lessons come out every Thursday (every Wednesday for Patreon supporters), and will appear on this list.

Beginner Series

• Beginner Series (Part One): Basic Technique
• Beginner Series (Part Two): Your First Chords
• Beginner Series (Part Three): Basic Mandolin Strum Pattern
• Beginner Series (Part Four): The G Major Scale
• Beginner Series (Part Five): Your First Song (Cindy)
• Beginner Series (Part Six): Your First Tune (Cindy)
• Beginner Series (Part Seven): Beyond the Beginner Series
• The Best Budget Mandolin?
• Learn 3 Chords, a Scale, a Song, and a Tune, in 10 Minutes!

Techniques & Fundamentals Lessons

• Playing Simple Scales
• Playing Simple Chords
• Hammer On & Pull Off Techniques
• How To Build Chords
• Pick Direction – How To Play Reels
• Pick Direction – How To Play Jigs
• Learn To Play Every Major And Minor Chord
• How To Play Faster
• How To Play Tremolo
• Right Hand Warm Up Exercises
• Left Hand Warm Up Exercises
• Learn To Play In Every Key (Every Major Scale) (Part One)
• Learn To Play In Every Key (Every Major Scale) (Part Two)
• Chop Chords
• Cross Tuning (Alternate Tuning)
• Parts of the Mandolin
• How Fast Should I Play?
• Creating Fiddle Tune Sets (Part 1)
• Creating Fiddle Tune Sets (Part 2)
• Setting Up Your Mandolin (Part 1)
• Setting Up Your Mandolin (Part 2)
• The Notes of the Mandolin
• How To Tune The Mandolin
• Switching Between Chords
• Changing Between Chords and Melody
• Playing Octaves On The Mandolin
• How To Play Triplets (Part 1)
• How To Play Triplets (Part 2)
• Sounding Good (Tone Production)
• How And When To Use A Capo
• Palm Muting
• Third Position
• Developing a Practice Routine
• Using A Metronome (Part 1)
• Using A Metronome (Part 2)
• Using A Metronome (Part 3)
• Musical Modes for Fiddle Tunes (Part 1)
• Musical Modes for Fiddle Tunes (Part 2)
• Musical Modes for Fiddle Tunes (Part 3)
• Connecting Your Fingers To Your Brain (Sing What You Play)
• Upstroke Sweep
• Hybrid Picking
• Two String Chords: Key Of D
• Two String Chords: Key Of G
• Two String Chords: Key Of A
• Left Hand Strength & Confidence Training
• Relax And Optimize Your Left Hand
• See How Far You Have Come
• Proper Pick Direction Through Accenting Beats
• Should You Plant Your Pinky?
• Keep Your Left Hand Fingers Down
• Don’t Look Down
• Melodic Fluidity And Good Tone
• Six Chords From One Shape!
• How to Follow Guitar Players (Part 1): Reading Guitar Chord Shapes
• How to Follow Guitar Players (Part 2): Capo Placement
• How to Follow Guitar Players (Part 3): Walking Bass Lines
• Consecutive Downstrokes
• Melodic Variation: Octave Substitutions
• Melodic Variation: Chord Tone Substitutions
• Split String Courses
• Jig Picking Exercises
• $50 vs $350 vs $4500 Mandolin
• Guitar Pick Comparison and Sound Test
• How To Hear Chord Changes (The House, The Yard, & The Woods)
• Scale Degrees
• Mandolin vs. Mandola vs. Octave Mandolin
• Another View Of The Right Hand
• Introduction to the Octave Mandolin
• Introduction to the Mandola
• Swing Rhythm vs. Straight Rhythm
• How to Attach a Strap to a Mandolin
• What Are These Things?
• What Fingers To Use
• How Deep to Pick Into the Strings
• Pick Grips
• How Much To Practice
• How to Find People to Play Music With: Sessions & Jams
• Harmony & Double Stops (Part 1)
• Harmony & Double Stops (Part 2)
• Turn Any Tune Into a Waltz or Jig or Reel
• Modern F Hole Vs. Vintage Oval Hole Mandolin Comparison
• Learn To Play Up The Neck
• The Power of Drones
• How To Sound Your Best
• Drones and One String Melodies
• My Favorite C Chord
• Learn To Hear Chord Changes (Part 1): Know The Melody
• Learn To Hear Chord Changes (Part 2): The Process!
• Learn To Hear Chord Changes (Part 3): The Theory Behind It All
• A Tune In My Favorite Alternate Tuning!
• Get your Right Hand Moving for a Fuller Sounding Tune
• Learn to Play Melodic Variations
• Thumb Position for Shifting Up The Neck
• Bowl Back (Tater Bug) Mandolin vs. Oval Hole vs. F Hole Mandolin
• Do You Have a Ready Position?
• Picking an Instrument to Learn: What Instrument Should I Play?
• Bubble Notes: Working with Attack and Decay
• Triplet Boot Camp
• What Key Are We In? – Understanding Key Signatures
• Introduction To The Mandolin-Banjo
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode One): Variables
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Two): Fundamentals
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Three): Target Notes
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Four): Advanced Target Notes
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Five): Arpeggios
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Six): Dominant 7ths
• A Simple Listening Exercise that Changes Everything!
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Seven): Using Dominant 7ths Melodically
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Eight): Jam Along Practice for Improv Lessons 1 to 7
• A Long Overdue Setup
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Nine): Repeat After Me
• My Favorite Irish Music Resource
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Ten): Note Density
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Eleven): Do As I Say, Not As I Do
• Building Blocks Of Improvisation (Episode Twelve): Sing and Play Improv
• Repeat After Me: Key of D
• Repeat After Me: Key of A
• Oval Hole Mandolin Comparison: Vintage vs. Modern
• F Hole Vs. Oval Hole Mandolin Comparison: Ellis Comparison
• This Mandolin Lesson is for you! (yes, you!)
• What Is That Cage? Do Tone-Gards make a difference?
• Repeat After Me: Key Of C
• Introduction To The Tenor Banjo
• Know The Speed Before You Start!
• Chop Chord Alternatives (Part 1)
• Chop Chord Alternatives (Part 2)
• Chop Chord Alternatives (Part 3)
• The Guitar Gibson Never Made: Custom Archtop Tenor Guitar
• My Most Versatile Instrument: 10 String Mandocello from Lawrence Smart
• How To Play Harmony: Part 1
• How To Play Harmony: Part 2
• How To Play Harmony: Part 3
• Smooth Tremolo Transitions
• Determining Your Musical Weakness
• A Bluegrass Lick in G Major
• The Best Budget Mandolin?
• Learn 3 Chords, a Scale, a Song, and a Tune, in 10 Minutes!
• 5 Tips from 20+ Years of Playing Music
• Road To Boston: Simple To Complex
• Road To Boston: Play Along Jam
• 5 Tips from 15+ Years of Teaching Music

Fiddle Tunes Lessons

• A Bluegrass Lick in G Major
• Angeline The Baker
• Angeline The Baker Play Along Jam
• Angeline The Baker (Simple to Complex)
• Arkansas Traveler
• Arkansas Traveler Play Along Jam
• Arkansas Traveler (Simple To Complex)
• Bag Of Spuds
• Banish Misfortune
• Behind The Haystack
• Big Sciota
• Big Sciota Play Along Jam
• Big Sciota (Simple To Complex)
• Bill Cheatham
• Bill Cheatham Play Along Jam
• Bill Cheatham (Simple To Complex)
• Billy In The Lowground
• Billy In The Lowground Double Stops and Ornaments
• Billy In The Lowground Play Along Jam
• Billy In The Lowground (Simple To Complex)
• Blackberry Blossom
• Blackberry Blossom Play Along Jam
• Blackberry Blossom (Simple To Complex)
• Boil Them Cabbage Down
• Bonnie Tammie
• Brendan Tonra’s
• Brendan Tonra’s (Play Along Jam)
• Brendan Tonra’s (Simple To Complex)
• Cherokee Shuffle
• Cherokee Shuffle Play Along Jam
• Cherokee Shuffle (Simple to Complex)
• Chinquapin Hunting (A Major)
• Chinquapin Hunting (A Major, Low Octave)
• Chinquapin Hunting (A Major): Play Along Jam
• Chinquapin Hunting (A Major): Simple To Complex
• Chinquapin Hunting (D Major)
• Chinquapin Hunting (D Major): Play Along Jam
• Chinquapin Hunting (D Major): Simple To Complex
• Cider
• Cider (Play Along Jam)
• Cider (Simple To Complex)
• Cluck Old Hen
• Cluck Old Hen (Play Along Jam)
• Cluck Old Hen (Simple To Complex)
• Coal Harbor Bend
• Cold Frosty Morning
• Coleman’s March
• Coleman’s March: Play Along Jam
• Coleman’s March: Simple To Complex
• Cooley’s Reel
• Cordal Jig
• Cosimo’s Flight
• Cosimo’s Flight Arrangement (feat. Noah Fishman)
• Cosimo’s Flight Double Stops and Ornaments
• Country Gardens
• Cripple Creek (Key Of A)
• Cripple Creek (Key of A): Play Along Jam
• Cripple Creek (Key of A): Simple to Complex
• Cripple Creek (Key Of G)
• Cripple Creek (Key of G): Play Along Jam
• Cripple Creek (Key of G): Simple to Complex
• Crooked Stovepipe
• Crooked Stovepipe (Play Along Jam)
• Crooked Stovepipe (Simple To Complex)
• Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
• Devil’s Dream
• Doonagore
• Drowsy Maggie
• Ducks On The Millpond
• Ducks On The Millpond (Low Octave)
• East Tennessee Blues
• East Tennessee Blues Play Along Jam
• East Tennessee Blues (Simple To Complex)
• Elvira’s Waltz (feat. Noah Fishman)
• Farewell Trion
• Fine Times At Our House
• Fine Times At Our House: Play Along Jam
• Fine Times At Our House: Simple To Complex
• Fire On The Mountain
• Fisher’s Hornpipe
• Flop Eared Mule
• Flop Eared Mule Play Along Jam
• Flop Eared Mule (Simple To Complex)
• Flowers Of Edinburgh
• Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss
• Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (Play Along Jam)
• Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (Simple To Complex)
• Folding Down The Sheets
• Galopede
• Golden Slippers
• Graduation Reel
• Grub Springs
• Happy Birthday To You
• Harvest Home
• Hey Buddy Hey (feat. Noah Fishman)
• Hey Buddy Hey (feat. Noah Fishman) Arrangement 2: Solos and Outro
• Hey Buddy Hey (feat. Noah Fishman) Arrangement 1: Intro & Chords
• Hollow Poplar
• Hollow Poplar: Play Along Jam
• Hollow Poplar: Simple To Complex
• Huntsman’s Chorus
• Irish Washerwoman
• Irish Washerwoman: Play Along Jam
• Irish Washerwoman: Simple To Complex
• Jamie Allen
• Jamie Allen: Play Along Jam
• Jamie Allen: Simple To Complex
• Jig Of Slurs
• Jim Shank
• Jim Shank: Play Along Jam
• Jim Shank: Simple To Complex
• Jimmy Ward’s
• John Stenson’s
• Joys Of Quebec
• Julia Delaney’s
• Julianne Johnson
• Julianne Johnson: Play Along Jam
• Julianne Johnson: Simple To Complex
• June Apple
• Katie Bar The Door
• King Of The Fairies
• Kitchen Girl
• La Bastringue
• Lazy John
• Learn 3 Chords, a Scale, a Song, and a Tune, in 10 Minutes!
• Leather Britches
• Liberty
• Liberty: Play Along Jam
• Liberty: Simple To Complex
• Liza Jane
• Liza Jane: Play Along Jam
• Liza Jane: Simple To Complex
• March à Thomas Pomerleau
• Miss Monaghan’s
• Miss Monaghan’s: Play Along Jam
• Miss Monaghan’s: Simple To Complex
• Miss Thornton’s
• Mississippi Palisades
• Morrison’s Jig
• Morrison’s Jig: Chords & Strum Pattern
• Morrison’s Jig: Play Along Jam
• Morrison’s Jig: Simple To Complex
• Mrs. Galvin’s
• Mrs. Macleod’s (Hop High Ladies)
• My Darling Asleep
• Newt Payne’s Tune
• Off To California
• Old Beech Leaves
• Old Favorite
• Old French
• Old Joe Clark
• Old Joe Clark Play Along Jam
• Old Joe Clark (Simple To Complex)
• On Common Ground
• One Tune Played Three Different Ways
• Out On The Ocean
• Out On The Ocean: Play Along Jam
• Out On The Ocean: Simple To Complex
• Over The Waterfall
• Over The Waterfall: Play Along Jam
• Over The Waterfall: Simple To Complex
• Palm Sunday
• Pays De Haut
• Petronella
• Phoebe Ice
• Pig Ankle Rag
• Polska Från Mörkö
• Polska Från Mörkö: Play Along Jam
• Polska Från Mörkö: Simple To Complex
• Red Haired Boy
• Red Haired Boy Double Stops and Ornaments
• Red Haired Boy Play Along Jam
• Red Haired Boy (Simple To Complex)
• Red Wing (The Union Maid)
• Red Wing (Union Maid): Play Along Jam
• Redwing (Union Maid): Simple To Complex
• Reel Montreal
• Reel St. Antoine
• Road To Lisdoonvarna
• Sail Away Ladies
• Sailor’s Hornpipe
• St. Anne’s Reel (Simple To Complex)
• Salt Creek
• Salt Creek: Play Along Jam
• Salt Creek: Simple To Complex
• Seneca Square Dance (Waiting For The Federals)
• Sergeant Early’s Dream
• Shove That Pig’s Foot A Little Closer To The Fire
• Shove That Pigs Foot A Little Closer To The Fire: Play Along Jam
• Shove That Pigs Foot A Little Closer To The Fire: Simple To Complex
• Si Beag Si Mhor
• Soldier’s Joy
• Soldier’s Joy Play Along Jam
• Soldier’s Joy (Simple To Complex)
• Spotted Pony: Play Along Jam
• Spotted Pony: Simple To Complex
• St. Anne’s Reel
• St. Anne’s Reel Play Along Jam
• Star Of The County Down (March)
• Star Of The County Down (Waltz)
• Steamboat Quickstep
• Swallowtail Jig
• Swallowtail Jig: Play Along Jam
• Swallowtail Jig: Simple To Complex
• Swinging On A Gate
• Tam Lin (The Glasgow)
• Tater Roll (Fiddle Tune by Ear)
• Tater Roll: Play Along Jam
• Tater Roll: Simple To Complex
• Tennessee Mountain Fox Chase
• The Birdhouse
• The Black Rogue
• The Blackbird (Hornpipe)
• The Blarney Pilgrim
• The Boys Of Bluehill / Twin Sisters
• The Britches Full Of Stitches
• The Butterfly
• The Cliffs Of Moher
• The Connaughtman’s Rambles
• The Cordal Jig Double Stops and Ornaments
• The Drowning At Bruckless
• The Earl’s Chair
• The Eighth Of January
• The Fair Haired Canavans
• The Foxhunter’s Slip Jig
• The Girl I Left Behind Me
• The Girl I Left Behind Me: Play Along Jam
• The Girl I Left Behind Me: Simple To Complex
• The Green Fields Of Woodford
• The Hare In The Corn
• The Kesh Jig
• The Kid On The Mountain
• The Lilting Banshee
• The Maid Behind The Bar
• The Mason’s Apron
• The Modal Yodel
• The Moon And Seven Stars
• The Morning Star
• The Newmarket Polka
• The Rakes Of Mallow
• The Rights Of Man
• The Road To Boston
• The Silver Spear
• The Skye Boat Song
• The South Wind
• The Spotted Pony
• The Star Above The Garter
• The Virginia
• The Wind That Shakes The Barley
• The Wren
• Throw It Across The Road
• Tombigbee Waltz
• Turkey In The Straw
• Turkey In The Straw Play Along Jam
• Turkey In The Straw (Simple To Complex)
• Waltz For Two Friends
• Waterbound
• Waterbound: Play Along Jam
• Waterbound: Simple To Complex
• Wayfaring Stranger
• Wayfaring Stranger: Play Along Jam
• Wayfaring Stranger: Simple To Complex
• Ways Of The World
• Whiskey Before Breakfast
• Whiskey Before Breakfast Play Along Jam
• Whiskey Before Breakfast (Simple To Complex)
• Woodchopper’s Breakdown

Bluegrass Lessons

• Big Sciota
• Big Sciota Play Along Jam
• Big Sciota (Simple To Complex)
• Bill Cheatham
• Bill Cheatham Play Along Jam
• Bill Cheatham (Simple To Complex)
• Billy In The Lowground
• Billy In The Lowground Double Stops and Ornaments
• Billy In The Lowground Play Along Jam
• Blackberry Blossom
• Blackberry Blossom Play Along Jam
• Blackberry Blossom (Simple To Complex)
• Cherokee Shuffle
• Cherokee Shuffle Play Along Jam
• Devil’s Dream
• June Apple
• Red Haired Boy
• Red Haired Boy Double Stops and Ornaments
• Red Haired Boy Play Along Jam
• Red Haired Boy (Simple To Complex)
• Salt Creek
• Whiskey Before Breakfast
• Whiskey Before Breakfast Play Along Jam
• Whiskey Before Breakfast (Simple To Complex)

Jazz & Blues Lessons

• Blues Progression (Part One)
• Blues Progression (Part Two)
• Jazz Lesson 1: Major 7, Dominant 7, and Minor 7 Chords
• Jazz Lesson 2: Extended Chords (9, 11, 13, etc.)
• Jazz Lesson 3: 3 Note Chords
• Jazz Chord Progression – ii, V, I (Part One)
• Jazz Chord Progression – ii, V, I (Part Two)
• Blues in D (Part 1): Chords, Melody, & Arpeggios
• Blues in D (Part 2): Play Along Jam

Music Theory Lessons

• How To Build Chords
• Learn To Play In Every Key (Every Major Scale) (Part One)
• Learn To Play In Every Key (Every Major Scale) (Part Two)
• I, IV, V Chords (Nashville Number System)
• ii, iii, vi Chords
• Jazz Lesson 1: Major 7, Dominant 7, and Minor 7 Chords
• Jazz Lesson 2: Extended Chords (9, 11, 13, etc.)
• Jazz Lesson 3: 3 Note Chords
• Scale Degrees
• My Favorite C Chord
• What Key Are We In? – Understanding Key Signatures
• A Simple Listening Exercise that Changes Everything!
• How To Play Harmony: Part 2
• How To Play Harmony: Part 3