Jamming is one of the most fun things to do on the mandolin. The blues is one of the most fun and easiest genres to jam to. I’ll show you how to play the blues even with the most basic technique and knowledge of the instrument.
Five Note Blues
Practice and perfect the first five notes of the “a” minor dorian scale. Be sure to keep the 2nd and 3rd fingers (B and C natural) together. Intonation should be as perfect as possible. Play the scale up and down in different tempos and rhythms. Experiment with off beats, swinging and dynamics. Incorporate your own feeling into it. One great blues effect is the “broken record” effect, where you get stuck on a riff and just keep doing it over and over persistently.
One Octave A Minor Dorian
Practice the A minor dorian along with an acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
Work on Finger Patterns
Here is an easy A minor dorian pattern you can play with any acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
A Secret Weapon
Here is my favorite A minor dorian pattern that you can play with an acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
(Reprinted from Fiddlerman's website and edited for mandolin)
Five Note Blues
Practice and perfect the first five notes of the “a” minor dorian scale. Be sure to keep the 2nd and 3rd fingers (B and C natural) together. Intonation should be as perfect as possible. Play the scale up and down in different tempos and rhythms. Experiment with off beats, swinging and dynamics. Incorporate your own feeling into it. One great blues effect is the “broken record” effect, where you get stuck on a riff and just keep doing it over and over persistently.
Practice the A minor dorian along with an acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
Here is an easy A minor dorian pattern you can play with any acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
Here is my favorite A minor dorian pattern that you can play with an acoustical guitar blues shuffle.
(Reprinted from Fiddlerman's website and edited for mandolin)