Welcome @bjfea!
I am a relatively new Mandolinist and am pleased to welcome you here on the forum. 
KEEP THE FAITH. Watch the lesson videos to see Ben’s techniques and listen to his comments first and foremost. Practice daily (even a few minutes) and know that this forum has many nice members eager to assist and encourage you.
Please come back and post often.
Thank you.
Thank you
Appreciate it
It took a while,and that was coming from many years of playing guitar. I like the short training sessions approach you are doing. It takes time to get your muscles and brain trained. At least it did for me.
I hear you and thanks
My most important rule when playing is to just enjoy making music. I came to playing at 48, and definitely hit more than my off notes. I just love learning how to make my mandolin and fiddle make joyful sounds. Be patient with your progress, it will definitely happen. Have fun!
@bjfea,
The closed G chord took me months to learn at first. Don’t give up, you’ll get it for sure! 
I started by just doing the bottom 2 strings of the chord, so 7th fret (D note) on the G string and 5th fret (G note) on the D string. Hope that helps!
Don’t worry, it’ll come! Yep, try some open chords for a while.
Thanks I am 70 and this is my first fretted instrument. I am having fun learning
Thank you
Thank you I will keep working on it
Just curious @bjfe, how’s the closed G chord coming along?
I have been playing the mandolin for a dozen years or so and still usually do not use the full G chop chord 7523. So I guess it depends on how much you want to use it. In my opinion the chop is so muted that even if you are not reaching the 7 consistently or cleanly it probably will not be noticed by anyone. Even if my pinky is on the 7th fret it is usually partially on the 6th fret of the D string but the chop is really just a percussive thud so (for me) close is good enough.
One way to work into it is play the same same shape but at D where the fret spacing is less and then work your way down.
Mr. Gamble thanks for asking about my progress on the closed G. I am now able to stretch fingers into position but not getting clean sound yet. However, today I was able to do 3 fingers cleanly one time, just once lol! Starting today going to two 15 minute sessions. One for chords the other for individual finger dexterity. Stay safe and well.
Mr. Stewart thanks for the input.
Hi WillCoop
I have just been working real hard on “unlocking the neck” for the past several months. Usually practicing for an hour or more per day. Really that is most all I have been working on this past year.
I have to say that I can now play in any key anywhere on the neck and can move all around with my eyes closed so now I am trying to come up with the next step trying to add speed and better pick technique and better use of blue notes.
Excellent!! I am sure you will reach your goal.
Hard to say. I am not convinced that I can ever become very good at playing. But after playing the mandolin for a dozen or so years and not really progressing that much I decided it was going to take more serious effort to even get close to being a decent player.
Certainly learning to play all around the neck is a good step forward. I never had much success by memorizing fiddle tunes.