I’m putting some time into this. I’m developing a callous on my left thumb; is that normal? And wow, my pinky is getting a workout! I have to stop often and shake it out.
But a worthwhile lesson. Re-enforcing the 1-4-5 connection is great. Also I want to strum a G-chord at the end, so just 7th fret on the G string and 5th fret on the D string?
Discuss the Mandolin lesson: Mandolin Fretboard Geography- 1, 4, & 5 Chords
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A+ lesson @BanjoBen . Thank you!
It’s funny. I’ve only been playing the mando for about half a year. I’ve played guitar for about a million years. I’m starting to wonder how well I really understand that fretboard. Hmmm… I bet there is a lesson for that.
This is a short tangent, but it is interesting trying to play along with a seasoned player. You can play the right notes and still not be right. My descending eighth-note run was not sounding the same as when Ben played it. His sounded much better. For a while I thought I was playing a wrong note. Then I thought that maybe Ben was sneaking in a mystery note to test us. What I think I realized is that I was playing it too straight. I wasn’t giving it feeling. You gotta put a little swing into those eighth notes. After that it started sounding better. Still not as good as Ben the String Sensei, but closer.
Anyway, thanks again Sensei. It’s a good one.
It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing…
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Yep, exactly! And you’ll include that 5th fret on the A string, which is the 5.
That’s what I was hoping for!
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I love listening for the mandolin in CDB’s Uneasy Rider, but I always thought, “I could never get there.” HA! I’m there! Great lesson.
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This is exactly what I needed! I’ve been trying to figure out the mandolin neck but wasn’t making much progress. Thanks for the fantastic lesson!
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The one main thing that I am so thankful for is you always throw a little something extra in for us players that are beyond beginner but still have room to grow. Everyone and their brother teaches beginners, but us “tweeners” seem to always get left behind. Thank you for being different and setting such a good example for us. Banjo Ben is the best. Bill
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hi Ben, This was awesome lesson. Been taking lessons for awhile now from different folks…and I can’t believe no one has ever explained this in this way. It is so helpful and as Don Stirnberg says the mandolin,“the greatest instrument ever”, is laid out in fifths so it makes this kind of stuff so easy to grab once you get the concepts. So my question is, I tried this pattern starting on the C , 5th fret on the G string. Getting to the F was easy enough using this pattern and to the G as well, but then finishing with this pattern to the C I had to go to the C on the A string (3rd fret). Now I did that because I knew the note but the pattern that so beautifully follows at the end of that exercise if you start on a higher string is not the same if you start on any fret on the G string (the distance between the pinky and the first finger). I am sure there is a simple way of looking at this but I am feeling a bit dumb about it.
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Hi from Japan, Ben. Great lesson! Opened up the neck even more for me.
Thanks!!
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Great lesson! I had been working on this myself off and on but not really getting it. I especially like the economic combo - I won’t really have to move much at all if I can get really comfortable with this - handy at bluegrass speeds. The shifty combo is a great thing too…sooo much to learn. I’m trying to get things like this into the fiddle tunes I play, sometimes it works out pretty good. Thanks Ben!
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Great lesson! Great title…fretboard geography!
I hope this will help me use my capo less, as I practice this lesson more.
Also, I noticed that often when I use my pinky on a fret, my ring finger is often times on top of it, assisting, though my pinky is strong enough. As I practice this lesson I’m getting some separation between my pinky and ring finger!
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Still putting the time into this lesson…I’m appreciating your using the same lick throughout while the info sinks in. I’ve been able to improvise a little because I now understand where my fingers need to end up.
Will you be producing another video to help us get to other chords? For instance when an A or an Em is sometimes used in a G tune. Or is that kinda what we need to think about and work on?! Either way, I’m getting to be a better player and appreciate your work.
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That’s the idea.
to improvise in the key of G
To go to an A move 2 frets higher (for Am you have to change the C# note to C)
To go to an Em go lower three frets (1/2 steps) and use the notes that are in the G scale. (E, F# G A B C D ), or just stay in G position and emphasis the E note.
keep in mind that you’ll have to alter the lick a bit for minor chords because the III note of a minor is 1/2 step flat (one fret lower) from the III note of a Major.scale/chord
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You lost me here. Is this supposed to be C# to C?
When playing chords up the major scale, I think the chord progression is M - m - m - M - M - m - dim and back to M. (M = Major, m = minor, dim = diminished)
So, in the key of G, it’s:
G - Am - Bm - C - D - Em - F#dim - and back to G.
Mark, thanks for catching that…fixed.
I gave both options on the II chord (A) because you may run into either.
For instance you don’t normally lead into a V (D) chord with an Am in country, fiddle tunes, or bluegrass.
But there are many instances where a minor II is used in other places.
Just depends on the tune/song.
Playing within a scale is one thing, but the lesson actually deals more with starting to improvise and finding/moving through positions for playing the different scales required to get through a tune
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There’s actually a really good reason for that that was spelled out for me a few years ago, and it blew my mind. The 2 chord of G is Am, but the reason that the A chord sounds so good as a transition chord to D (the 5 chord) is that A is the 5th of D. So you’re playing the 5th of the 5th, which causes the listener’s ear to beg for that resolution to D.
This is why I love music theory. 
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yep.
III, VI, II, V change, or parts of it, is heard over and over in western styles. when heading to the I
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Yes, I am doing more, but the A chord can be found by moving up 2 frets when on the G. The E minor can be found 2 frets above the D (just keep it in the G scale and you’re good!).
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Ben, do we have such fret board lesson for guitar?? This is coool!!
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Not yet, but it’s on the docket!
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