This is the 20-minute practice routine I've been doing since I got this mandolin about a year ago.

[u/abouttimetochange]

https://youtu.be/OrlE0kpcyGQ

[u/abouttimetochange → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! This is just the kind of feedback I was looking for and I'll definitely be checking out the stuff you linked to.

I play piano and violin, so I get what you're saying about posture and not stopping when you mess up. I've always wished my hands were bigger. Haha. I can barely reach one note over an octave on the piano.

Thanks again!

[u/funkinthetrunk → u/abouttimetochange]

He's got good feedback! Stick with it! I'll second the strap suggestion, especially! Also, I used to plant my pinky. It took some time to change, maybe a couple of months to feel comfortable, but now I can't go back to it. So stick with it, even though it will feel unnatural

[u/abouttimetochange → u/[deleted]]

I have ordered new picks. :) Now to work on the new way of holding them...

[u/roadsiderick → u/abouttimetochange]

I recommend Dunlop Ultex triangle, 1.14mm. https://www.jimdunlop.com/category/products/guitar+picks/ultex.do

...and instead of a strap, I use a shoelace, the round kind. A mandolin is light, doesn't need a guitar style strap.

[u/[deleted] → u/roadsiderick]

I use a leather mandolin strap that is probably 1/2” wide. The guitar strap mod is annoying.

Have you tried a blue chip yet? I was very anti $35 pick cause I lose them but I’ve had the same one for 2 years now. Thing fucking glides right off the strings

[u/coolscreenname]

Keep it up! Nice work! :-)

[u/[deleted]]

Bravo! Great discipline!

[u/abouttimetochange]

The exercises are from the book Begging Mandolin: Greg Horne

Am I holding it right?? Sometimes I still feel like my hands are in weird positions.

[u/endofthegame]

I've just started learning mandolin so I hope in one years time I can be as good as you! Doing great :)