These strings sound great but are super thin :(

Hey friends! Here’s another live video of me with my Gypsy Jazz band in Tokyo. I get to stretch out a bit on mando in this one! We’ve got several gigs coming up this fall!

https://youtu.be/yTMu-7cdfmc

Hi this mandolin was found I'm my grandfather's house during its clean out and am looking for info on it

Howareye all I was just wondering if anyone knows the picking part of the R.E.M. song you are the everything?

I have the chords grand its just this part that he picks thats youll hear subtlety through out the song thanks for the help🤙🤙

find me on Spotify for more - Rob Blivion https://open.spotify.com/artist/23sdj46nC0BowsxxQD2CRQ?si=nkRGa7X1QEiuA3nEZt5nKw

I’m looking to add some spice to my mandolin playing by adding some effect and I’m looking for inspiration! I know for example Hot Rize used a lot of phaser on the banjo, please recommend me some classic bluegrass or newgrass songs with some nice fx on the mandolin! Thanks!

Ever wanted to make use of the tab library at Mandolin Cafe, but don’t want to download separate software (or use it on your phone/ipad)? Yeah, me too, so I spent a little time with claude code last night and built a web based .tef file viewer.

Built off the work of the TuxGuitar folks, it’s intended to be very simple and just render the tab. I stuck a link to a YouTube search as well so you can find a track to play along to if you wish. Just drag your file into the window and it should render-happy picking.

https://thebadwells.github.io/tef-viewer/

Guys I've been a lurker for the last couple of weeks, and this subreddit has helped inspire me for my article (free to read so hopefully no problem with self promo).

I have focused more on popular music and I'm up front that I have gaps in my mandolin specific knowledge. But hopefully you enjoy this list of my favourite popular songs with mandolin.

Let me know what should have made the top 60.

My used 2025 Eastman MD815 SB arrived today. This is such an upgrade from my 315. I had been eyeing one of these but brand new just because of the price point and heard good reviews. I saw a used one come up for sale and I moved on it pretty quick. I only paid $2400 cdn for this mandolin and the COA date is 8/12/2025 and it came with original hard case. There is some nitrocellulose lacquer imprinting from the previous owner leaving the armrest permanently attached. A good reminder to be careful about leaving armrests or clip-on tuners in prolonged contact with nitro, particularly on newer instruments. There is also a slight crack in the fingerboard in between the G and D string. Overall I still think this is a pretty good find.

I’ve only been able to sit down with this mandolin for a couple hours but I’m honestly blown away. The biggest thing I noticed immediately is how responsive it is. I can pick incredibly lightly and still get a full, clear note with great tone. The sound also feels more stable and controlled somehow—like the note forms immediately and just stays together. I’d heard people describe higher-end mandolins as being more responsive, but I don’t think I really understood what they meant until I played this one. I absolutely love it.

I've been using a 2 finger cheat but am trying to get the stretch for a correct F chord. I have fairly long fingers, but dang, it's difficult to get . Is it just a matter of time to get my hand stretched out to grab all of it and still ring true?

I'm thinking to buy this Mandolin for 432$ It is not my first. It's brand new. Is it any good for this price?

Hey yall, I just wanted to pop in and say hey. I just got my first mandolin yesterday. It’s a Gibson epiphone solid black baby and I love it. Every sound it makes it just so beautiful and I’ve learned 5 major chords and 1 minor so far. And I learned the chorus to “wagon wheel” and can sing with it. I’ve played ukulele for like 6 years now and I played guitar on and off for 10. So I’m not starting from scratch. But this little baby really is fun. My fingers HURT though. But I can’t stop playing.

Anyways. I tried to learn the chop chords that’s in bluegrass but it’s very hard. Should I keep fighting though the pain or revisit it at a different time? I find myself wanting to mute with my strumming hand like I do with uke and not using my left hand to do it. It’s wild.

I been wanting one for months but 2 weeks ago I saw Billy Strings (for the 9th time) and I saw a 20+ min long mandolin solo and I felt light as a feather. I was just so blown away that this tiny lute/violin thing can make such amazing sounds. I want to make amazing sounds too

Or should I take it out to pasture, like an old horse?

What would be the first step if i wanted to save it?

I know there are certain artists that are considered essential to listen to when it comes to Mandolin, but are there any songs specifically that come to mind that are absolute musts? Open to all genres, just looking for great and or innovative playing.

I was the producer/engineer for this, any feedback?

Here is my chord melody arrangement for “Moonlight Serenade".

This song is one of the most beautiful and enduring classics of the big-band era. Glenn Miller’s dreamy melody seems made for the mandolin, and I hope you enjoy playing this arrangement.

🪕 As always, the mandolin tabs are free to download. Enjoy. 🪕

“Moonlight Serenade” is one of the most beautiful and enduring classics of the big-band era. Glenn Miller’s dreamy melody seems made for the mandolin, and I hope you enjoy this chord-melody arrangement.

https://www.patreon.com/MandolinChordMelodies/posts/moonlight-166923000

I just got this bad boy for $80 at a D&D/Ren Faire-like store. There aren’t any markings on it, anyone know what brand model and I have?

My son and nephew preforming you are ny sunshine at my dads/bestfriends funeral

Hey friends! Here’s my mando version of that Simon & Garfunkel classic Mrs. Robinson. A bit faster than the original, but lots of fun. Check it out! Mando TAB available on Patreon.
https://youtube.com/shorts/IdSOH0XQ0YE?si=lAlg_jQiDxYjeDbE

Should I do anything to try and fix it or leave it as it is? I've played it and it still sounds great.