Absolute Beginners - Mandolin

Wish it came in a spiral bound setup but other than that a really good beginners book

This was my first book as an "absolute beginner" and I thought it was great. I like how the book progresses from easy to slightly more difficult tunes and also progress through various keys and picking styles. The accompanying CD is great as it gives you guitar back up for each tune...definitely helps develop timing. As it was my first mando book I pretty quickly progressed beyond it but I would say it really helped in that initial phase of learning the mandolin.

Very clear for the beginner. An absolute must when just setting out with a new instrument is the music book with the beginner's palate! Very helpful in taking the mystery out of the mandolin for me!

Always good!

I hope no absolute beginner tries to use this book. I'd call myself an advanced beginner, and this book seems pointlessly difficult. The photos aren't particularly helpful, and unlike in most other beginner mandolin books I've used, there's not a progression of skills. The variations on scales were interesting, and I picked up a tip about picking I hadn't encountered elsewhere, but this is not a book for an absolute beginner.

I bought this book as I hoped it would help me an absolute beginner. I am slowly getting familiar with the chords but I think a DVD rather than a CD would be more help to a beginner.To see an expert actually playing and showing you the way to hold the instrument and to get the best sound from it would make it a lot easier. There are pictures in the book but it is not the same as seeing someone showing you how too do it.

I'm not really sure this is for absolute beginners and not really impressed with the play along CD a DVD I think would be more use.

Does what it says on the cover

It gave me an Insight into the instrument and it was a good buy.

very pleased the book was as good as it was described. thank you