8 Best-Selling Mandolin Books Millions Love

Drawing from decades of experience, Rich DelGrosso crafted this updated edition to guide absolute beginners through the essentials of mandolin playing. You'll learn foundational skills such as tuning, mandolin anatomy, and music reading, along with techniques like single-note picking, tremolo, and doublestops, supported by a diverse selection of songs spanning multiple styles. Whether you’re just starting or looking to build a solid base, this book offers clear progression without overwhelming jargon. Its practical approach helps you move quickly from basics to more nuanced bluegrass chops, making it ideal if you want a structured yet accessible introduction to the instrument.

What started as a straightforward guide for beginners quickly became a go-to resource for anyone eager to learn the mandolin. Morton Manus, drawing on his extensive experience with musical education, breaks down the fundamentals from holding the instrument to reading music, making it approachable for you even if you’ve never touched a mandolin before. You'll find clear explanations on tuning, chord accompaniments, and fingerboard navigation, including a handy chart to locate notes. This book is particularly suited if you want to start playing folk songs with confidence and gain a solid foundation without feeling overwhelmed.

This tailored book explores essential mandolin techniques and effective practice routines designed to match your individual background and goals. It covers fundamental skills such as finger positioning, strumming patterns, and timing, while also delving into advanced topics like improvisation and stylistic nuances. By focusing on your interests and current skill level, this personalized resource ensures you engage deeply with material relevant to your musical journey. Through detailed explanations and customized practice suggestions, it reveals how to build confidence and proficiency on the mandolin. The tailored content helps you prioritize your learning, making each practice session purposeful and aligned with your ambitions.

Jethro Burns, a pioneering figure in bluegrass mandolin, breaks down his intricate playing style in a way that feels like a personal lesson. Unlike typical method books that overwhelm with theory, this book offers a conversational guide that focuses on technique and musicality, making complex rhythms and improvisations accessible. You'll find detailed explanations of his signature approaches to phrasing and syncopation, especially in chapters that explore his unique chord voicings. This book suits intermediate to advanced players who want to deepen their technical skills and grasp the nuances that define bluegrass mandolin.

Bud Orr's deep dive into sacred American music traditions in Gospel Mandolin offers you a unique chance to explore a specific repertoire of old-time gospel songs arranged thoughtfully for mandolin players. You learn to interpret both notation and tablature across a diverse selection of hymns, spirituals, and shape-note songs like "Bless Be The Tie that Binds" and "Life's Railway to Heaven," which connect you to the rural southern and northeastern American musical heritage. This book benefits mandolinists eager to expand into traditional gospel styles and those fascinated by the cultural history embedded in these authentic melodies. Its concise 48-page format makes it manageable yet rich in material that challenges and enriches your playing.

Unlike most mandolin books that focus narrowly on technique, Jack Tottle's "Bluegrass Mandolin" offers a deep dive into the music and style of bluegrass legends like Bill Monroe and Jesse McReynolds. You’ll explore everything from foundational basics to intricate fingerwork, making it clear how these masters shaped the genre. The book balances instruction with authentic tunes such as "Cripple Creek" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," giving you practical experience playing hallmark songs. If you want to understand bluegrass mandolin's roots and improve your playing within that tradition, this book provides both context and skills without fluff.

This personalized book explores daily exercises designed specifically to accelerate your mandolin playing within a focused 30-day period. It covers essential techniques, finger dexterity, timing, and musical expression, offering a tailored path that matches your background and musical goals. By concentrating on practice routines that fit your individual interests, the book reveals how consistent, focused effort can build skill rapidly and enjoyably. The tailored content delves into genre-specific nuances and improvisational elements, helping you understand both foundational and advanced concepts. This approach ensures that your learning experience addresses your unique aspirations, making progress feel natural and rewarding as you develop your mandolin mastery.

Unlike most mandolin books that focus solely on repertoire, Ray Bell's Mandolin Scales & Studies dives into the foundational techniques essential for daily practice. Bell, drawing on his extensive experience as a musician and educator, structured this book to include major and minor scales, various scale forms, and targeted exercises presented in notation, tablature, and fretboard diagrams. This approach equips you with a solid technical base, enhancing your fretboard familiarity and finger dexterity, which are crucial for advancing your playing skills. If you're looking to build a reliable practice routine or deepen your understanding of mandolin scales, this book offers clear, structured guidance without overwhelming you with unnecessary theory.

After decades of teaching and performing, Morton Manus developed this guide to simplify chord learning for mandolin players. You gain quick access to essential chords organized by key, alongside a unique accompaniment guide that enhances your playing versatility. This compact dictionary style makes it easy to reference chords on the go, fitting right in your mandolin case for convenience. If you want to deepen your chord vocabulary and improve your ability to accompany songs, this book offers a straightforward, no-frills approach that’s especially helpful for beginners and intermediate players.

When Chad Johnson set out to organize mandolin chords, he transformed a potentially overwhelming task into a straightforward reference. This book offers over 1,000 chord diagrams across 28 chord types, each with multiple voicings, allowing you to expand your chord vocabulary systematically. You'll also find a clear lesson on chord construction and a detailed fingerboard chart to help visualize the neck, making it easier to understand how chords fit together. Ideal for players aiming to deepen their theoretical grasp while building practical skills, this guide balances thoroughness with accessibility, though those seeking in-depth playing techniques might need supplementary materials.