Learning Mandolin - any advice

newnala

Hi everyone,
I am going to buy a mandolin soon and was looking for some advice on the best one to buy?
I play some guitar(badly!) so I would be a beginner.
I would be interested in a mandolin for Trad (Irish) music.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!

Owen

I play Mandolin too. I'm a classically trained violinist, and guitarists in a band, so using the guitar style, and the mandolin being tuned to the same pitch as the violin, it was easy for me to pick it up and play it.

In terms of what to look for in an instrument, they're not too expensive, so you've no real worries - buy the best you can afford (But spend no more than 300 to begin with). Buy one with a pickup, as Mandolins are quiet by nature. If you have the ability to plug in and get amplified, it makes a difference in trad sessions.

Other than that, just enjoy it, it's a very fun instrument!

padraig71

As long as it has a decent action and plays in tune, you should be right.

Suaimhneach

Advice that goes for any new instrument, keep playing and practicing whenever you can. The more, the better.