This book establishes a foundation for complete mandolin musicianship, both in terms of music literacy as well as having the ability to jam with other musicians without reading music. The student logically begins by learning the “basic” fingering pattern used for the mandolin-friendly keys of A and D as shown in diagram form and standard notation.

Tablature reading is lightly addressed, but not at the same time as note reading so the student avoids using tab as a crutch. A generous repertoire of progressively arranged exercises, fiddle tunes, a Bach bourrée, and folk and blues songs is included, often with online recordings and rarely seen complete lyrics. At this point, the book begins to diverge from its didactic approach to pure fun!

As each new major key is introduced (G, C, F and E), the student learns the remaining principal scale finger patterns as well as a considerable amount of practical music theory covering pentatonic and modal scales and much more. Fittingly, the book closes with a dictionary of essential chords and a glossary to aid in further development as a versatile mandolinist.