In this video, I show you how to play the chords, bassline, and rhythm for a mandolin original called Majblomman by me, Magnus Zetterlund. It’s a lively tune that is fun to play.

Majblomman (The Mayflower) is a waltz in A-major with three parts. In this lesson, we are focusing on the chords and the...

In this video lesson, I show you how to play a Minuet in G major (BWV Anh. 116) by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is a delightful tune to play on the mandolin and is a lovely introduction to classical and Baroque music, even for jazz, folk, and bluegrass players like me, Magnus Zetterlund. 

Our three-pa...

In this mandolin video lesson, I give you a melody sequence for the G-major scale. It’s a two-note pattern that is very useful to practice your technique but also in the form of a vocabulary builder that you can use as a lick in your improvisations. 

I’m even demonstrating how to use this line to m...

In this mandolin video lesson, I give my best tips and exercises for going from backup to lead, chords to melody. This is an essential skill; we must practice it to be as fluent as we like. 

I’m demonstrating the exercise with the tune Bill Cheatham, but you can use this concept for any music you p...

In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the chords and backup for a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Vals efter Pål Karl. This dance tune is a waltz from the region of Älvdalen, Dalarna.

The chords used are A5, D, G, and C. The melody is archaic and raw, and the chords add a dri...

In this video, Hayes Griffin shows you how to play the simple melody to the swing standard “Right or Wrong.”

This tune was written in the 1920s, but made popular by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys in the 1930s. By the end of the lesson, you will know how to play a single-note melody line with straig...

In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Vals efter Pål Karl. This dance tune is a waltz from the region of Älvdalen, Dalarna. The melody is archaic and raw yet groovy in the A-Dorian mode.

 Our arrangement is a three-part arrangement with a mel...

In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the chords and rhythm track for the gypsy jazz classic ”Djangology” by Django Reinhardt/Stephan Grappelli.

Here you’ll find versatile shapes for diminished chords, Minor 7th chords, Major 6th chords, and Dominant 7th chords in different inversi...

In this video lesson, I show you how to play the harmony to a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Årepolskan. This dance tune is a triplet polska from the region of Jämtland.

The harmony is quite interesting, following the melody in parallell movements. The intervalls mainly consist of thirds, f...

In this video, I will show you how to play the chords and backup rhythm for the old-time fiddle tune "Bill Cheatham" on the mandolin. This fiddle tune is a standard jam tune, and you will find it in bluegrass, old-time, and Irish music sessions. 

We use typical chop chord voicings for the following...

In this mandolin video lesson, I show you how to play the gypsy jazz classic ”Djangology” by Django Reinhardt/Stephan Grappelli. In this video, we’re focusing on the melody.

The melody is straightforward and outlines the chord change in a clever way.

I will also show you how this line builds you...

In this video, Karl Tiren and Magnus Zetterlund play play a traditional Swedish fiddle tune called Årepolskan. This dance tune is a triplet polska from the region of Jämtland.

The melody is interesting, wandering from G-major to E-minor in a typical way for this tradition. It is a soulful and elega...