I am available for private instruction or blues mandolin workshops. For those seeking private instruction, I am the staff mandolin and banjo instructor at Roadworthy Guitar and Amp in Bloomington, Indiana. You can email me at jim@richterdigitalarts.net or contact the store to check my availability.

As stated, I also conduct blues mandolin workshops. My focus is more theory and technique oriented, rather than a lecture on history. If interested in such a workshop, please email me at jim@richterdigitalarts.net.

TABLATURE AND LESSONS

I get a lot of requests to tab tunes out. As much as I would like to honor all of them, it is a time-consuming task. It's one of the reasons tab books aren't cheap. If you get any use of these tabs or my YouTube lessons/videos, consider donating to this effort. Thanks!

Some of the following lessons/tabs were created in Tabledit. Please download the free Tefview to view them. To save: Mac: Control-click, Save Linked File; PC: Right-click, Save Linked File

Mandolin

(Please check out my YouTube channel for my blues mandolin instruction videos)

The Fun's All Over (TEF file): This is based on the playing of Mike Compton as played on Climbing the Walls. The key to it is to slide into the B (2nd fret A string) and E note (7th fret A string). There are more variations, but this is the basic melody.

Jitterbug Waltz (TEF file): The Fats Waller classic based on the playing of Jethro Burns. Watch on YouTube.

Pilgrim's Knob (TEF file): Bill Monroe tune taught to me by banjoist Butch Robins. Butch recorded it on The Blue Grass Band's 2nd Cut. Watch on YouTube.

Oklahoma Redbird (TEF file): Key of C. This is a loose transcription for mandolin of the Missouri fiddle tune as played by Peter Ostroushko on Meeting on Southern Soil

The Soul of Man (TEF file): Key of E. This is a loose transcription of Ricky Skaggs' first mandolin break on Skaggs and Rice

"Over the IV" Lick (PDF file): Great blues lick to play over the IV chord (this example in E). Taken from guitar stylists such as Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ronnie Earl. Watch on YouTube.

G Arpeggio Study (TEF file): I love arpeggios and run through them often for warm up and to learn the fretboard.

Major pentatonic blues box pattern (PDF file): Demonstrates a closed blues box pattern for mandolin.

Minor pentatonic blues box pattern (PDF file): Demonstrates a closed blues box pattern for mandolin.

Minor pentatonic blues box pattern (PDF file): Demonstrates an open blues box pattern for mandolin.

Banjo

Fishers Hornpipe (TEF file): Melodic banjo arrangement of the old fiddle tune.

Brilliancy (TEF file): Melodic banjo arrangement of the old fiddle tune. My contest piece. Watch on YouTube.