Ask Marilynn

Q: I have been playing the mandolin for about a month now and am confused by a tiny, yet seemingly huge issue.  Specifically, the upstroke.  I’ve purchased your book (an awesome work by the way) and in it you say to just play the lower of the two strings on any given pair when doing an upstroke.  In addition, I recently read your tremolo technique article on your website and there was no mention there of whether or not to … Read More »

Q: I have a couple of questions about your mandolins. I’ve noticed one of the mandolin you play is a Lyon and Healy-style instrument, is this a replica or an original? If it’s a replica, who was the luthier? Would you recommend this instrument to a “classical” mandolinist? I’ve also seen pictures of an a-style mandolin that you use, who is the maker of that instrument? I’ve greatly enjoyed reading your articles, especially the one on the Beethoven’s works, it … Read More »

Q: I’m just starting out with the mandolin and bought your book on recommendation from a friend. I must say that I’m really looking forward to working though the book. I’m interested in medieval, classical and english folk music and am glad to see a resource that is a bit more grounded in musicianship than the normal ‘here’s three chords and away you go’ approach. One question I have – is it generally true that in the downstroke you always … Read More »

Q: I am 49 years of age and just purchased a mandolin.  I have played the piano and have found the mandolin, or it found me, after much consideration for a new adventure and furthering my range of music. When I purchased my mandolin I purchased your new instruction book “The Complete Mandolinist”.  I have tried to find the Pettine picks but without success. I have tried locally and have searched the internet. Will you please help me find them … Read More »

Q: I am a student of your mandolin method (after 13 months of studying in earnest, I am on page 78) and I have been working since the first Branzoli tremolo exercise on my tremolo. Could you please tell me how fast one should reasonably be able to tremolo?  Say in terms of four strokes for each beat of the metronome (so 120 b/m would be 480 tremolo strokes), how many beats per minute would be reasonable? It is important … Read More »