Mandolin?

[Marlinspike07]

Hey there. :wave: I have been playing guitar for about a year. I know quite a bit, though I know I have just barely scratched the surface. Anyway, I was thinking of learning mandolin so I could play some rock songs with it. For Example, Maggie May, Battle for Evermore, Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar), etc. I am afraid however, that once I start learning mandolin, I would forget all the guitar stuff. I think I might wait for a few years, until I'm awesome at guitar, then start learning mandolin. What does everyone think?

Everyone post with opinions please.

Thanks.

:chug:

[GorgeousGabe]

...what?

Dude, you're not gonna forget guitar stuff. It's the same theory anyway, just different shapes and positions. Go for it

[John Paul Harrison]

nah, you won't forget guitar. mandolin endorsed.

in fact, learning two different instuments might help you learn how notes relate musicaly rather than just memorizing frets on a guitar neck.

tbh though there are lots of better mandolin songs than battle of evermore.

[zhyla]

Mandolin is a great 2nd instrument and will really improve your strumming. As long as you're somewhat comfortable with guitar there's no harm in picking up another instrument.

But be warned, it's a difficult instrument (compared to guitar). Lots of fun though. :chug:

[EADG]

I don't think it will hurt your guitar playing at all, as long as you practice as much on guitar

[StrangeVision]

You should get a banjo instead. :thumb:

[big80smullet]

The mandolin wont ruin your guitar. learning to transpose the chord shapes and how they relate is quite interesting and its all theory which helps in the long run.

[boogerburger]

Mandolin is actually simpler. It's just the top 4 strings of a guitar upside down, or an upside down bass.

[0_1_1_2_3_5_8]

Battle of Evermore is quite an epic Mandolin ballad.

[ween2424]

Its not as hard as you'd think to play rock songs on mandolin. Goin to California is alot of fun. You can even find tabs just like guitar, if that's what you're used to.

[Win A Rabbit]

Mandolin = alot of fun to play.

Such a nice sound to it.

I've had mine for just under a year and I love playing it.