As we begin the process of learning how to play an instrument, we tend to focus most of our attention and energy on playing the correct notes, performing pieces accurately, and emulating the sounds of musicians that we’re inspired by. While this is a critical place from which to begin your journey, musical performance is ultimately about self-expression and developing your own unique voice on your instrument. However, understanding how to accomplish this goal can be daunting for beginner and advanced players alike.

In this online mandolin lesson, Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, 4-time IBMA “Mandolin Player of the Year,” and ArtistWorks master instructor, Sierra Hull, details the myriad of tonal options available to players on the mandolin and how to achieve them. She also outlines methods for identifying mandolin tones you like and strategies for developing your own unique voice on the instrument.

“There’s a lot of different sounds that we can get out of a mandolin, and the type of tone we desire will inform how we go about playing,” Sierra explains. “Trying to decide what you want to sound like early on is pretty important.”

LEARN MORE: Want to learn how to play bluegrass mandolin from a master musician like Sierra Hull? Try some free online mandolin lessons now!

Proper technique, particularly in one’s picking-hand approach, can drastically impact the tone that you produce with your mandolin. A deep understanding of how pick angle, attack, and placement between the bridge and the fretboard impact your tone can greatly inform your performance choices and are techniques that players of all levels should consistently focus on and revisit.

“Our ultimate goal is to be able to combine all the things we love about our favorite players and the artists that influenced us, and to eventually find our own sound,” Sierra explains. “To take that further, we want to be able to tap into and access a variety of different sounds on the instrument.”

To learn more about how to access different tones on the mandolin and discover your own sound, dive into this online mandolin lesson from Sierra Hull:

Setting Your Tone Goals with Sierra Hull:

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Have you always wanted to learn how to play bluegrass mandolin? Through our comprehensive mandolin lessons online and Video Exchange Learning platform here at ArtistWorks, you can learn from internationally renowned players, like Sierra Hull, and get personal feedback on your playing.

Sierra’s course starts with the basics and teaches everything from beginner mandolin to advanced performance techniques and tunes. So, whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player, all levels are welcome and all students will grow and improve their skills as mandolinists and musicians.

Try out some free sample music lessons here and see what makes ArtistWorks courses some of the best online music lessons around!

READ MORE:

What’s New at ArtistWorks: Courses from Sierra Hull, Jared James Nichols, & Chris Eldridge

My Bluegrass Heart: An Interview with Béla Fleck, Bryan Sutton, & Sierra Hull

ArtistWorks Instructors Sierra Hull & Missy Raines Win 2021 IBMA Awards