Yes... Music theory can be challenging to understand. What's with all of the sharps and flats? The Nashville number system? What do you mean by the "tonic?" Will this make me a better musician? The short answer is yes! By taking music lessons, whether its guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin or voice, understanding the " why & how " of music will make your playing easier. And you will be able to jam aka improvise with others. Maybe you are a songwriter, and you can't find that " magical" chord...

Mandolin has become popular again with all ages. Here in Vancouver, WA, we have a strong bluegrass music scene, along with roots/ Americana music. Mandolin fits right in, tone wise and has a rich musical tradition. Learning to play a mandolin can seem hard. But if you have a patient teacher ( like myself ) use a good music instruction book, and take time to practice, you will learn quickly. Open position mandolin chords ( also known as two finger chords) are easy to learn. I encourage my...