For those looking to exponentially expand their mandolin chord and scale vocabulary a visit to the Northern Midwest high tech labs of Mando ModeExplorer is well worth your nickel. It's one thing to refer to a piece of paper with inked out chords, quite another to hear and see the chords work in motion, utilizing the latest in software technology.

Packed in the program is a much usable, practical insight into the way chords are formed and how they interact. Included is a delicious assortment of examples of chord progressions from familiar jazz standards. This alone is worth the price of admission, but it's great to see the chords, modes, and scales, as well as a computer graphic of a lovely Rigel (R.I.P) A+ Deluxe Mandolin and fingerboard with lights to visually guide your fingers realtime.

If you can't have a teacher in your presence 24/7, this is the next best thing. Less than the cost of a couple good lessons.

Maybe better grooming habits, too.

Check it out: Mando ModeExplorer Website

Posted by Ted at September 20, 2006 6:01 AM