To hold a mandolin, sit with the mandolin on your right leg, or hold it with a strap, keep the neck angled up, rest your right forearm on the body, and keep your left wrist straight, with your thumb behind the neck. The mandolin should be stable, so your hands are free to play, and the neck should not fall, and the body should not slide.
How do you hold a mandolin?
To hold a mandolin, sit with the mandolin on your right leg, or hold it with a strap, keep the neck angled up, rest your right forearm on the body, and keep your left wrist straight, with your thumb behind the neck. The mandolin should be stable, so your hands are free to play, and the neck should not fall, and the body should not slide, and the player should be comfortable, because a comfortable player plays better, and an uncomfortable player tenses up, and the tension makes the playing worse, and the mandolin is small, and light, and it must be held securely, or it will move, and the playing will be hard. The mandolin is held like a guitar, but smaller, because the mandolin is a small instrument, with a short neck, and a small body, and the player holds it on the right leg, for a right-handed player, with the neck angled up, and the right forearm resting on the body, and the left hand on the neck, and the pick in the right hand, and the mandolin is stable, because the leg and the forearm hold it, and the hands are free, and the playing is easy. A strap can help, even when sitting, because it holds the mandolin up, and the hands are free, and the mandolin does not slide, and the playing is the same, sitting or standing, because the mandolin is at the same height. The G major mandolin chord and the D major mandolin chord are the chords most players first hold the mandolin for, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How holding a mandolin works
Holding a mandolin works by balancing the mandolin on the leg, with the forearm on the body, so the mandolin is stable, and the hands are free. The mandolin body rests on the leg, and the body is held against the chest, by the right forearm, and the neck is held up by the angle, not by the left hand, because the left hand must be free to move, and the neck should be held up by the angle, not by the hand, and the strap can help, even when sitting, because it holds the mandolin up, and the hands are free, and the mandolin does not slide. The mandolin is small, and light, so it is easy to hold, but it is also easy to drop, because it is small, and the strap is the safety, and the player should use one, especially when standing. The left wrist should be straight, not bent, because a bent wrist puts strain on the wrist and the forearm, and the strain becomes pain, and the pain makes the playing worse. The thumb should be behind the neck, opposite the fingers, giving support, not squeezing, because the squeeze causes pain and fatigue, and the support is what the thumb is for. The right forearm should rest on the body, not press down on it, because pressing down will mute the strings, and the forearm is the anchor, not the weight, and the pick should be held firmly, but not tightly, and the wrist should be loose, moving from the wrist, not from the arm. The C major mandolin chord and the A major mandolin chord are the chords the holding is built on.
Worked example — checking your mandolin holding position. Sit with the mandolin on your right leg, and check three things: is the neck angled up, or is it flat, and if it is flat, raise it, because a flat neck makes the left hand work harder; is your left wrist straight, or is it bent, and if it is bent, straighten it, by raising the neck a little; and is your right forearm resting on the body, or is it pressing down, and if it is pressing down, relax it, because the forearm is the anchor, not the weight. Now play a G major chord, and a D major chord, and change between them, and the mandolin should be stable, and the hands should be free, and the chords should ring cleanly, and the sound should be bright and ringing, because the paired strings double the sound. The I–V–vi–IV progression in G major is a good progression to check the holding with.
How to practise holding a mandolin
Practise holding a mandolin by checking your position before you play, and by playing with a strap, so the mandolin is stable, and your hands are free, and the playing is easy.
- Sit with the mandolin on your right leg, and check that the neck is angled up, and your left wrist is straight, and your thumb is behind the neck.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in G major on mandolin, and check that the mandolin is stable, and the hands are free, and the chords ring cleanly.
- Practise with a strap, even when sitting, so the mandolin is held up, and the hands are free, and the mandolin does not slide.
- Practise standing with a strap, and adjust the strap so the mandolin is at the same height as when you sit, so the playing is the same, standing or sitting.
- Practise picking, with alternate picking, down and up, and check that your right wrist is loose, moving from the wrist, not from the arm.
Common mistakes
- Letting the neck fall — A neck that falls makes the left hand support the mandolin, instead of playing it, and the hand will tire, and the chords will be slow. Raise the neck, and let the leg and the forearm hold the mandolin, so the left hand is free.
- Bending the left wrist — A bent wrist puts strain on the wrist and the forearm, and the strain becomes pain, and the pain makes the playing worse. Keep the wrist straight, raise the neck a little, and let the thumb support the neck, behind it, not squeezing.
- Pressing the right forearm down on the body — A forearm pressed down on the body will mute the strings, and the sound will be dead, because the body cannot vibrate. Rest the forearm on the body, lightly, as an anchor, not as a weight, and the mandolin will ring.
Quick reference
This table shows the correct position for each body part when you hold a mandolin, with the reason for it, so you can check your holding in seconds, before you play. The neck is angled up, the wrist is straight, the thumb is behind the neck, and the forearm rests on the body, and each one has a reason, and the reasons together make the playing easy.
| Body part | Correct position | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | Angled up | So the left hand is free |
| Left wrist | Straight, not bent | So the wrist does not hurt |
| Thumb | Behind the neck | So it supports, not squeezes |
| Right forearm | Rests on the body | So it anchors, not mutes |
| Strap | Holds the mandolin up | So the hands are free |
Use the table to check your holding before you play: angle the neck up, straighten your wrist, put your thumb behind the neck, rest your forearm on the body, and use a strap, so the mandolin is stable, and your hands are free. When you can hold the mandolin comfortably, without thinking, you have the holding, and the playing will follow.
Frequently asked questions
How do I hold a mandolin?
Sit with the mandolin on your right leg, or hold it with a strap, keep the neck angled up, rest your right forearm on the body, and keep your left wrist straight, with your thumb behind the neck.
Should I use a strap for mandolin?
Yes, if it helps. A strap holds the mandolin up, even when sitting, so the hands are free, and the mandolin does not slide, and the playing is the same, sitting or standing, because the mandolin is at the same height, and the mandolin is small, and light, so it is easy to drop, without a strap.
Is holding a mandolin like holding a guitar?
Yes, mostly. The mandolin is held on the right leg, with the neck angled up, and the right forearm on the body, like a guitar, but the mandolin is smaller, and lighter, and the neck is shorter, and the body is smaller, and the player must hold it securely, or it will move.
Why does my left wrist hurt when I play mandolin?
Because the wrist is bent, and the neck is too low, or the thumb is squeezing, and the strain becomes pain. Keep the wrist straight, raise the neck, and let the thumb support the neck, behind it, not squeezing, and the pain will go away.
Can I play mandolin standing up?
Yes, with a strap, adjusted so the mandolin is at the same height as when you sit, so the playing is the same, standing or sitting. A strap that is too low will make the left hand work harder, and the chords will be slow.