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The Sam Bush Mandolin Method

Bush, Sam (Actor), Traum, Happy (Director) Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
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May 13, 2003 		—
2
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— $39.24

Product Description

In addition to being one of the world's greatest bluegrass musicians, Sam Bush is a clear and dynamic instructor who communicates his ideas with clarity and ease. This terrific two-part series will help aspiring mandolin players improve technical prowess, build repertoire and develop formidable musicianship.

Sam teaches traditional fiddle tunes "Ragtime Annie," "Bile Them Cabbage Down," "Blackberry Blossom" and "Sally Goodin," showing you how to create variations on the melodies, use drone strings for fiddle-like effects, employ crosspicking techniques for a smoother sound and move up the neck to play in higher positions.

A long admirer of Bill Monroe, Sam details the bluegrass master’s unique approach to his instrument, teaching "Big Mon" and the ear catching cross-tuning effects in "Get Up John." He then goes into his own challenging arrangements of "Brilliancy" and "Whayasay" (from his CD "Glamour & Grits") and "Big Rabbit" (from "Howlin’ at the Moon"), all of which will help you develop technical proficiency and dexterity on the mandolin.

Sam is one of the instrument’s great rhythm players, and he shows the essentials of damping, chopping and strumming for bluegrass, reggae and other styles. You’ll also get detailed instruction in pick technique, scales, speed building, warm-up exercises, tremolo, improvised soloing and much more.

As a bonus, Sam provides an up-close look at his 1937 "F5" and his new "Sam Bush Model" Gibson mandolins, explaining the differences between them. He talks about his equipment, favorite strings, fret sizes, pick gauges, electronics and the ways that his instruments have been set up to suit his exacting requirements.

This method is an invaluable and important addition to any mandolin player’s instructional library, and is highly recommended.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches; 7.36 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2230320
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Traum, Happy
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, NTSC, Closed-captioned, Color
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 30 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ May 13, 2003
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Bush, Sam
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Homespun Tapes
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000092OM8
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
22 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Never Tart, Never Bitter
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Way To Learn
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2013
Verified Purchase
Sam Bush takes the same approach that I used when I began playing guitar 45 years ago. You start playing tunes and the technique, style and chords you learn are embedded in the tunes. You start playing tunes right away while you're learning the technique. (I remember how "Yellow Submarine" taught me to change chords quickly and "House of the Rising Sun" taught me arpeggios.)

I was able to move through some of the technique fairly quickly because of my facility with the guitar. I think that a stone-cold beginner would have a much more difficult time with this material. Sam doesn't go into detail about which fingers cover which frets, or timing. He does expect you to rely on your ear to hear the timing which, even with the accompanying standard notation and tab, can be a little tricky in a fast passage

For me, starting with a strong foundation in guitar, Sam's approach works beautifully. Still, it was useful, even necessary for me to get a few bits of information before I attempted the lessons on this video. (see below)

For a beginner, I would advise getting some basics under your belt, like knowing which fingers should cover which frets, some rudimentary chords, and how the note timings relate to each other (whole, half, quarter, eighth notes). It doesn't take that much time to get it into your fingers, if you practice. After that you'll likely be ready to work with Sam's method.

If you don't do a little foundational homework first, going straight to this DVD could be counter productive and extremely frustrating, taking you longer in the long run. Even with my background, I went straight to the "Mandolin for Dummies" book first. It will give you that simple foundation I've mentioned and then it becomes a good reference.
7 people found this helpful
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Porter House
5.0 out of 5 stars be amazed and learn at the same time
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2005
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It's simple math. Music teachers in my area charge about $20 for half an hour. The Sam Bush Mandolin Method costs $40 to $55 (depending upon the vendor), and you get 2 1/2 hours of instruction from one of the best mando players on the planet. The choice is simple, huh?

Maybe not.

If you're not self motivated and keep forgetting the difference between the end pin and the tuning pegs, go to the teacher. However, if you're more of a do-it-yourselfer, are motivated and don't need or want someone looking over your shoulder, a teaching aid like this is an eye-opening (more like eye-popping) experience.

Sam Bush strikes me as a very friendly person, and it comes across on the disks. His presentation is very encouraging and makes you want to learn and work at playing the selection of songs. He plays them through full speed (you couldn't buy a front-row seat at a concert and be this close), and then breaks them down and plays them at a slower pace. He plays many difficult licks several times, and even demonstrates little variations to make them easier to play or sound slightly different.

There are also little talks about practicing to build speed, selecting equipment, etc. At first I was a little disappointed because I knew that there was going to be a segment about the Gibson Sam Bush model mandolin. Here we go, I thought, time for a commercial break. But it wasn't like that. Sam was talking about his old mandolin, held up the new mega-bucks Gibson, and basically said, "Here it is. It sounds pretty good." End of commercial, and we were back to the music and learning. Very classy.

To wrap it up, this package will be over the heads of raw beginners. Intermediate players will spend hours and hours absorbing his music and ideas, and will become better mandolin players. That's money well spent.

P.S. to Sam: Do your fans a favor and put out a DVD or video on playing slide mandolin. That would be very cool and it's never been done.
42 people found this helpful
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Donald V Phillips
5.0 out of 5 stars Quality
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
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This product is great and I also like the extra mile that the seller did for me. I will be buying from them again.
One person found this helpful
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Amber k kerns
4.0 out of 5 stars It's a very good product
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018
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My dad loved Sam Bush music
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Michael stovall
5.0 out of 5 stars Great video
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2019
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Love sam bush. Its a lil fast for pure beginner. Made more for the person that has the basics and wants to push on.
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Paul James Vesely
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fun way to learn
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2009
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This double DVD is so much fun! I've played mandolin for 5 years or so and this is a cool way to advance. Just watching how a pro plays up close with teaching details is worth the price of admission. Sam has been playing since he was a child so I never hope to catch up but I'll try. I recommend it without hesitation.
5 people found this helpful
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Jim Beam
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2016
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what can you say about Sam
One person found this helpful
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Dan Ellsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good! Great to learn from a master
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2016
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Very good!
Great to learn from a master!
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Top reviews from other countries

Susan C
5.0 out of 5 stars Great product and service.
Reviewed in Canada on November 22, 2019
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The instructional Sam Bush DVDs arrived in good condition and at a very good price. It is not a beginner lesson but would recommend for intermediate or advanced mandolin player. It is an excellent DVD set that comes with a tab booklet. It arrived in a week. Dealing with their customer service was pleasant, helpful and quick response. Highly recommended.
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Mops
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2013
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A great mandolin player passes on his skills with tips and variations for some great tunes. This DVD shows what can be achieved with years of practice. Not a beginners tool but anyone watching will not fail to be inspired by Sam Bush. Aimed at Bluegrass enthusiasts who play to a good standard already.
One person found this helpful
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