Hello, music enthusiasts!  My name is Jeff Belding, player of various stringed instruments.  Creating and making music as well as sharing it with audiences and students, has been my life’s work and passion.  In keeping with that sentiment, welcome to my website “Music Along the Way.”

My latest books!

Bluegrass Mandolin – Solos, Licks and Tricks – Volume 1: Concepts and Tunes

Bluegrass Mandolin Solos, Licks and Tricks – Volume 2: More Tunes and Neck Expansion

They are now available on Amazon in paperback and — soon to be available in Kindle format.

And now. . . a mandolin book?

First it was the 5-string banjo, and then flatpick guitar. You might well ask, “Why can’t you focus on just one dang instrument, Jeff?” 

After nearly 50 years of playing and teaching music professionally, it seemed only natural to gradually become a multi-instrumentalist. All three of these instruments have plucked strings and frets in common. Therefore, learning the mechanics of each instrument isn’t a massive stretch to make. 

The over-arching goal was to have three sets of books that covered three of the primary instruments of a typical bluegrass band. In a perfect world, the banjo player would tell their guitar player friend about their positive experience with the banjo books, thus leading to that guitarist to purchase the guitar books. 

Said guitar player would tell their mandolin playing buddy about their positive experience with their books, and so on. Three book series, three different instruments, with one common repertoire. I know it’s not a perfect world, but can’t a lowly author dream of one?      

These Bluegrass Mandolin volumes are not beginner books. Some knowledge of mandolin technique is useful to get the most success out of them. This would include basic chord changing skills, an understanding of counting time, and some experience with alternate (“down-up”) picking. The notation used is standard four-string mandolin tablature. Some background of reading this kind of notation can prove to be helpful.

Here is an informational video and you can read more about each book here.

It is my hope that the YouTube companion videos for this series will greatly enhance the learning process for you. All the pieces are played on video at a moderate tempo. Where necessary, trouble spots are called out, prior to the run-through.

The links below will take you to the video playlists for each Volume.

Here are my other books for sale on Amazon:

Bluegrass Flatpick Guitar – Solos, Licks and Tricks – Volume 1 – Concepts and Tunes

Bluegrass Flatpick Guitar – Solos, Licks and Tricks Volume 2 – More Tunes and Neck Expansion

More information about the audio is available here.

If you prefer not to use YouTube for the audio access, I also have MP-3s of the audio companion for all 3 Volumes on Google Drive. Just email me (jeff.belding@yahoo.com) and let me know if you would like to use this access instead.

and why not order a handy sketchbook while you’re at it?

I welcome any of your questions or comments about my books or blog.  I would like to think of this website as a sharing of ideas rather than a one-way street.  

If you purchased any of my books I’d greatly appreciate it if you would post a helpful, relevant review on Amazon based on your honest opinion and experience.

You can contact me at jeff.belding@yahoo.com. 

Follow me on Facebook at “Music along the Way” and on Twitter at JeffBelding@Jeffsintune.

Also please visit my YouTube channel “Jeff Belding” for a variety of videos including performances, tutorials and just plain good pickin’ fun.

Thanks for visiting, and let’s start talking!