Magnus Zetterlund

3 Signs You're Ready to Leave First Position (But Don't Know How)

Electric Mandolin & Guitar // When You Wish Upon A Star // Free Mandolin...

Here is a unique rendition of this timeless Disney classic, featuring Magnus Zetterlund on electric octave mandolin and Johan Eriksson Rapp on electric guitar. 

 "When You Wish Upon A Star" was written by Leigh Harline (music) and Ned Washington (lyrics) for Walt Disney's 1940 animated film Pinocchio. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became the signature melody of The Walt Disney Company. Its enduring message of hope and dreams has made it one of the most beloved songs in American popular music.  

Use This Expressive Mandolin Technique - Slide Lesson And Exercise

Master the essential fiddle tune slide technique with this comprehensive exercise! Learn how to smoothly slide into notes to give your fiddle tunes a more intermediate and advanced sound. 

This technique is featured heavily in "Cold Frosty Morning" and countless other fiddle tunes.

What You'll Learn:

 • Proper slide technique (picking and sliding mechanics)

 • Three progressive exercise stages

 • When to pick vs. when to slide

 • Correct picking directions for smooth execution

 • Wrist movement technique (avoid full position shifts)

Bring Quality Mandolin Lessons Anywhere You Go

Bring quality mandolin lessons anywhere you go! Keep Mandolin Secrets Academy in your pocket. 

In this video, I show you how to use our Smartphone App for Mandolin Secrets. 

I show you how to get started and my best practice for using it. 

Our smartphone app works for both iOS and Android.

Trollens Brudmarsch - Nordic Folk Mandolin Tutorial | The Trolls' Bridal...

🎃 In the Times of Halloween with ghosts, witches and monsters, here's a perfect melody for you!

Learn to play "Trollens Brudmarsch" (The Trolls' Bridal March) on mandolin - a hauntingly beautiful traditional Swedish tune dating back to the 19th century from fiddler Pelle Schenell (b.1855) in the deep forests of Hälsingland.

🎵 What You'll Learn: 

Complete mandolin arrangement with melody and ornaments

Grace notes and double stops for authentic character

How to simplify the arrangement for easier learning

Slow-tempo demonstration (50 BPM)

Tips for bringing the melody to life

🧙‍♂️ The Legend: According to folklore, playing this tune will stop the rain! (Results may vary, but Magnus says it works every time!)

My First Performance with Slide Mandolin

Cold Frosty Morning - Mandolin Tutorial

Cold Frosty Morning - Mandolin Tutorial

Learn how to play the classic fiddle tune "Cold Frosty Morning" on mandolin! This tune has origins in Irish and Scottish music but is also popular among old-time and bluegrass players.

What You'll Learn:

 • Complete breakdown of both A and B parts

 • Proper use of slides (third finger technique)

 • Understanding the A Dorian mode

 • Performance at multiple tempos (160 BPM and 100 BPM)

Unboxing My Custom Jonathan Mann Electric Octave Mandolin!

After 5 months of waiting and 4 weeks stuck in Swedish customs, my dream instrument has finally arrived! In this video, I'm unboxing my custom-made electric octave mandolin built by Jonathan Mann in Tennessee.

Why an Electric Octave Mandolin? Earlier this year, I discovered the magic of playing slide on electric mandolin, but I wanted that guitar register sound while keeping the mandolin fretboard knowledge I know and love. The solution? A solid-body electric octave mandolin with maximum sustain!

Custom Specs: 

• 4-string configuration tuned GDAE 

• Solid body construction for incredible sustain 

• 21,5-inch scale length 

• Tobacco sunburst finish on curly maple top 

• Neck-through construction 

• Lollar Firebird combo pickups

• Push/pull tone pot splits pickup coils for single coil sound 

 • Golden hardware

• Speed neck with wax and oil finish 

• G&G black vintage style  case

• Deluxe Protec brand gigbag and 

Jazz Mandolin Lesson // Nuages Solo Etude // Master Django's Changes

In this lesson, my mandolin students asked: "How can we better understand the chord changes of Nuages by Django Reinhardt? 

How can we more easily improvise over this brilliant jazz standard?"

To master jazz improvisation, you need to develop voice leading through chord changes - playing melody lines that clearly outline the harmony. This solo étude for Nuages explores the tune using arpeggios, specifically focusing on the 3 to 9 arpeggio technique throughout the chord progression.

Mandolin Lesson for Fretboard Freedom with Jazzy Perpetual Motion

Nordic Folk Guitar Duo // Magnus Zetterlund // Gärdebylåten // Free Tabs

Podcast Episode #41 Learning a new instrument

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing:

- Learning a new instrument.

- 5 Tips for Jam Sessions

- The great online resource for learning the bass guitar, Study Bass by Andrew Pouska 

- Things to consider when purchasing an instrument.

Mandolin Technique Exercise // Pinky Power

This video lesson will strengthen your pinky finger and revolutionize your mandolin playing! 

Let's accept it. Playing with four fingers is better than using only three fingers. 

This simple but effective exercise will transform your weak pinky and build your skills from the ground up.

What you'll learn in this technique lesson: 

Specific exercise to strengthen your pinky finger

Closed position playing 

Proper finger placement of the left hand

The use of under-pressing for improved speed and accuracy

Perfect for: 

Beginner and intermediate mandolin players

Musicians looking to improve overall finger dexterity

Players struggling with pinky weakness

Anyone wanting to expand their technical capabilities

Grab your mandolin, find a comfortable seated position, and get ready to unlock a game-changing technique that will elevate your playing to the next level!

Blackberry Blossom // Bluegrass Mandolin Tutorial // Chords

Play a sequence of chop chords that is perfect for developing comping dexterity.  

In this mandolin lesson, we'll explore the chords for the classic fiddle tune "Blackberry Blossom”. We are using bluegrass chop chords for the right sound of the back-up rhythm.

Perfect for intermediate mandolin players looking to expand their skills and repertoire!

What You'll Learn:

- Complete chord breakdown

- General back up rhythm tips

- Alternative chord fingerings 

- Tips for fast chord transitions

Podcast Episode #39 How to use the entire fretboard