I’ve been playing a cheap 60 dollar mandolin for about 9 years now. I got to a point where I wasn’t satisfied with the sound. I did some research and set it up properly. Really good strings, the bridge in exactly the right spot and switched to thicker picks. I was amazed at how big of a difference it made in terms of tone. Thicker picks are an absolute must have!

Maybe make another, longer video, and call it “25 Tips”? Seriously, you’ve made the best album this year; I’m listening to it over and over and over.

Cool thing about the blue chips, if you look at the edges they’re tapered for up and down strokes so that the pick glides past the string easier and with less pick noise. They’re worth the cost in my opinion, especially if you’re playing an expensive mandolin.

Thank you for your generous sharing and teaching! You’re awesome!

Super ...love the knowledge nuggets that go with subtleties of a craft.

Sierra. YOu are always teaching everyone. Thx for the shares as always.

Sierra, this is amazing. As a novice self taught musician I always love to hear about techniques from the masters! Please do more!

You are a real inspiration to me. Love your instructional vids.

Your tone is outstanding! #5 was what I needed to learn. Thank you.

I love you and all your lessons! Always appreciate tips! 😊

Great video, I have started my mandolin journey and your tips and playing are both helpful and informative.

So awesome to have a player of Sierra's calibre giving out tips like these. Fantastic.

I love this video!!! Please make more like this! I could use all the help I can get! Thanks 😍❤️

Especially like the playing demos of the different points. Great and helpful to hear you play the differences between them.

Great video, Sierra. For an old guy trying to teach myself the mandolin, this was exactly the advice I was looking for. I'm a big fan of yours and think you are just a wonderful person and musician. Cheers from Canada.

What a thorough lesson in 5 steps !!! Fast, and pact full of any question, one could think of. Now this was what i like 10 minutes and a ton of information !!!

Awesome! Great tips and very enjoyable learning. Thank you.

Wow thanks Sierra what an incredible difference some simple changes make in my tone

Thank you so much for these tips. They’re very insightful.

So helpful. Please do more videos like this! You are amazing.

I teach everyone about the pick angle. It can add so much to your tone when you pick! You're an incredible musician, and it's always refreshing to find people like yourself.

All great tips, and critical to getting a good tone. It's important that an accomplish player like yourself shares their insight and experience, as that helps players pay special attention. I play guitar, and pick material makes a big difference, as does string gauge. Experimenting is important, as what sounds good on one instrument may not sound good on a different one. A good guide is what feels thin and floppy tends to sound like that as well. Thanks

Thank you Sierra. Great tips, will enjoy watching more.

Thank you Sierra. Points so clearly made!

I have always been blown away by Ms. Hull's ability before this but, the more I learn about how she does it makes me appreciate it that much more.

Thanks for this video. I became aware of your playing recently on the circle network. I've really enjoyed listening to your playing and singing. Best wishes on a long and wonderful career and life. Thanks again.

Always so generous with your knowledge and experience. Picked up a mandolin during this shutdown and fell in love. I've played guitar for 50+ years and understand it's machinations pretty well.My guitar brain was having a hard time seeing that in the mandolin until a saw a Reverb video where you broke it down. Your break down of Get Up John is stellar. Got a better instrument and gave the other to my 2 granddaughters whose Dad likes to pick too, Thanks again

You are a great teacher as well as a player! Good for you, I enjoyed it!

Thank you for this video, Sierra. You are a great teacher.

Hey, your tips all worked great. I hope you'll be doing more of it these!

These tips are so helpful for this new player. She is so nice too!

I'm not a proficient string player, but I recently learned about pick angle across the strings and it made a world of different in the sound, and the ease of raking it up and down on the strings. Definitely a tip that helped me. All of them are excellent though, and something I'll keep in mind if I go any deeper into the world of string instruments. Thanks for the video!

I inspire to be able to play like this some day, thanks for posting these useful tips 🎶

So dam inspiring in your music I bought an inexpensive mandolin to give it a shot as I’m fairly proficient at guitar and I’m so glad I did. Thank you for these tutorials you are next level with this instrument and while I don’t think I’ll reach your level I sure do enjoy the mandolin these days. Time to invest in something better than the one I’m using

It’s so simple and sounds almost ridiculous to say but being in tune is so important. I recorded recently and I kept tuning my guitar more than usual and I came away with a track I really liked. Being on the beat is very important too. I usually play in 4/4 or 3/4 and I’m conscious of my leads hitting the appropriate beats. Thanks for your tips. You’re an amazing player and I love your singing and songwriting too. Very much!

Thank you, Im kinda new to this mandolin thing and my old ears and fingers struggle so that was a great help.🙂

Pretty cool getting a lesson from one of the best. Thanks for taking the time!

I'm just beginning. I jsut got an A style mandolin for my 68th birthday. I've always loved the instrument. I love its sound. I've been a drummer for over 50 years...just want to learn something new. I love your playing, demeanor, very pleasant, and you're from the South, and that helps! LOL! Thank you for your easy to understand tips and lessons!

Brilliant as usual, but really liked that. I've been self taught playing for almost 2 years and must admit to putting my fingers in the middle of the frets. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Love your playing. Xx

Thank you, Sierra...I never even thought about LH finger placement on frets. I recently switched to a medium pick after years of using a heavy picks...not that anyone listens to me! I'll go back to a heavy and experiment with my grip.

thanks for your videos they have helped me a lot greetings from Costa Rica!!!

Very informativ! Just started a month ago with Mandoline in Germany. Wonderful instrument!

Really enjoyed your concert at The Fonda Theater. Thanks for the lesson. I like that 4 String Gibson.

Wonderful advice! Thanks!

Thank you.That was very helpful.

Awesome. Thanks Sierra! Your pick grip technique has totally changed my playing. I was holding it all wrong. I was struggling to keep picking without it slipping out or sounding softer. I never realised it had to be anchored like that. But it totally makes sense. Thanks so much. :)

I wish I could get more tips from you (for guitar). It helps me so much to play w/ professionals.

Sei bravissima Sierra!!!! Love from Sicily, where we like bluegrass too!!!

I’m a big fan of this young lady! Love the UTube vids of her playing with the Gibson Bro’s.

Thank you Sierra!

Great tips. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was you playing on the new Sturgill album. A few songs in I started thinking to myself that the backing vocals sounded familiar (in addition to the tasty mandolin work, of course), I looked up who the session players were and lo and behold.

Excellent content, thank you

We are on the very same page. Agree completely. My one addition has to do with setup rather than playing. Intonation... All important to be sure the bridge/saddle is in the correct location. Changes the sound/tone more than anything else (at least in terms of setup). Great job as usual.

Also doesn't hurt that she has an amazingly stunning mando from which to coerce that super great tone. :-) Great tips Sierra, keep 'em coming. We love ya!!

Thanks for the advice!

Thanks, Sierra. Appreciate the tone tips. I think the difference between a good musician and a great musician is tone!

Thanks! Great advice!

Top advice, thanks

Hey, I use the exact same pick! I love Blue Chip picks

4:14 the face someone makes when too much pick is used for a guitar. lol But seriously these are super helpful tips! Thanks!

Sierra...you have a fan from Brazil!

Beautiful instrument..thank you..

Great tutorial and a simply charming southern accent!

Tanks Dear !!! I have problems with the double step trémolo . Greetings from Maryland. You the best .

awesome tips, thank you

Love my Blue Chip T-60. Love my BC for my dobro too.

I appreciate the tutorials. I have been playing guitar with and without picks most of my life. Is there a vast difference in pick hold playing mandolin compared to guitar. I have been following you many years. Your talents across many instruments amazes me and inspires me. I am looking at an entry level mandolin to get started. Thank you for sharing. Maybe one day, we will meet. Safe travels. Peace

Great tips! Thx!

OMG playing Bill Monroe as easy is just amazing !!

I’ve always told students to get a rigid pick. It’s not just pick thickness, the material that a pick is made of determines the tone character it will produce. I like dropping them on a glass tabletop - you can hear how bright/mellow a sound will be produced. I’ve done the same with bridges & nuts.

Thank you so much!

You are wonderful and I am senior citizen and I have wanted to play since I was kid and my parents got me instrument but never knew how, any step direction application thanks 🙏

Great tips Sierra. For a second there it sounded like you were going to bust out on Paul Gilbert’s Viking Kong solo. At least it started to sound like it, mandolin version. I bet it would sound cool. Of course it’s a totally different style of playing, but I know you would have no problem playing it.

Just Witnessed you at Summer camp, I am forcing myself not to fall in love.. lol but thank you for the insight of the angle on the string, I have been missing out. Thanks for existing.

Don’t plat mandolin... but got a bunch outta this video & appreciate you taking the time to share. ☮️

Hey Sierra- Wonderful sharing your mandolin expertise!!- What is your feelings on coated strings for Mandolin(like Elizers)- and what do you reccomend?

I find this video very helpful my self

For the mandolin I like the Dunlop Tortex Jazz III .73 picks and playing midway between the bridge and finger board or close to the finger board. I play with the finger tips as close to the frets as possible.

Thanks so much. Please more tips.....!

Have you played any of The Arcadian Wild? Love them so much and they have a lot of awesome mandolin. Love the work you’re doing!

Thanks Sierra! Very helpful tips. What brand of pick up do you have on your mandolin?

great tips thx

Thanks Sierra

Thank you Sierra. I am aware of all those things but I still am a terrible flatpicker (good with the fingers). I guess I need some lessons -). Thanks.

Great vid and good tips too! In the Netherlands there is a reason to call a pick a plectrum. The word pick (in Dutch written without the c) makes this video hilarious. I can confirm the thickness, angle and hold do matter ^^

Sold tips and thanks for calling me "dear". @ 2:14 Lol

Thanks for the practical advice! The set of books on your shelf aren’t Narnia books, are they?

Thanks a lot.

Well...of the 5 tips Sierra gave...I did none like that! I probably did the world a great service by giving up playing and just listening instead...your welcome, world! But, oh! To be able to play any stringed instrument like her...to have those magic fingers...a dream that will have to remain a dream...but I can still listen with the best of them! Play on, young lady! Play On!!!❤👍

great 👌 thanks

Thank you. Eapecially #5.

I had no idea about numbers 5. Coming from guitar and being self taught in mandolin, I had no idea

Thank you so much, Sierra. I will be looking at this assiduously when I finish work today. I think it will help me.

Hey Sierra, great video.. Bluechip TD60 gives three bevel options. Does it matter to you which one you use? I've been using a 1.5mm (same as "60") Dunlop light purple teardrop, and it is my favorite. But I'm thinking of getting a Bluechip, just curious about the bevel option.

So helpful! You are a such generous teacher to share your knowledge and help us learners thirsty for guidance! I’m a fiddler/guitarist trying to improve on mandolin- it’s different for sure - and fun!

Can you please do something on 'feel'. How do u get eighth notes to swing in tunes like Foggy Mountain Breakdown or Dusty Miller? It seems to relate to tempo as well.

Just purchased my first mandolin. I'm coming from hammered dulcimer , hence love of folk, and classical guitar background. I'm used to having thumb low down on back of neck, (not over the top like rock players), to gain maximum arch, ability to play full barre chords, and freedom of movement , using very tip of fingers, and positioned close to fret like you show. Noticed a lot of mandolin players on here have the thumb on the top of the neck, is this correct placement or a bad habit like many guitar players develop ? Also do you need to use a pick or can you just use fingernails like classical guitarists ? Pick that came with it is very very pliable, do I ditch this and use solid wooden one , or is that too solid ?

Thanks for sharing this video! I'm so impressed by The tone you got when you play Church Street Blues!!!! ( on a Hayes Guitar) (New video)

#1--yes! My apartment mate in college would play acoustic guitar with a thin pick that would go "flap, flap" when he strummed. I hated that sound! The stiffness of the pick also matters. I like Dunlop Tortex .60 for acoustic guitar. On the thinner side, but doesn't flap because it's so stiff.

❤❤❤❤❤❤thank you 🎉🎉