Top Ten Gifts for Mandolin Players

Mandolin players may sound like a difficult group of people for whom to buy gifts, but that really isn't the case. In fact, mandolin players love anything to do with making music 8 string style or leaning new picking methods. From simple tuners that will fit in a stocking to a new case, there is something for every musician and every budget.

1) Elixir Nanoweb Mandolin Strings cost around $12.99 and make a good gift for any mandolin player, new or experienced. They come in gauges 10-14-24-34. The strings are covered with an ultra thin, polymer tube that contacts the string on the tops of the windings only. They're coated with Nanoweb technology and this reduces tonal interference and vibrations. In consumer surveys, most players report that Elixir Strings keep sounding great 3 to 5 times longer than ordinary strings.

2) Musician's Friend F-Style Mandolin Hard shell Case at a price of only $29.99 is a welcome gift. It is a hard shell case, all wood, and has a soft, black plush interior. It fits all F style mandolins. The overall length is 28 inches, body length is 17 inches, lower bout is 11 inches, upper bout is 6 and 3/4 inches, and depth is 3 and 1/2 inches.

3) The Homespun Essential Mandolin Technique (DVD) comes at a cost of $29.95. It contains instructions by Chris Thile, mandolin player for the hit band Nickel Creek, and explains his methods for developing right- and left-hand dexterity, and improving speed and accuracy. It includes numerous tunes and exercises that will make a big difference in your playing. It also contains performances of Chris' original songs "When Mandolins Dream and "Raining at Sunset," includes music and tab and has a run time of 85 minutes.

4) Hal Leonard Fretboard Roadmaps Mandolin (Book/CD) is a great buy at $9.99.
Fretboard Roadmaps series is a book/CD pack for all mandolin players. The CD includes 48 demonstration tracks for the exercises that will teach players to play all over the fret board in any key; play chord-based licks, moveable major and blues scales, and first-position major scales and double stops. The book and CD include diagrams and instructions for all levels of players and is 64 pages long.

5) The Performance Plus Violin/Mandolin Pitch Pipe can be found at most music or mandolin stores at a low price of $2.99. It has 4 precision tuned reeds and is small and durable. This makes a great stocking stuffer for a mandolin player.

6) The IMT-500 Clip On Chromatic Tuner costs $24.95 and is an electric tuner for those players who don't like to use a pitch pipe. This tuner is designed to tune electric and acoustic guitars, basses, violins, banjos, mandolins and more without interference from room noise.

7) Golden Gate Rounded Triangle Mandolin Picks come 12 picks per pack for around $8.99 at most music supply stores. These particular picks are made of high quality celluloid and come in an assortment of colors. They are a favorite of bluegrass players because of their tone and feel.

8) Planet Waves Leather Mandolin Strap is a comfortable and good looking mandolin strap for only $10.99. It is made from high quality leather, is 3/4 inch wide, and available in black or brown leather. It fits A or F style mandolins.

9) Gruven Mandolin Stand are an impressive choice for a stand at only $24.50. They also hold ukuleles and violins. It sets up and packs up in a seconds and folds to only one inch thick. The deep cradle prevents the instrument from tipping forward and drastically inhibits sideways movement.

10) Pick Holder Key Rings are a functional and cool gift. They come with a standard key ring clip and the pick pouch is made of vinyl. A musician is never without a pick this way. The Mandolin Store has the cheapest one I've found, at only $2.99.

Fill the holidays with music this year with some of these gifts for the mandolin player on your shopping list. Fill a key ring holder with quality picks, or throw a new strap across a stand. Whatever you decide to give, the mandolin player who receives them will get much enjoyment from them, no strings attached, so to speak.