Mandolin Secrets Podcast

#48 The Making Of Bingsjö Lilla Långdans

Go behind the scenes as Magnus Zeterlund breaks down his latest release, "Bingsjö Lilla Långdans"—a traditional Swedish tune reimagined on electric octave mandolin and guitar.Discover how he adapted the melody, layered harmonies across different octaves, and programmed drums in Logic Pro.Magnus shares his workflow for multitracking, why he chose certain tones, and the three biggest lessons learned: separating instrument sounds, editing drums at the event level, and deciding track length early.Perfect for musicians curious about the creative and technical process of bringing traditional music into a modern recording.Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.Please watch video and listen to performance by following the link below.https://www.mandolinsecrets.com/bingsjo-lilla-langdansVisit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

#47 Deconstructing a Classic: When You Wish Upon a Star

In this episode:Magnus Zetterlund takes a deep dive into his unique mandolin arrangement of the 1940 Disney classic. Using an AI-generated technical overview as a jumping-off point, he explores the intersection of music theory, instrument physics, and emotional delivery.Technical Key Points Covered:The "Spice" of the A7#5: Why Magnus used an augmented dominant chord to create tension and Sophistication in the A-section.Harmonic Sophistication: A breakdown of the Dm7(b5) to G7 (ii-V-I) progression and how it adds a jazz flavor to the traditional melody.Position & Timbre: Why fretboard geography matters. Comparing the "warm, rounded" tones of the lower frets to the "bright, bell-like" quality of the higher fret voicings.Resources Mentioned:Magnus Zetterlund’s Lead Sheet: The original PDF arrangement of When You Wish Upon a Star.AI Technical Overview: A digital analysis of the harmonic complexity within the manuscript.>> Download free mandolin chord charts at my website:https://mandolinsecrets.com/wish-upon-a-starVisit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast

#46 Pick Slanting Breakthroughs & Practice Priorities for 2026

Join Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin as they wrap up 2025 and dive into the real work happening in practice rooms across the mandolin community. In this candid conversation, Magnus and Hayes get technical about pick slanting and escape motions—the breakthrough technique that's transforming their playing after decades of double-escaping. They also tackle practical questions from the community about practice routines, gear choices, and how to stay motivated on your musical journey.Whether you're a beginner finding your way or an experienced player refining your technique, this episode offers honest insights into the practice process and what it takes to keep growing as a musician.Topics Covered:Pick Slanting & Single Escape TechniqueMagnus shares his breakthrough moment with pick slanting after 30 years of playingUnderstanding supination vs. pronation and rest strokes vs. escape strokesWhy this isn't just about speed—it's about efficient, powerful single-note pickingPractical demonstrations of two-note and four-note per string patternsHow to build vocabulary from mechanical exercisesPractice PrioritiesHayes on the importance of tracking your practice (and his 20-month tracking gap)Magnus's focus on right-hand technique and melodic adjustmentsCommunity members share their goals: learning scales, memorizing the fretboard, and diving into Nordic folk tunesGear Talk: Cases & Gig BagsFinding the right fit for different instruments and situationsHard cases vs. soft cases: when to use eachMagnus's search for the perfect electric octave mandolin case (spoiler: Strandberg guitar bags might be the answer)Community recommendations including Colorado Case Company, Blue Heron, TKL, and Northfield casesLooking Ahead to 2026Magnus's new Octave Mandolin Course now availablePlans for a Nordic Folk Guitar course coming in spring 2026Hayes's upcoming European tour in May (details TBA)New Guitar Club content and guided courses on the horizonCommunity InsightsHow joining Mandolin Secrets Academy increases practice frequency and commitmentThe power of putting "skin in the game" for your musical developmentMentioned in This Episode:Mandolin Secrets Academy (mandolinsecrets.com)Previous podcast episodes at mandolinsecrets.com/podcastHayes's tour with Beppe GambettaMagnus's collaboration with Johan Eriksson RappConnect With Us: Watch the video version of this episode exclusively inside Mandolin Secrets Academy, or find all previous episodes at mandolinsecrets.com/podcastHere are the weblinks mentioned in the show.Visit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcastBeppe Gambetta website:https://beppegambetta.com/

#45 Your best practice advices

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing:What are the best practice advice or helpful tips you have learned?Did you attend any good concerts this summer?Magnus biggest take aways from the workshops at Grenna Bluegrass Festival with Tristan ScrogginsMagnus’s new video lesson for pinky power.Hayes’ new video for Northfield Signal Electric Guitar.Hayes’ new Bulas two-point mandolin.Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.Visit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcastBulas Instrumentshttps://bulas.pl/en-usNorthield Mandolinshttps://www.northfieldinstruments.com/

#44 How to find a good teacher?

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing:When getting started, were you mostly self-taught or did you take lessons?What got you to pick up the mandolin the first time?Magnus is sharing videos of himself testing out the entire mandolin family: mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, and mandocello.Hayes is sharing info and details about his new beginner course “Play Bluegrass Guitar in 30 days”.Here are the weblinks mentioned in the show.Visit our website for more episodes:https://mandolinsecrets.com/podcast