Picking Arm and Hand Position

The Ideal Position for Strumming and Flatpicking

This lesson will teach you how to position your mandolin so your picking arm and hand will be in the correct position for strumming and flatpicking.

When positioning your mandolin, place it in the center of your lap. This will allow you to have the proper arm and position on your instrument. Gently rest your arm between the tailpiece (the metal part that the strings are connected to) and the F hole (A style mandolin's don't have F holes. Watch the video for proper placement). Your wrist should hover above the bridge on your mandolin. This is your starting position.