This is the companion resource page for Mandolin Blues Book: 101 Blues Riffs and Solos for Mandolin by Brent C. Robitaille. Use the search box and filters below to find audio tracks, video demonstrations, and references by page number, riff number, key, or keyword — indexed from the book itself.
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Mandolin Blues Book
101 BLUES RIFFS & SOLOS  · BOOK COMPANION  · brentrobitaille.com/mandolin-blues-book
Your one-stop page for audio tracks, riff videos, chord progressions, and reference links — organized by page number. No digging required.
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| PAGE | TOPIC / CONTENT | TAGS | RESOURCES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations — Introduction & How to Read Tab (p.3–17) | |||
| p.3 | Introduction to Blues Mandolin Origins of blues music · the three core elements: blues scale, shuffle/swing rhythm, 12-bar form · techniques for mimicking the voice on mandolin: hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, vibrato, bends, tremolo. | TechniqueBlues | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.6 | How to Read Tablature and Chords Reading mandolin tab: strings 1–4 (E–A–D–G), fret numbering, finger suggestions · chord diagrams and barre chord notation · hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides in tab · fingerboard number chart. | Reference | — |
| p.8 | Introduction to Blues Mandolin — cont. Deeper dive into blues feel and phrasing · applying the blues scale over the 12-bar form · call-and-response phrasing · building your first blues vocabulary on mandolin. | PhrasingScale | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.10 | Making a Blues Solo One Step at a Time Step-by-step solo construction from single note choices up to a full 12-bar solo. Practical improvisation framework: scale choices → phrasing → rhythm → ornamentation. | SoloScale | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.12 | Two-Octave Blues Scales — Extended Blues Scales Full two-octave blues scale patterns across the neck in G, D, A, and C · extended positions for connecting neck areas · pentatonic foundation with added blue notes · essential fingering patterns for lead playing. | Scale2-Octave | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.14 | Chord Tone — Arpeggio Exercises Arpeggio patterns as the foundation for blues soloing · major, minor, and dominant 7th arpeggio shapes · targeting chord tones to create strong melodic lines over I–IV–V changes. | ArpeggioChord Tone | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.16 | 10 Tips for Making Great Mandolin Riffs and Solos Ten practical strategies: space and silence · repetition · call-and-response · dynamics · rhythmic variation · targeting chord tones · using bends and slides expressively · building a personal vocabulary. | TipsReference | — |
| 40 Stylistic Blues Riffs in G, D, A & C — Riffs 1–40 (p.18–57) | |||
| p.18 | 40 Blues Riffs in G (Riffs 1–40) 40 stylistic blues riffs in G covering straight, shuffle, minor blues, jazzy, and country blues feels. Each riff 1–2 bars. Use as a vocabulary bank for jamming and soloing. Individual YouTube videos for riffs 1–40 — expand to browse by number. | RiffsKey of G |
🎵 Audio Set
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| p.28 | 40 Blues Riffs in D (Riffs 1–40) Same 40 stylistic riff types transposed to D. Compare fingerings across keys. D is ideal for jamming with guitarists in open D or open G tuning. Cross-reference the G riff videos — same riff numbers, different key. | RiffsKey of D | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.38 | 40 Blues Riffs in A (Riffs 1–40) 40 stylistic riffs in A. Common blues and jam key — fits naturally with guitar and harp players. Pay attention to open-string opportunities unique to A on mandolin. | RiffsKey of A | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.48 | 40 Blues Riffs in C (Riffs 1–40) Full 40-riff set in C. Comparing all four keys (G, D, A, C) builds transposition fluency and shows the moveable nature of blues patterns on mandolin. | RiffsKey of C | 🎵 Audio Set |
| 25 One & Two-Bar Riffs in G, D, A & C — Riffs 41–65 (p.58–75) | |||
| p.58 | 25 One & Two-Bar Riffs in G (Riffs 41–65) 25 concise one and two-bar riffs in G — ready to drop into a 12-bar form. Shorter, more modular building blocks for improvised solos or backing lines. Videos available for riffs 41–50. | RiffsKey of G | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.62 | 25 One & Two-Bar Riffs in D (Riffs 41–65) Same 25-riff collection in D. Cross-reference with the G riff videos for fingering comparison. | RiffsKey of D | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.66 | 25 One & Two-Bar Riffs in A (Riffs 41–65) 25 punchy riffs in A — strong key for bluegrass-influenced blues and jam sessions. Focus on string-crossing efficiency and clean articulation at tempo. | RiffsKey of A | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.70 | 25 One & Two-Bar Riffs in C (Riffs 41–65) 25 one and two-bar riffs in C — the final key in this section. Use alongside G, D, and A sets to cover all four primary blues keys in the book. | RiffsKey of C | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.74 | Combined Riffs in G, A and C Multi-key riff combinations — practice moving between keys within a single passage. Builds the ability to follow chord changes using your riff vocabulary. Excellent preparation for the 12-bar rhythm riffs and solos ahead. | Multi-KeyModulation | 🎵 Audio Set |
| Rhythm & Picking Riffs in the 12-Bar Blues Form — Riffs 66–91 (p.76–95) | |||
| p.76 | 16 Rhythm Riffs in the 12-Bar Blues Form (Riffs 66–80) Sixteen full 12-bar rhythm riffs — the backbone of blues jamming. Shuffle patterns, straight-8th grooves, double-stop rhythms, and chop-style approaches. Each covers the complete I–IV–V form. Applies to country, rock, jazz, and bluegrass. | 12-Bar BluesRhythm | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.91 | 10 Picking Riffs and Patterns (Riffs 81–90) Ten picking-focused riffs developing right-hand technique: alternate picking, down-stroke emphasis, triplet groupings, and string-crossing patterns. Essential for building speed and rhythmic precision in blues playing. | PickingTechnique | 🎵 Audio Set |
| p.94 | 10 Scale Riffs and Patterns (Riff 91 — 10 patterns) Riff 91 is a single numbered entry containing 10 scale-based patterns. Blues scale runs, pentatonic sequences, and scale-tone targeting. Use as daily warm-up patterns or solo vocabulary builders. | Scale RiffsPatterns | 🎵 Audio Set |
| 10 Longer Blues Solos — Riffs 92–101 (p.96–113) | |||
| p.96 | 10 Mandolin Blues Solos (Riffs 92–101) Ten extended mandolin blues solos — the culmination of the book. Each follows the 12-bar structure and integrates riffs, scale runs, arpeggio targeting, rhythmic variety, and expressive techniques. Multiple keys and styles: shuffle blues, slow blues, uptempo grooves. Study each as a complete musical statement. | Solos12-Bar Blues | 🎵 Audio Set |
| Scales & Arpeggios — Quick Reference (p.114–129) | |||
| p.114 | Quick Reference Scale Patterns Compact reference charts for five essential scale types: Major · Minor · Blues · Pentatonic · Mixolydian. Moveable patterns applicable across all keys. Use daily for scale practice and improvisation. | MajorMinorBluesPentatonicMixolydian | — |
| p.118 | Major, Minor and Dominant 7th Chords / Arpeggios Chord diagrams and arpeggio patterns for major, minor, and dominant 7th chord types. Moveable shapes across all four strings. Essential for targeting chord tones when building solos and riffs. | ArpeggioDom7 | — |
| Blues Chords & Progressions — All Keys (p.130–149) | |||
| p.130 | Variations on Blues Chord Progressions Common blues progression variations beyond I–IV–V: quick-change blues, minor blues, jazz blues, turnarounds, and substitutions. Notation for how each variation alters the standard 12-bar form. | ProgressionsBlues Form | |
| p.132 | Blues Chord Progressions with Fretboard Diagrams — All Keys Complete blues chord progressions covering all 12 keys with fingering diagrams. I, IV, and V chord positions for every key. The most comprehensive chord reference section — ideal for transposing blues vocabulary to any key. | All KeysReference | — |
| p.144 | Mandolin Chord Library Comprehensive chord diagram library: major, minor, dominant 7th, minor 7th, major 7th, diminished, augmented, and suspended chord shapes. All diagrams in standard G–D–A–E tuning. | ChordsReference | — |
| Fingerboard & Note Charts — Reference (p.150–157) | |||
| p.150 | Mandolin Notation Guide Complete notation and tablature guide: reading standard notation alongside tab · rhythm values, rests, ties, slurs, and articulation marks. Cross-reference with the How to Read Tab section at the front. | NotationTab Guide | — |
| p.152 | Mandolin Fretboard and Note Charts Full fretboard note charts for all four string pairs across all positions. All 12 notes mapped in standard G–D–A–E tuning. Essential for neck navigation and locating scale or chord tones anywhere on the neck. | FretboardNote Chart | — |
| p.157 | Blank Tablature Blank mandolin tablature pages for writing your own riffs, solos, and practice notes. Four-string tab staves with standard notation staff above. Print and use as a practice journal. | Blank Tab | — |
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