The mandolin is an interesting instrument with an interesting history. Though some may associate its gentle 8-string tones with mobster flicks and the music of the 1920s, for us there’s no question—the mandolin is the backbone of bluegrass! Bill Monroe and other first-generation legends like Jesse McReynold’s championed the use of the mandolin, cementing the off-beat chop of the mandolin as a requirement for true bluegrass. Once second-generation innovators like David Grisman and Ricky Skaggs got their hands on the mandolin, things really took off—and today’s masters like Sierra Hull and Frank Solivan continue to prove the mandolin is an instrument with no equal. Enjoy this playlist of the masters of the mandolin!

David Chernack
David Chernack is a fiddler, mandolinist, and guitarist from Hyde Park, NY. Trained as a classical violist, David found out about bluegrass music through the Strawberry Hill Fiddlers program and despite his best efforts has been unable to kick the habit. He picked up mandolin and guitar in college in Boston, where he studied environmental science and music. After moving to Denver and performing and touring with several Coloradan bands, he's back in the Hudson Valley. Aside from bluegrass, David also enjoys birdwatching and wrenching on cars.

Latest posts from David Chernack
- BoozeGrass – A David Chernack Playlist - November 23, 2023
- Bluegrass Songs About Bluegrass – A Playlist - November 9, 2023
- HVBA Member Band Spotlight: Wickers Creek! - November 8, 2023