Brian Oberlin is an internationally acclaimed mandolin player and educator from Grand Rapids, Michigan. During his decades long professional career, Brian has been playing swing, bluegrass, originals and classical as a solo mandolinist and vocalist and has many projects, including the Michigan based bluegrass band Full Cord.
Featured Upcoming Events
Tenor Guitar Gathering
May 31, 2025
Astoria, OR
Performing- May 30 at 7:00 pm
Teaching- May 31 at 1:30 pm
Recorded in 2011, this is the first of the double solo album and mostly features swinging music from the 1920's and 30's with Oberlin on mandolin and vocals.
Annie Moved On
Full Cord
A single penned by Luke Gitchel, Annie Moved On is Full Cord from 2025 and features Eric Langejans (guitar & vocals), Todd Kirchner (bass), Chase Potter (fiddle), George Guthrie (banjo & vocals) and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Downtown
Full Cord
A live single released in 2020 by Full Cord featuring Oberlin's song Downtown. The line-up is Eric Langejans (guitar), Todd Kirchner (bass), Grant Flick (fiddle), Matthew Davis (banjo), and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Grando Mando
Brian Oberlin
Brian's first solo album from 2002 and homemade on a multi-track Fostex recorder. All instruments played by Brian except “Ain't No Bugs On Me” which features Grasshoppah from 2002.
Whoa Mama!
Grasshoppah
From 2004, this is Grasshoppah's second album with Glenn House (guitar, drums and vocals simultaneously!), Shane Bullis (bass and vocals), Bill Vits (percussion), Dan Giacobassi (sax and flute) and Brian Oberlin (mandolins, sax and vocals)
West of Idaho
Ida Viper
From 2008, The Oregon based Ida Viper sophomore album has Mark Petteys (banjo, guitar and vocals), Russ Baker (bass and vocals), Paul Anastasio (fiddle) and Brian Oberlin (acoustic and electric mandolins and vocals)
Twin Mandolin Slingers
Evan J. Marshall & Brian Oberlin
From 2015, this mandolin duet album with Brian Oberlin and Evan Marshall, The Twin Mandolin Slingers, has plenty to offer from swing and bluegrass to Brahms and Rossini.
Solo Swing Christmas
Brian Oberlin
Recorded in 2011, this is the second of the double solo album and features swinging Christmas music with Brian Oberlin on mandolin and vocals. Track 14 features Josh Feinberg on Bass.
Giuseppi Silvestri
Brian Oberlin
Recorded in 2013, this album features Italian mandolin music written by Giuseppi Silvestri. Brian Oberlin plays the mandolin with guitarist Paul Hirschmann. The album also has a PDF Book of all the music with chords.
Oh So Young
Grasshoppah
Grasshoppah's first album from 2002 with Glenn House (drums, guitar and vocals simultaneously!), Chris Carr (bass and vocals) and Brian Oberlin (acoustic and electric mandolins and vocals).
Mantello e Cilndro
Carlo Aonzo & Brian Oberlin
Recorded in 2018, this is Oberlin's mandolin duet performed by Brian Oberlin and the dedicatee, Carlo Aonzo
Magnetic West
Gideon Freudmann & Brian Oberlin
From 2014, this duet album features Gideon Freudmann on cello and percussion with Brian Oberlin on mandolin, electric mandolin, tenor banjo and lap steel.
The Journeymen
The Journeymen
Recorded in 2016 and 2018, this is a collaboration of long time friends Brian Oberlin (mandolin and vocals) and Luke Gitchel (guitar and vocals) with Wes Pettinger (banjo and vocals), Isaac Smith (fiddle and vocals) and Seth Sutton (bass). Honky Tonk and Bluegrass is the method with this album.
Hindsight
Full Cord
Hindsight by Full Cord is from 2021 and features Eric Langejans (guitar & vocals), Todd Kirchner (bass), Grant Flick (fiddle), Lloyd Douglas (banjo) and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Troubadour
Brian Oberlin
Recorded in 2016, this solo album is a collection of 14 original songs by Brian Oberlin. Most of it is mandolin and vocals, while "3 Gigs" features a country band and "ROW Along" features Oberlin accompaning himself on swing guitar. This album also features 3 different mandolins including a Lloyd Loar.
The 3 Faces of Steve
Caravan Gogh
Recorded in 2014, this is the second album by Portland, OR based Caravan Gogh that includes Gideon Freudmann on cello, Jim D'Ville on ukulele and Brian Oberlin on mandolin. Oberlin plays mandolin on tracks 2-7.
Christmas Cheer
Full Cord
A holiday single and penned by Brian Oberlin and Joe New, Christmas Cheer is Full Cord from 2024 and features Eric Langejans (guitar), Todd Kirchner (bass), Chase Potter (fiddle), George Guthrie (banjo) and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Choremania
Full Cord
Full Cord's Choremania is an EP from 2019 and features Eric Langejans (guitar & vocals), Todd Kirchner (bass), Grant Flick (fiddle) and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Capriccio Fantastico
Brian Oberlin
Recorded in 2014, this is Brian's first classical solo mandolin album and features all Italian composers (excepting one piece by Tchaikovsky).
Cambium
Full Cord
Full Cord's Cambium is from 2023 and features Eric Langejans (guitar & vocals), Todd Kirchner (bass), Grant Flick (fiddle), Ricky Mier (banjo), Katie Kirchner (vocals) and Brian Oberlin (mandolin & vocals)
Resources
Free
TRANSCRIPTION OF THE MONTH- Fluxology
Mandolin Solo by Ricky Skaggs from the 1979 album, Fluxology. Free and contains mandolin notation, tablature and chords.
Beginner's Mandolin Songbook Free- 20 easy songs for beginners that explore several genres and keys in notation and tablature. Includes chords and lyrics to Boil them Cabbage, Buffalo Gals, Cindy, My Home's Across the Blueridge Mountains, Old Joe Clark, Goodnight Irene, Happy Birthday, Haydn Surprise Symphony, Red River Valley, Skip to my Lou, Camptown Races, Hand me down my Walking Cane, Jambalaya, Shady Grove, She'll be coming around the Mountain when she comes, When the Saints go Marching in, Long Journey Home, Miss Molly, Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah, Take me out to the Ball Game
The origin of the song goes back to Wayne State University. Professor Graham T. Overgard wrote the Detroit Lions fight song "Gridiron Heroes" in 1934. Includes free mandolin notation and tab, chords and lyrics.
Written in 1908 by Jack Norworth (lyrics) and Albert Von Tilzer (music). Free mandolin notation, tablature, chords and lyrics. This is a solo mandolin arrangement.
A PDF book of all the music from Brian Oberlin's 2014 solo album, Capriccio Fantastico. The music is in notation only. $15 email oberlinmandolin@gmail.com for purchase.
The Mandolin Music of Giuseppi Silvestri
A PDF book of 17 mandolin gems from Giuseppi Silvestri (1841-1921). The music is in notation only and includes chords. There is also audio available for the book which is Brian on mandolin and Paul Hirschmann on guitar. The entire package sells for $25. Email oberlinmandolin@gmail.com for purchase.
Mandoliner's Swing Book
A PDF collection of 40 swinging standards tailored for mandolin players. The booklet also includes 4 pages of chord shapes, notation and tablature to accompany every song and sells for $15. Email oberlinmandolin@gmail.com to purchase.
Airmail Special, Avalon, Bye Bye Blues, Dinah, I Never Knew that Roses Grew, I Want to be Happy, Is it True What they Say About Dixie, Kansas City Kitty, Miss Molly, Muskrat Ramble, Seven Come Eleven, Sweet Georgia Brown, Take the A Train, Tenor Madness, Topsy, When the Saints go Marching in, After You've Gone, Am I Blue, Blue Skies, Gravy Waltz, Honeysuckle Rose, Idaho, I'll see you in My Dreams, Lady Be Good, Strutting with some Barbecue, Sunday, Sweet Sue, Swing 42, Take the Coltrane, Then I'll be Happy, There's a new Moon Over my Shoulder, Tickle Toe, When You're Smiling, Djangology, It Had to be You, Lazy River, Maiden's Prayer, Out of Nowhere, There will Never be Another You, Tiny's Rag
