Absolute Beginners Mandolin - Book & CD. This book is a complete picture guide to playing the mandolin. It's been designed to make learning the mandolin easier than ever before the step by step pictures take you from first day exercises to playing your first complete songs. Book contains: Practical advice and tips covering everything you need to know about setting up, playing & maintenance, CD audio tracks to let you hear how things should sound, Plus.. Full- length accompaniment tracks.