I started mando years ago as my flatmates played guitars the started fiddle because'easy, the fingerings the same'. Well, we hope we eventually learn in this life. After a couple of fiddle lessons what improved most was the mandolin - I altered left hand so thumb was more behind the neck instead of strangling. My dear old thing is very old Neapolitan and it will never leave me, but it's a lot easier to hold a flatback relaxedly(?). Vin Garbutt once siad that to play a bellback while standing you need to have your pancreas removed.