Nashville's status as the home of country music sometimes overshadows its other hobbies and activities. Still, the city and its surrounding areas have seen an explosion in the number of social and hobbyist clubs in recent years. Mahjong, once primarily associated with senior centers and retirement communities, has seen a rise in popularity across the region, with young professionals taking up the game as a way to spend an evening away from screens and other distractions.

If you're new to the game and looking to learn how to play in Nashville, this guide will help you find classes, costs, and what to expect from your first lessons.

Learning the Basics Beforehand

Before you look for classes, it's a good idea to understand what kind of classes are available in your area. Most beginner classes in Nashville are designed to teach you American Mahjong, the homegrown variant with an annually updated scoring card and 152 tiles. Chinese and Japanese (riichi) Mahjong are both played with very different rule sets and scoring systems and are much less common in local beginner classes.

If you're looking for classes or clubs to join, most are likely to be focused on American Mahjong, unless otherwise stated.

Where to Find Beginner Classes

Community Centers

Nashville's Metro Parks and Recreation system, as well as a number of community centers in surrounding areas, offer short, multi-week classes in beginner mahjong. Most are designed to meet once a week for four to six weeks and are intended to be played at a relaxed pace so that new players can learn the fundamentals before attempting to play a full game.

Senior and Community Centers

Many senior centers around Nashville offer beginner classes and regular game nights for those new to the game.

Local Game Cafés and Social Clubs

Some local game cafés and social clubs offer beginner lessons or casual drop-in play, where more experienced players can help fill in as instructors for those who are just starting.

Private Instructors

For those who want a faster or more flexible learning pace, private instructors are a great option. Many offer lessons to small groups of friends, making it a great option for bachelorette parties or other social events.

What It Costs

The cost of lessons can vary greatly depending on the venue and the instructor. Community center classes are often the most affordable and are typically billed as a flat fee for the entire course rather than per class. JCC classes are often similarly priced and may offer discounts to members. Private lessons are much more expensive but offer a more flexible learning pace. Café or club meetups are often free of charge but may ask that you purchase food or drinks from the establishment. If you're unsure about committing to a full course of private lessons, one of these more affordable options may be a good way to begin your studies.

What to Expect in Your First Class

Most classes will provide you with a set of tiles to use during the lesson, so you shouldn't need to bring any equipment with you when you arrive for your first lesson.

You should also be prepared to spend a good amount of your first class simply learning to identify the tiles, since most of the other elements of the game are built around them. This may seem like a slow start, but most instructors know that it can be overwhelming to try and learn all of the new terms and concepts at once and will plan their curriculum around introducing new ideas in small chunks over several classes.

By the end of your first several classes, you should have a good grasp of the fundamentals of the game and be able to play an entire game, read a scoring card, and understand the basics of scoring and hand construction.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Class

You don’t need to memorize all of the hands right away; most players use their hand scoring card to help them identify winning hands for a few months.

It’s always a good idea to ask if a group plays Mahjong Nashville or another type of Mahjong before you try to join them.

You may want to try multiple different classes or meetup groups until you find one that suits you best, as teaching and playing styles can vary drastically.

If you can, it’s always a good idea to practice playing with a friend or family member in between classes, as repetition is usually key for memorization.

After the Class: Finding a Regular Group to Play With

Once you've finished your first course, you may want to find a regular group to play with. Many students form game groups with their classmates, since everyone is at a similar skill level and most have learned the rules in the same way.

There are also a number of local game clubs and cafés that offer casual drop-in play, as well as online social media groups that can help you find other players in your area who are looking for new people to play with.

Final Thoughts

Nashville's mahjong scene is a great place to begin your studies, whether you're looking for the structured pace of a community center class or the more casual drop-in play of a game café. The most important thing is to sign up for your first lesson, after which you should find that the fundamentals of the game are much less intimidating than they may have seemed at first.