Home Tuning Specifications

The tuning of each of these instruments, relies to some extent upon the effect you wish to create with the strings. Bronze wound strings will produce a much warmer sound. Heavier strings, requiring more tension to bring to the note, will produce more power and a more striking sound. Lighter strings, conversely, make for a lighter more melodious tone. The balance of heavier and lighter strings, will be what gives the instrument it's characteristic sound. Because of the different qualities of each instrument's construction, (wood used, sound hole shape and size, volume of the body, the style of bridge adopted, etc.), a given set of strings will produce slightly different effects on different instruments. The rule is to try, to experiment, until you achieve a sound that you like. Thus, the following notes can only be an outline guidance.

A look at the range of strings available will give some idea of the possibilities, but only trying them on your instrument will tell you what they sound like. You can use a commercial set, or adapt one by replacing given strings with slightly heavier or lighter ones. Some suppliers will supply individual strings. Online suppliers will be found on the links page. The general view is to try and balance the tension across the string set, so as not to place unbalanced stresses on the instrument, but if you achieve complete balanced tension, the effect will sound rather bland. There will need to be an emphasis somewhere, but because everyone's hearing is attuned differently, what you find agreeable will depend on you.

I will start by trying to outline where middle C is on each instrument, so that they are tuned in the correct octave. If unsure, tune an octave lower, then no strings will be broken. It will be obvious if it is an octave too low, because the strings , especially the lower ones, will seem much too slack, and will rattle. If you have no piano for middle C, the chart should allow you to tune from other strung instruments, (provided they are roughly in tune!) On the mandolin, as with the violin, many musicians recommend tuning the A string first, and then tuning the others to that, then the instrument will be in tune with itself. With the vagaries of different string thickness, varying string height and scale length, it is not always wise to rely on electronic tuners that cannot address these variables.
		The original 'Grand Stave' of 11 ledger lines was divided into 2, treble and bass, for ease of use. Middle C is on the on the line above the bass clef, and on the line below the treble. (*Warning for guitarists:* guitar music is often written in 'Transposed Pitch', an octave higher than it actually is!!) The *modern system is based on the note A above middle C being 440Hz,* but this has not always been the case. Many older instrument are tuned to an A at 435 (which is why many old melodeons sound flat!) or even as low as 415Hz.
Care should be taken when using these charts..... I have set up the tunings below to match the English chart, but Helmholtz system is often seen as well. Middle C is still the same note.
Middle 'C'
Instrument (click for instrument page)	Scale Length	Where is middle C?	Traditional Tuning: bottom up
Guitar	around 65cms	1st fret on 2nd string.	E,,A,,D,G,B,E
Mandolin/mandriola	30-36cms	5th fret on 4th string.	G,DAe
Mandola	42-50cms	5th fret on 3rd string.	C,G,DA
Irish Bouzouki	53-58cms	3rd fret on 2nd string.	G,,D,A,E
Waldzither (D)	39-45cms	3rd fret on 4th string	D, A,A, DD F#F# AA
Waldzither (C)	46-50cms	Open 3rd string	C, G,G, CC EE GG
Greek Bouzouki (C tuning)	64-69cms	3rd fret on 2nd string.	C,C F,F A,A, DD
Greek Bouzouki (D tuning)	64-69cms	1st fret on 2nd string.	D,,D, G,,G, B,B, EE
Lombardy Mandolin	30-31cms	1st fret on 5th string.	G, B, E A d g
Bandurria	27cms	4th fret on 6th string.	G,# C# F# B e a
Laud		1st fret on 3rd string.	G,,# C,# F,# B, E A octave below bandurria
Cittern: (great variety possible) see alternative waldzither tunings.	54-66cms	3rd fret on 2nd string. 3rd fret on 3rd string.	DGDAD zook with extra bass GDADA zook with extra top
Mandolin Banjo Tenor Banjo	30-36cms 55-58cms	5th fret on 4th string. 3rd fret on 2nd string.	G,DAe Tenor banjo an octave lower than mandolin
Fado Guitar, Lisbon Fado Guitar, Coimbra	44-46cms 47cms	1st fret on 4th string. 3rd fret on the 4th string.	bb, aa, ee, Bb, Aa, Dd aa, gg, dd, Aa, Gg, Cc