Mandolin Tuning

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Anatomy of a mandolin Bowlback Flatback Bluegrass

 

   Mandolin: scale length around 330mm (classical) - 350mm (bluegrass)

   Tuning:  Accepted tuning for mandolins is the same as violins, GDAE from low to high, with unison strings, that is, with pairs of strings in the same octave. 

  • fourth (lowest tone) course: G2 (196.00 Hz)
  • third course: D3 (293.66 Hz)
  • second course: A3 (440.00 Hz; A above middle C)
  • first (highest tone) course: E4 (659.25 Hz)

Other tunings exist, including "cross-tunings" in which the usually doubled string-runs are tuned to discrete pitches. This is often used in the "cross-picking" style of playing. Additionally, guitarists may sometimes tune a mandolin to mimic a portion of the intervals on a standard guitar tuning to achieve familiar fretting patterns.... apparently.

Older instruments need lighter strings, as they tend to be built very lightly, particularly the old bowl-backs. D'Addario provides the best information on tension, but if you are interested in calculating string tensions, then a variety of online calculators will be found on the links page.

There is also some discussion about whether or not the second string should be wound or not. This is the string that seems to present most problems with intonation. The down-side of a wound second though, is that the core is very thin, and breakages tend to be more frequent. Also, not many manufacturers produce these.

 

String Manufacturer:

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

GHS A 240 Ultra Light

Phosphor Bronze, loop end

009"

013"

020"

032"

GHS A 250 Light

Phosphor Bronze, loop end

010"

015"

024"

036"

GHS A 270 Medium 

Phosphor Bronze, loop end

011"

016"

026"

040"

Ernie Ball 2065 

Earthwood Bronze

010"

014"

024"

036"

Ernie Ball 2067 Light

Earthwood Bronze

090"

013"

022"

030"

  Note: 

D'Addario light

NOTE

DESCRIPTION

DIAMETER "

TENSION LBS

1st E

Plain Steel

.010

17.8

2nd A

Plain Steel

.014

15.8

3rd D

80/20 Bronze Wound

.024

18.6

4th G

80/20 Bronze Wound

.034

16.7

D'Addario medium

1st E

Plain Steel

.011

23.1

2nd A

Plain Steel

.015

19.7

3rd D

Stainless Steel Wound

.026

23.6

4th G

Stainless Steel Wound

.040

24.6

D'Addario heavy bluegrass set

1st E

Plain Steel

.0115

24.5

2nd A

Plain Steel

.016

21.3

3rd D

Phosphor Bronze Wound

.026

23.8

4th G

Phosphor Bronze Wound

.041

26.0

 

Note: these D'Addario tensions do not specify for what scale length they are appropriate. For a short scale length, the tension may be much higher than that stated!!

 

  Mandriola: scale length around 330-350mm
  Tuning:  Essentially, a mandriola is to the mandolin, what a 12 string is to the guitar. It is tuned as a mandolin, GDAE, but with an lower octave string on the lower side of all four courses. I haven't found another string manufacturer yet for this instrument, but the Pyramids work well.
Pyramid Mandriola Strings:     12- strings  e"e"e' a'a'a d'd'd ggG silver, (from top down) scale length 340mm. Tension ca.5.8kg

   e"e"(0.010)  e'(0.021w)  a'a' (0.013)  a (0.031w)  d'd' (0.023w)  d (0.044w)  gg (0.033w)  G (0.064w)