The fix is to lubricate the nut so the string slides freely. Don’t feel bad in this case, as most of us have went through this when we first started out. Well, as a mandolin warms or cools, the woods expand and contact. This results in the other strings actually detuning. After the top string is tuned, tune the second string to the identical note. We will start with the G string or largest string on the top. This means that the tuner can hear any pitch and tell you whether it’s in tune or not. This tuning is the same as a violin or fiddle, but instead of 4 strings it has 4 pairs of strings (2 G strings, 2 D strings, 2 A strings and 2 E strings). This means you’ll be tuning in a clockwise direction around the mandolin’s head. There are also times when the strings bind slightly at the nut and bridge, then slip again, changing the string tension. All tuning machines have some degree of backlash. For reference, the notes for standard tuning on a mandolin follow the pattern below. Tune it like a violin. You might also find that some mandolins hold their tuning better than others. The more experienced players can tell the mandolin is out of tune, but the new player has no idea. While tuning your mandolin stroke one string of a pair and mute the other string using the pick. I usually start with the G string pair (thickest), and continue with the other pairs (D, A, E) till the mandolin is fully tuned: Identify the G strings and G tuning pegs using the image below. This also means that many mandolin chords are the same as guitar chords, only in reverse. But it justifies its exorbitant price by offering the most reliable tuning system for live, electric performance. If you have a piano, a guitar, or even an app on your phone nearby, you can use them as a reference to tune your G strings. Typically, you’ll find the tuners for the G and D strings on the upper side of the head (closest to you) and the tuners for the A and E strings on the lower side of the head. If you would like to skip right to the tuning instructions, click here: Tuning a mandolin is not a one time thing where you set it and forget it. It seems counterintuitive, but our ears amplify even small differences in tuning between two strings to the point that you may find yourself adjusting your tuning after every song. I liked the sound of "economy" tuners for this bowlback mandolin I was rehabbing. Luckily, with the right tools and know-how, you learn how to string a mandolin and get it sounding better than ever in no time. There is no way around this, and the answer is to go through all the strings several times until everything stabilizes. Players leave the tuner clipped to the headstock so they can quality tune in-between songs or on breaks. Look at the way the old string is wrapped around the post and turn the tuner knob in the direction that will loosen the string. Most mandolin players will find it simpler to stick with a clip-on tuner, but if you think you’ll also be using a metronome frequently the Korg TM50BK could be a tempting choice. A mandolin is an 8 string instrument, but is played as a four string. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Doing it this way you lock the string to the post and have less than one full wrap around the post. Invest in a high-quality tuner. As mentioned above, you may need to go through them a few times before you get the mandolin in tune. Luckily, most guitar tuners will recognize a pitch regardless of the octave, so in a pinch a standard guitar tuner will work just fine to get your mandolin in tune. Tune in pairs. If your string is too high, you would tune down below the pitch, and then bring it up, stopped when the string is correct. If your mandolin goes out of tune quickly, check to see if it has a truss rod running through the neck. Once this string is in tune, there is a simple way to get the rest in tune by ear. The only difference is that the mandolin has eight strings, but the violin has only four. So, when one string is out of tune they'll both sound out of tune - so it's important that both strings are tuned correctly. Consordini is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program. This can be a common problem with new players when they first start jamming with others. Fretted instruments need near constant tuning. Coated strings and flatwound strings in particular are known for decreasing the variability in mandolin tuning. Alternate: Irish : G 2 D 3 A 3 E 4; US US via Africa Irish tuning same as octave mandolin tuning Banjo, Plectrum 4 strings 4 courses. Mandolin will not stay in tune – String Issues Old Strings. Awards. Mandolin Machine Heads Tuning Pegs 4L4R Machine Heads String Tuning Pegs for 8 Strings Mandolin Instruments Accessory Part. Remember that the mandolin strings are tuned in pairs. One of the most popular clip-on tuners around, Snark’s ST-8 has an elegant design and a proven track record for instruments for the mandolin to the trumpet. My tuners are slipping? The second lowest strings on a mandolin then correspond to the second highest on a guitar, and so on. “When I was a kid, we had to walk to school in 3 foot of snow. Our last common issue with tuning a mandolin is one that drives players crazy. The mandolin can expand up to 1mm, which is enough to increase string tension and make the mandolin go sharp. If you tune from a higher pitch down to your intended pitch, the string will go out of tune much quicker – and you also risk increasing the tension on your string to the point that it might snap. The only difference is that two strings on the mandolin are tuned the same as each string on the violin. So you can think of a “cent” as 1%. $23.99 $ 23. If you bought a beginner’s pack, consider replacing your starter-level tuner with a more sophisticated model. Most mandolins have loop end strings and these are attached to either hooks or posts on the tailpiece. They picked up the sound from other instruments, cars going by, airplanes, law mowers… They were a pain! the one closest to the floor, is an E. All the strings are as following: Before clip-ons, we had to balance the tuner on our knee with it often falling to the floor. Now we know that once you have just tuned a mandolin and begin playing, it will start to go out of tune. Where this translates to tuning issues is when the tuners is wiggles or tuned down to pitch. Some of the more common alternate tunings are G-D-A-D, A-D-A-E, G-D-G-D, and G-D-G-B, so give those a try if you can’t tell what a mandolin is tuned to in a particular song.