Tips To Tune A Mandolin


Written by Nitiphat N.
Saturday, 08 March 2008

Mandolin is an instrument that has a great resemblance to violin or guitar, especially with its frets and steel strings. This type of musical instrument still being used widely with many of music band, especially for classical music band. If you are the person who can play or know information about mandolin, you will find that it is one of the most unique instrument that produces very nice sound. Just as a violin, the strings of a mandolin are also tuned the lower pitch to the higher with its strings tuned as G, D, A and E. Tuning a mandolin is not a very difficult task if you have some experience with the instrument. There are few things that you should mind while tuning a mandolin:
•   You should not tune it very higher in the range as the possibility of damage to the instrument is increased. This is why, heavy gauge strings are also not recommended for use. It is better to restrict the tuning of your mandolin within its permitted range of E-A-D-G, as it has been designed for this only.
•   The electronic tuner can do wonders to maintain a proper pitch of your instrument. It is essential for a tuner to have some kind of attachment with the instrument for gigs when you have to tune to compete with loads of noise in the background.
•   The buttons placed above the mandolin are used for tuning and are called knobs. You can tune your mandolin by simply twisting them.
•   Avoid too much tight stretching of your strings at the time of tuning as this may cause the strings to snap.
•   It is better to employ a pick when tuning your mandolin as the strings are adjusted too close to each other that makes it hard to strike them correctly by nail or thumb.