Mandolin Tuning - Tutorial and Advice from Imre

[velvetunderpants44]

Maybe it's an online thing, but your mandolin sounds slightly flat.

I mean tuning-wise.

[BryanWells]

Hi I'm a PC.

[harmonairbass]

Clip on tuners are now available. It is not necessary to find a quiet spot to tune because the clip picks up the vibration from the instrument. This allows you to tune much quicker and these tuners are much cheaper ($20) than microphone tuners.

[binarygraphite]

@harmonairbass Yes I've seen those, great if you're playing with others or on stage. I picked mine because I also have electric guitars and this one has an input for one; about $20 as well.

[HTATigersBasketball]

These are perfect tips. I wish more people would give ones like these. So many people wouldn't know about these little tricks. Luckily, my ears naturally hear the very sensitive differences

[binarygraphite]

@HTATigersBasketball Thank you kindly for the comment! I'm glad you found the vid helpful!

[LoftyArts]

Thank you for posting this! My Dad asked me to find something to learn how to tune a mandolin before he buys one. I went straight to your video and it has fulfilled his inquiry. ;>] P.S. You do have a beautiful mandolin but my Dad said he's getting a Rouge one. ;>P

[binarygraphite]

@LoftyArts :) Glad you found it helpful and thanks, it's a pretty nice instrument. Good luck with yours and hope you enjoy it! By the way, I also have a video about adjusting the bridge in case you find your mando gets sharper/flatting notes down the neck.

[LoftyArts]

@binarygraphite Thanks, we just watched it! That was helpful, as well! ;>D

[falsehope01]

Thank you! This was really helpful. :D

[binarygraphite]

@falsehope01 You're welcome, glad you found it useful!

[ionuser]

Dude really cool video.. loved the opening... ! Ha so funny..

I just got my first Mandolin today!! A Tanglewood... I play acoustic and electric guitar usually.

[binarygraphite]

@ionuser Thank you and congrats on your Mandolin! If it's helpful, I have another video where I adjust the bridge to get the correct intonation for the strings; my fretted notes where getting sharp, but that adjustment helped. I also play guitar too, have seven of'em, but I need to spend more time practicing.

[eurokid12]

@ionuser How do you like your Tanglewood? I've been looking for them for a while but they are hard to get in The Netherlands.. Which model do you own?

[ionuser]

@eurokid12 Hi Eurokid, The Tanglewood is beautiful. It has excellent resonance and the sound is very regal and bright. I have the Tanglewood TMAS-GLOSS 'All Solid Timber' - Search Eagle Music UK in google and you will find a British shop that sells my model! Thanks.

[rhcart37]

Hmmmm! I also have an Epiphone MM-50, but when I tune the open strings, they start going sharp as soon as I start up the finger board. Does your Epiphone have a 14" scale? or is it 13 7/8"?

[binarygraphite]

@rhcart37 Hi! Mine does that too; this means the bridge is not in the right place and should be moved ever-so-slightly closer to the bottom end of the instrument. Currently the scale length of mine is 13 7/8, but I've found a few articles saying that Gibson/Epiphone Mandolins should be 14" (which explains the sharpness). Perhaps when I'm not feeling as lazy, I'll try adjusting it to see if it makes a difference.

[rhcart37]

@binarygraphite I've been tinkerin' with my bridge location, and have been able to alter the degree of sharpness, but - so far - have not been able to eliminate it.. I HAVE to wonder if if makes that much difference . . . it's undetectable by MY ears, but it's annoying just th' same.

[binarygraphite]

@rhcart37 Thought I'd update you. I put new strings on my Mandolin today, adjusted the bridge and managed to get it almost literally perfect. Here's another tip that might help you. My bridge is slanted; the side where the thickest strings are is further down toward the bottom of the instrument. After measuring the scale, the bass side is just a hair over 14" and the treble end is about 13 7/8". Looks a bit funny with a crooked bridge, but the sharpness is gone and notes across sound identical.

[binarygraphite]

@rhcart37 As an additional note, I used an electronic tuner to check this and in my case the difference (before/after) was quite noticable. Sounds much better now... I might do a video on this sometime too.

[rhcart37]

@binarygraphite Thanks so much for the advice. Actually I'd been wondering if sloping th' bridge would help, especially after noticing how th' saddle on my guitar bridge is set. I really appreciate your response, and I intend to make your suggested adjustments tomorrow. One more thing, and I'll quit pesterin' you. Is that scale length measured from centerline to centerline of the nut and bridge, or to some other points? Thanks, again.

[binarygraphite]

@rhcart37 No problem, glad to help. Because I had such a good result with the bridge position, I quickly made a video and uploaded it; it's the newest one on my channel titled "Mandolin Bridge Adjustment - A Note with Imre". From what I've read, the scale length is measured from the edge of the nut (edge facing the fret board) to the edge of the saddle (edge facing the head or top edge). I did read in one article that the center of the bridge/saddle is used for the mandolin. But after...

[binarygraphite]

@rhcart37 ... seeing how crooked the bridge is on mine, those measurements don't mean as much anymore, other than a guideline, because other factors come into play by the looks of it, such as type of string and the nature of the particular instrument. The lower side of my bridge is just over 14" and the other is about 13 7/8". lol

[MajoEnho]

beautiful mandoline :D

[oldie4]

did you get this online or in a store?

[binarygraphite]

@oldie4 Hi. I bought it in a local music store, not online.

[binarygraphite]

@caulinrocker Hi there. Yes it is; quite a nice mandolin.

[DollyDaley]

A great start for a new mandolin player. Thank you.

[binarygraphite]

@DollyDaley You're very welcome, have fun playing!

[Mavericco]

Excellent Tutorial / Advise on the Mandolin ! Thanks... Mav

[binarygraphite]

Thank you, glad you found it useful.