Hornpipe on octave mandolin

This is Chief O'Niel's Favourite played on octave mandolin. Video uploaded primarily so people can see/hear the instrument as I was selling it. As you can see I didn' get very far along with learning to play this instrument although I loved the sound it had!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• irish
• traditional
• hornpipe
• folk
• world
• worldmusic
• octave
• mandolin
• alphacelt
• music

[DrunkenPostie]

So you've tuned UP to a step below mandolin pitch, then capo'd?

[AlphaCelt]

Sorry! In this video the octave mandolin is tuned GDAE one full octave below a standard mandolin, which is standard tuning for the octave mandolin. I've sold this instrument and am now using a mandola, with mandolin strings, tuned one whole step below the standard mandolin tuning (tension won't allow it to be tuned as a mandolin) and then I capo on the second fret to be able to play in standard mandolin tuning. Sorry for the confusion!

[DrunkenPostie]

WHat tuning are you using? I'm really a guitarist/bass player who is getting a zouk built and I'm gonna run it ADAD or GDAD. I see what you mean about the melody runs being easier on the instrument you are using. I can't play a mando properly, so might be an idea to get and octave mandolin and capo it. More coin!

[AlphaCelt]

This is tuned GDAE which is standard for an octave mandolin when you intend to play melody. The tunings you mention are also very common but I think are more oriented towards accompaniment. I've settled on a mandola tuned a whole step below a standard mandolin, capo up two. It just fits my hands better since I'm primarily a fiddle player. That is until I make enough progress on my C#/D box!

[stereo123]

haha, you're fat! Oh wait, it's the video that is stretched.

Say, what's the difference between an octave and a bouzouki?

[AlphaCelt]

Well I need to lose some weight even when the video is at the correct display size! The Octave mandolin in this case is identical in body size to the regular bouzouki except that it has a shorter scale. It's tuned the same as the bouzouki. Just easier to reach the frets for melody playing. I'm actually moving to a mandola for that very reason that I will tune as a mandolin.

[Benwade90]

that is one badass instrument. awesome.

[DrunkenPostie]

Yeh, i wondered about the tension! My old zouk was ok for accomp, and sometimes I ran it in DADG, cos it was easy. But the new one I'll keep in ADAD or GDAD. Still, glad I spotted your post and thx for the info. A octo-lin for the melody, then.

Cheers!