Tune a Mandolin

How to Tune a Mandolin

The processes or methods contained in this video are for strictly educational purposes only.

How to Tune a Mandolin


An old joke If you have been playing mandolin for 30 years you have spent 15 years tuning and another 15 years playing out of tune. While it is true that it is not the easiest instrument in the world to get in tune it is a perfectly manageable task with the right guidance. By learning the basics of tuning a stringed instrument and wrangling your instrument correctly you will be playing like Bill Monroe or David Grisman in no time. See Step 1 for more information. Tune it like a violin. A mandolin is traditionally tuned G D A E from low to high with each pair of strings tuned to the same tone. In other words the instrument is tuned G G D D A A E E taking into consideration each individual string. When you are holding the mandolin correctly the highest string pair E should be the closest to the floor.

Locate the correct tuners for each string. On most mandolins the tuners for both G strings and both D strings will be on the side of the headstock closest to you while the tuners for both A strings and E strings will be on the side of the headstock closest to the floor in order.

Tune each string individually and both strings together. What makes tuning a mandolin more difficult than tuning a violin of course is that there are 8 strings instead of 4 meaning that you have to be precise or the instrument will be out of tune. It can be difficult to know which string is out of tune when you are striking them both in unison.

Tune up instead of tuning down. As with any stringed instrument you generally want to tune from flat to sharp tuning the string up in pitch rather than down from a higher note to the correct tone. This is because you want to settle the tension in the string toward the gear not away from it. When you tune down you risk letting the tension slip on the tuning gear as you play making the string will go flat. This is especially true with new strings.

Use fresh strings. Worn out or rusty strings will go out of the tune more easily and bedevil your fingers as you are learning. Make sure you change your strings out regularly to keep your instrument in tune. You do not need to change them every night unless you are Tim OBrien but consider changing them every 4 6 weeks of moderate to heavy usage.

Get the tuning in the ballpark and then fine tune it. It can be frustrating to tune immediately after putting new strings on the mandolin because itll slip out after only a few minutes. After putting new strings on each string puts lots of pounds per square inch of tension on the neck and the wood will flex slightly. You need to account for this by getting the strings close and then letting the instrument rest for a second before fine tuning. Youll get it in tune more quickly and more accurately this way.

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