How to Tune Your Mandolin

Ben Clark Leader · 22 Feb

https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/how-to-tune-your-mandolin-mandolin-beginner Check out the mp3’s for a quick tune, or watch this in-depth lesson teaching how the mandolin is tuned, how to actually tune it, the tools of the trade, and possible pitfalls!

Kristopher Sutter · 23 Feb

Hey Ben, thanks for the troubleshooting tips! I posted on the forum a while back and your video answered many of my questions. Also have you ever heard that you can use a landline phone to tune to A? Back when I was a kid, fiddling around with the guitar, I’d use that method to tune my A string on the guitar.

Archie Cairns Leader · 23 Feb

Here is another way to tune your Mandolin should your batteries run out. There are tuners for other instruments here including Banjo & Guitar http://www.get-tuned.com/online_mandolin_tuner.php

Mike Reisz · 23 Feb

crohnieks: Also have you ever heard that you can use a landline phone to tune to A? I never thought of that. I had to give it a try Here (Texas) I am getting something close to an F. I wonder if it varies regionally

Kristopher Sutter · 23 Feb

I just looked this up. Dial tones in the U.S. are apparently a combination of the frequencies of 350 and 440. F (349.23) and A (440).

dan seelig · 23 Feb

Now that’s something I never knew!

Mike Reisz · 23 Feb

That is pretty cool. I didn’t hear the A at all. Now that I know what I am listening for, I can pick it up. Thanks!

Kevin Cozens Kevin Cozens · 25 Feb

There are a couple of tuning aids that weren’t mentioned. There are apps for Android tablets. I have a clip on tuner which I mostly use for tuning my guitar but I also use the PitchLab app on my Android tablet when tuning my mandolin. Another older method of tuning an instrument is the use of a set of pitch pipes. I used those about 30 some years ago to tune a guitar.

Anthony Jennings · 28 Feb

I don’t have a great “ear”, so the clip on tuners are a must for me. If you are just starting, get a clip on tuner so that your ears are hearing correct notes when you play. Your “ear” will improve significantly faster than if you are hearing slightly out of tune notes over and over. When I first started playing and trying to tune, I read somewhere that mandolin players spend 1/2 their time with the mandolin tuning it, and the other 1/2 of that time playing an out of tune mandolin!

Mike Reisz · 28 Feb

Precise mando tuning is difficult. As you said, your ear gets better… which can be a blessing and a curse.

Mikkell johnson · 30 Aug

Do you have any videos on how to change mandolin strings?

Mike Reisz · 30 Aug

I don’t remember, but if so, it would be in the beginner section. If there isn’t one there, it is pretty straight forward and a google search should get you to a serviceable method. I like Bryan Kimsey’s method of wrapping strings at the tuner. One tip… the bridge is not attached, so unless you really want to position again (I do when I am doing a good cleaning job), replace a string or couple at a time to prevent the bridge from moving.

Ben Clark Leader · 2 Sep

I don’t have one yet, sorry about that! But check out this post by Jake showing how to wrap the string ends…the same will be true for mando: https://store.banjobenclark.com/blogs/banjo-bens-blog/how-to-replace-guitar-strings Also, heed Mike’s advice about one or two strings at a time…don’t make the mistake of having the bridge move.

Erich Brooks · 26 Feb

If I want to tune my mandolin to a piano what octave notes should I use?

Ben Clark Leader · 27 Feb

The lowest pitched string on your mandolin is the G below middle C.

Erich Brooks · 27 Feb

So then the D string is the D above middle C. The A string is the A above middle C and the E string is the E above second octave C (the octave above middle C) Correct?

Mike Reisz · 27 Feb

That is correct. You can also pull up “mandolin tuning” on youTube. There are videos that play the notes repeatedly for tuning. Those would put you in the right area and then if needed to tune to an out of tune piano, only minor tweaking would be needed.

Ben Clark Leader · 27 Feb

Yep, and you can use the mp3’s here to match your mandolin strings to: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/how-to-tune-your-mandolin-mandolin-beginner

Erich Brooks · 27 Feb

Ok Thank you

Steve Stilts · 28 Feb

Those Snark tuners are the best thing since canned beer!