Octave Mandolin Tunings

Date: Tue, 6 Jul 2004 17:38:23 +0100
Thread-Topic: Octave Mando tuning

Mickey,

Greetings Michael,

It is my intention to learn the Octave mandolin, mainly for Folk and Celtic style music, but also for contemporary and popular style music if that's posible.

Sure...I play all types of tunes on my Octave...think about what Led Zeppelin achieved with the mandolin...or Rod Stewart...or Seals and Croft...today, mandolin is more commonly heard in country and bluegrass...this still shouldn't limit what can be achieved with the instrument...as would be true with the Octave mandolin...

I already play a little Celtic/Traditional irish music on my tenor banjo.

What are your views on which tuning is best for the Octave Mandolin.

If you're playing your tenor in the C G D A tuning, I would tune my Octave to the G D A E...this way you're using the same intervals...and this should minimize the proactive interference...by allowing you a common language from instrument to instrument.

I am trying to decide between the standard tuning - GDAe
OR
a tuning which is popular over here in Ireland - GDAd

Is one style more suitable for chords and the other for melody?

Not necessarily...the advantage of the G D A D tuning is that when playing melodies, in certain keys such as G and D, you have a drone string to chime in with the lead line. This can have the same effect as the dulcimer or the banjo. So, I do see the advantage in the G D A D tuning...yet, since I'm a mandolin player from the start, I find the G D A E tuning more suitable.

Hope this helps, Mickey

Or maybe one style is more suitable for Folk and an other style for popular music.

I would appreciate any advice you can give me!

Regards,
Michael.

Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2002 11:24:48 -0600

Hi! I'm just up the road, and would really like to order one of those deep body Octave mandolins! My question is, as I play tenor guitar tuned CGDA, and the octave has a similar short scale length, can it be strung CGDA or only in the official GDAE tuning? Also, do you have them in stock to be shipped right away? It looks like a real treasure! I plan to phone you on Monday & possibly put in an order. Thanks, David Wood

Greetings David,

The Octave Mandolin has far thicker gauge strings than a Tenor Banjo...this would add stress on the neck by tuning it one/fifth higher than standard Octave tuning. If you're looking for a mandolin with the same voicing/tuning as the Tenor Banjo, I would recommend the Mandola...which is also tuned CGDA...many Tenor Banjoists, especially those who play Irish Tenor, tune their banjos to the Octave tuning of GDAE...I'm sure you're already aware of this...

I love the Johnson Octave...especially because of the medieval looking design...and, ultimately because the tone is deeper due to the depth of body.

I believe you already called and now have a status on the delivery of these...let me know if I can personally assist you with anything else...Mickey