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Subject: Introduction to the mandola video
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 19:54:31 -0000

Thank you for the video which I received the other day and have started working on.
Unfortunately I am a little confused. The C chord shown on the video seems to me to be the same as that shown as G in the music for Soldier's Joy in the online tuition.  It is difficult to see exactly where to place my fingers for the G chord in Chapter 4 part B.

Could you also advise me on how to transpose mandolin music to suit the mandola?

William Pickett.

Greetings William,

Thanks for following our mandola road map...Wow! All the way from Scotland! I love the Scottish tradition...it's also part of my heritage I'm proud to say (from my Grandmother's side)...

You're correct...the one shown on our Mandola online tuition Lesson #5 is the G chord on a standard mandolin. In fact, this is essentially a standard mandolin transcript...therefore, I've arranged for mandola and re-posted it on our site so that it reads correctly as Mandola in Key of D. You'll notice that the chords now read correctly with the frames in Mandola format as opposed to standard mandolin.

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page4209.htm

Now, on mandola, the C chord is the very same position played on mandolin for the G chord...this is a fourth transposition.

Any chord on the Mandolin transposes to the mandola at exactly a fourth. For instance, an A position chord on mandolin is the very same as a D chord on mandola. This is also true of scales...so that if you know your scales on mandolin...you'll know them on mandola as being one fourth above:

C on mandolin = F on mandola
G on mandolin = C on mandola
D on mandolin = G on mandola
A on mandolin = D on mandola

Hope this helps...

I'll try to post some chord charts for the mandola on our online lessons section for you...which will assist you with the video...please have patience with me on posting them...it may take quite awhile...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

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Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 20:24:45 -0800
Subject: vintage mandola

Mickey,
I have a 1906 -1911 Gibson mandola at least that is what it says inside. I am getting the number checked at Gibson as we write. The question I have for you is , What is the difference from a mandola and a mandolin. Do you tune it the same and are they played differant. I play acoustic guitar and electric bass I was given this mandola from my grandma and would like to learn to play it.

Greetings...

There are many references to Mandola tuning and techniques...along with the differences between the mandolin and mandola...

1. the mandola has a longer scale length than the mandolin...(this is the main difference)

2. the mandola has a larger body size on average than any mandolin...depending on the brand and model of course...

3. the mandola is tuned C G D A; the mandolin is tuned one fifth higher at G D A E. (this is from the low string to the high)

4. both the mandola and mandolin can be played similarly in most instances...however, chordal inversions can be more easily accomplished on a shorter scale length such as the mandolin offers...

Hope the above helps...Mickey