---

Subject: Octave Mandolin Strings
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2005 15:01:38 -0500

Mickey,

My wife just presented me with a new Fender FMO-66 Octave
Mandolin. I've been studying your online lessons and the pictures in Lesson
One show the strings tuned in unison. When I got my instrument it was strung
like a 12 string guitar. The G and D courses are set up to be tuned in
octaves. Is this the normal way to string it or should I buy a new set of
strings? Can I use normal mandolin strings? Any Ideas you might be willing
to share would be greatly appreciated. No one in the local guitar shop has
even heard of an octave mandolin.
James C.

Hi James,

Must be nice to live in Las Vegas! We love visiting Vegas...

Now, on to your problem:

First, you'll want to make sure this is an octave mandolin not a bouzouki. For, the way you describe it being strung, it sounds like a bouzouki. It's a slight possibility that somebody strung this octave as a bouzouki...if the model number is correct, this is more than likely the case. My suggestion would be to purchase only GHS Octave string with the wound A's. These are the best strings on the market...and for octave, I would never string one up like a bouzouki....such as may be the case with yours.

Hope something here helps, Mickey

---

 

Subject: Mandola
Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:37:38 +0000

Mickey,

Greetings,

Great website! I play a little traditional irish music on tenor banjo with strings tuned CGDA. I am eager to learn chords and improve my playing style so that I can accompany other musicians and signers, especially folk music and song. In recent years Bouzouki has become more popular in celtic and folk music. It seems to have a mellower sound and I am considering switching to the Bouzouki/mandola/mandolin.
I think chords might be easier to learn on these instruments as well, because the neck appears to be a little shorter than the banjo and I don't have the longest fingers in the world.

Bouzoukis still have a longer scale than the Irish tenor or the mandola...and, yes, there's still a substantial stretch to contend with...if you feel you do not have long fingers, then, I would suggest that you consider the mandola...

I notice from your website that the mandola is also tuned CGDA, which might make it easier for me to learn. Do you think a mandola would be suitable for folk and celtic music?

Most definitely...and in fact, its most popular application is Celtic music...it makes a great rhythm and lead instrument...and will have more definition than a bouzouki or an octave...since it's a higher pitched instrument.

OR what is the main difference between the mandola and Bouzouki?

The mandola has a shorter scale length...making it quite a bit easier to reach the melodies and chords...the bouzouki offers a lower tonal range making it a better solo instrument if not playing within an ensemble...

I also note from your website that there aren't a lot of instruction manuals for mandola.

Not only are there not a lot, there aren't any to speak of other than a chord book or two published by Niles Hokkanen (Great instructor by the way)...we currently have the only instructional video ever offered on mandola...

There are, however, instruction manuals available on learning tenor banjo (notes, chords etc..)
Would these be useful when learning chords on the mandola, because they are both tuned CGDA?

Yes, these do work very well...I have some of these in my library...and all are vintage publishing...

I would really appreciate a reply to this query Mickey.
I love your website.

Thanks so much for the kind words...Keep on Pickin', Mickey

Mike Shanahan
Ireland.