Mandolin Player: The instruments: The alto mandola: Mandola tunings

Mandola tunings



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This particular page was created 01/03/2004 and last updated 03/10/2005
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The modern mandola were originally meant to be tuned like a viola c g d' a', but of course musicians have been experimenting with alternatives. Here are a few of them.
  You might also want to take a look some of the tunings for these instruments:
This table is for the modern tenor mandola. The traditional 18th Century mandola and the tenor mandola are completely different instruments and require other tunings. Also note that some of the more extreme tunings (especially ones listed in the alternative tables above) only are practical on certain mandolas: the really high tunings require a short scale instrument, the really low ones a long scale.

The list contains 13 alternative tunings. Some of them should work with regular string sets, while others might require special gauges.

It's by no means a complete list of course and I'd love to hear of any other great tunings you've come across. Post a message at The message board and I'll pick it up there.

NamePitchesCommentsString gaugesLinks

Standard tuning(s)

Standardc g d' a'The tuning the mandola was originally made for.

      Fifths tuning(s)

      Dd a e' b'One note higher than standard tuning. It's especially useful to get a "octave mandolin" sound in Irish music.
          Octave mandolinG d a e'You can tune a long-necked alto mandola down to tenor mandola pitch, although I'm not sure I would really recommend it.

            Fifths and fourths tuning(s)

            CGc g c' g'Tune the first two string pairs one note down.
              DAd a d' a'Probably the most common alternative tuning. Tune the third and fourth string pair one note up.
                DGd g d' g'
                  ADa d' a' d''

                      Open chords tuning(s)

                      Open Dd a d' f#The strings are tuned to a D major chord.
                        Open D minord a d' f'The strings are tuned to a D minor chord.

                          Modal tuning(s)

                          Modal Gc g d' g'First string pair tuned one note down.

                            Other instruments tuning(s)

                            Guitard g b e'Like the three highest strings of a guitar. This is the tuning banjo players occasionally call "Chicago tuning." The tuning works better on a long-necked than a sort-necked mandola.
                              • Other instruments
                              Eddie Freeman Special (EFS)c g d aName often shortened to "EFS tuning." Like standard tuning, but with the two "top" courses tuned down an octave! Occasionally used for the tenor guitar and tenor banjo and there's no reason why it shouldn't work an the mandola too. It's great for close chords, but not very useful for solo playing.

                                  Other tuning(s)

                                  Half Eddiec g d' aSomewhat like the EFS tuning but with only the first string dropped down an octave.

                                  The name is my own invention - cheesy, but I like it. ;-)

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