How to String a Mandolin

It is always a good idea to change your mandolin strings on a regular basis. You'll get a nicer tone, more responsiveness and better dynamics. Remember to put on the same size or gauge strings as those that are being replaced. This will help the intonation. If you do change string sizes, you'll want to go to a guitar shop and have a luthier (person who builds stringed instruments) set up or strobe tune the instrument to match the new strings. Read on to learn how to string a mandolin.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mandolin
• Mandolin Strings

1. Rotate the tuning pegs to loosen the old strings until they can be removed by hand. Never cut taught strings with a wire cutter or you may cause damage to the instrument.

2. Once the strings are removed from the tuning pegs, disconnect the opposite end of the string from the tailpiece.

3. After unhooking all the strings, reverse the process by putting the new string on. Place the loop on the tailpiece hook.

4. Put the other end of the string through the tuning peg and slowly tune to the proper pitch. There are four string sets, or a total of eight strings on a mandolin. Each set is tuned as a pair. The strings are E, A, D and G. So the first two strings are tuned to E, the next two to A, and so on. The E note is the highest pitched string, and a piano can be used as reference. The E notes correspond to the E that is an octave and two notes higher than middle C.

[sharkboy22]

on 10/15/2008 mandolin joke...mandolin players spend half of their time tunning and the other half playing out of tune - K Wolfe

[sharkboy22]

on 10/15/2008 I have but one suggestion and that is that you include some instruction as to how the bridge should be positioned while tensioning the strings. Me, I look at the mark on the top left by the bridge and put it back in the same spot. Not very scientific but it works for me and my little dude just tunes up perfectly. Also now that I think of it, you may want to stress the importance of a GOOD electronic tuner, EADG is same as guitar, spend some $, don't buy a cheap one, the type that clamp onto the headstock or great. If you want to play in tune you gotta have a good tuner, if you don't want to play in tune then you need to play far-far away, ha. EADG easy to remeber..."every alligator does good" if guitar then add "except ed" , how bout that ED ?