Tune a Mandolin to a Guitar
The mandolin is an instrument with eight strings in the lute family. The mandolin has a timeless, classic sound that accompanies a guitar beautifully. It's tuning is the same as a violin, with the notes E-A-D-G, descending from the highest to the lowest. A guitar is tuned to the notes E-B-G-D-A-E from the highest to the lowest note. Tuning the mandolin to a guitar can offer great practice for a beginning mandolin player, and is a fundamental skill all levels of mandolin players should possess.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Locate the high E or bottom string on the guitar. Pluck this string repeatedly while plucking the E or bottom strings on the mandolin. Compare these notes and decide whether the mandolin sounds higher or lower in pitch, whether it is sharp or flat.
2. The mandolin's tuning pegs are located at the top or the mandolin's head. Adjust the mandolin's bottom string in the E pair by tightening or loosening the tuning peg until the note matches the guitar. Adjust the top string in the E pair until it is in tune with the bottom string. Check to make sure both match the guitar.
3. Locate the A note on the second fret of the guitar's G string or the open A string, second from top. Choose the A note that is easiest for you to work with. Pluck the guitar's A note and the A strings on the mandolin.
4. Adjust the bottom string in the mandolin's A pair by tightening or loosening the tuning peg until the notes match. Adjust the second string in the A pair until it is also in tune with the first. Check to make sure the notes match the guitar.
5. Locate the D note on the third fret of the guitar's B string or the open D string, third from top. Choose either note and pluck that note with the mandolin's D strings.
6. Adjust the bottom string in the D pair by lowering or raising the pitch until the note matches the guitar. Adjust the second string until it matches the first. Then, check to make sure they both match the guitar.
7. Locate the open G string on the guitar, third from bottom. Play that note with the G strings on the mandolin.
8. Adjust the bottom string in the mandolin's G pair until it matches the guitar. Tune the top string until it matches the first. Make sure both G strings match the guitar.
Tags: bottom string, match guitar, string pair, Adjust bottom, Adjust bottom string, guitar Locate