They've become increasingly popular with mandolinists that want to expand their range of expression on an instrument that they can be instantly comfortable with. The names of the mandolin family instruments vary between Europe and the United States. These pairs of strings create a cool chorus-like … Octave Mandolins are tuned one octave lower than the standard mandolin. This is also an opportunity to highlight some of Jason Hull’s work. Many accomplished players as well as intrigued newcomers to the Octave Mandolin are now enjoying my instruments. Steve Wilke. [4] The mandolinists thus avoid learning to read music on the alto clef; music for the octave mandolin is usually written on the more familiar treble clef, and plays an octave lower than the notes shown (see octave clefs). Online Mandolin Tuner. Get it as soon as Fri, Feb 26. How to Play in GDGD Open Tuning on the Mandolin 1. We are lucky to have him on the team. “I was quite taken with the sound of this little Pono Octave from the start. The OCTAVE MANDOLIN is just what the name implies, tuned a full octave below the mandolin, also tuned to G, D, A, and E. It typically has a 20 inch scale length, although Weber is able to also build them with a 22 inch scale length in our Custom Shop. This is for the standard GDAE mandolin tuning. Octave mandolas at Eagle Music Shop, models from Davidson, Erin, Ozark. Mandolin Maple ribs, Neck: Maple, Flat solid maple back, Acacia fretboard, Scale: 58.4 cm, Top: Solid spruce, Pickup and 3-Band equalizer, Tuning from low to high: G-D-A-E - one octave below the Mandolin tuning, Colour: Natural, Made in Europe Contact me for specifics. It is larger than the mandola, but smaller than the mandocello and its construction is similar to other instruments in the mandolin family. The standard octave mandolin tuning is G2 G2− D3 D3− A3 A3− E4 E4, so the lowest open strings are tuned to the lowest G on the guitar, and the highest strings are tuned to the same E as the highest string of the guitar. Mandolins, bouzoukis, octave mandolas, citterns, tenor mandolas and all other types in the mandolin family plus accessories, books and music. Mandolins have strings that are in pairs, which are tuned to exactly the same note. fort bragg ca it measures 31"long. The layout is uncomplicated and follows a logical musical progression from standard major chords up to the more esoteric thirteenths used by many jazz players. The Nashville tuning uses just the high strings of a 12-string guitar. [1] The instruments that are known in the US as the mandola and the octave mandolin tend to be known in Great Britain and Ireland as the tenor mandola, the octave mandola (or the "Irish bouzouki"). Irish Bouzouki (Octave Mandolin) Wood parts: a) 1 Neck/peghead b) 2 Pre-bent sides (ribs) c) 1 Soundboard (top) with hole d) 1 Back piece e) 1 Fretboard, slotted f) 2 Long Braces for soundboard g) 2 Short Braces for back h) 4 Inner lining strips i) 1 Bridge j) 1 Tailblock k) 1 large Rosette l) 1 "Donut" ring for rosette Hardware Normally bouzouki consists of 8 strings and the length of scales varies from 24 to 25 inches. The octave mandolin is a tear-drop shaped instrument strung with four courses of steel strings, usually tuned GDAE or similar, one octave below mandolin pitch. I offer a 4 course Octave Mandolin usually tuned an octave below a Mandolin GDAE. Jason added additional tuners in the headstock, and crafted a new nut to support the proper string spacing for an octave mandolin. Jimmy Moon, a Scottish luthier,[2] calls his version of the instrument by both names; Paul Shippey, an English luthier,[3] uses the term “octave mandolin”. Ross Cherednik. That night we made plans to modify an existing tenor by replacing the neck with a newly built 8-string version. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Pono Octave Mandolins are available in three models to accommodate a variety of tastes: Tenor guitar body size with a 23" scale, Terz guitar body size with a … As is typical of the mandolin family, octave mandolins can be found with either a single oval soundhole or a pair of “ f ” soundholes. Like a mandolin, except one octave … The neck, however, is much narrower, and supports the mandolin string layout, rather than the traditional 6 strings of the guitar. There is a wonderful pop to the notes — they sound pure and sweet even when played hard." An octave mandolin in very clean condition, features a X-braced solid spruce top, modern tuners and an easy playing 21 fret rosewood fingerboard. Only 14 left in stock - … The lower strings are replaced with the high string set while the top two strings (E and B) are left the same. I had tried a few octave mandolins at between 3 and 6 times the price of the Thomann Octave Mandolin M1087. Subject: mandola, octave mandolin or what From: GUEST,gigix Date: 03 Sep 04 - 05:42 AM Hi all, I have just come to own a fine sounding instrument, whose previous owner called "mandola". Octave mandolins are sometimes used in mandolin orchestras in place of mandolas. The standard mandolin tuning is the same as violin tuning: G-D-A-E, from low to high. Steve Wilke. Usually, courses of 2 adjacent strings are doubled (tuned to the same pitch). Tuning the instrument is pretty important too! sides and neck the neck is straight and the action is even. The octave mandolin is a fretted string instrument with four pairs of strings tuned in fifths, G−D−A−E (low to high), an octave below a mandolin. Typical mandolin strings have loop ends and acoustic guitar strings have ball ends. The mandola has four double courses for a total of eight strings. occasionally though, mandolin players retune for you to achieve much more of your drones as well as double stops that give old-time fiddling its rich and distinctive sound. The standard octave mandolin tuning is G2 G2− D3 D3− A3 A3− E4 E4, so the lowest open strings are tuned to the lowest G on the guitar, and the highest strings are tuned to the same E as the highest string of the guitar. From the beginning, Jason has handled the heavy duty work that our shop isn’t yet equipped to do, and this project clearly illustrated the depths of his skill. Over the past 20 years, bouzouki has become one of the well-known musical instrument in the music world. The only difference is that the mandolin has eight strings , but the violin has only four. Here’s one we don’t get to do every day: turn a Little Martin into an octave mandolin! The OM-800+ features a generous 22 1/2" scale (commonly used by the best custom makers in Ireland). The resultant instrument is wonderfully rich in sound/tone and volume & is a whale of a lot cheaper than ready-made octave mandolins. This instrument is in excellent condition. The body width is 12 1/4th inches and overall body length measures 37 ½ inches. As with the scale length, the number of frets on an octave mandolin also varies widely, from as few as 17 to as many as 24 frets: 18 or 19 frets is typical. In Europe outside the British isles, mandola is the larger G−D−A−E tuned instrument while the smaller C−G−D−A tuned one is known as alt-mandoline (i.e., alto mandolin), mandoliola or liola. This tuning is one octave below the mandolin (or a fourth below the mandola), and is equivalent to that of the tenor violin: The average range, therefore, is about three-and-a-half octaves, with the exact range depending on the number of frets on the individual instrument: from about one and one-third octaves below middle C up to A♯5 / B♭5, in the octave above middle C, (with 18 frets), to as high as E6, with 24 frets. On a mandolin, you tune each “course,” or pair, of strings to the same pitch, so the mandolin’s tuning is really G-G-D-D-A-A-E-E. Founded in 1972, Elderly Instruments started as a small store with a handful of instruments. Octave mandolin / mandocello . The octave mandolin is commonly tuned an octave below the mandolin as its name suggests so why some call it an octave mandola or tenor mandola is a bit of a mystery but very common in the UK. In 2014/15 it seemed like a lot of players were acquiring tenor guitars and tuning them like octave mandolins. Crisp highs and resonant mid range tones! Martin LX1: https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/little-martin/lx1-little-martin/. As with the mandolin and mandola, the octave mandolin has four courses of two strings each. Being that I don't play electric guitar, I converted it, in a few hours, into a long-necked, octave mandolin, for the price of two new tuning-machines, strings and some small hardwood scraps. My fifth mandola an "octave" (tuned i octave below a standard mandolin). The Pono Octave Mandolin. Right now it’s tuned (high to low) EADG, basically the opposite of a bass tuning or the bottom, low 4 strings of a guitar. After removing material from the neck, new fret position inlays were added. A 5 course Bouzouki's can also be ordered. The dimensions and flat back of our octave mandolin body yield something quite different than what is found on the market today. The LX1 is a 0 size guitar with a scale length (the distance from the saddle to the nut) of 23”, which is about 3/4 the size of a full sized guitar. Immediately upon opening I tuned it to regular mandolin tuning G D A E and played a few chords and i was quite pleased with the overall sound and tone, except for some fret-buzz on the E string at the third fret. However, to our ears, the guitars under performed as octave mandolins. How to Play in GDGD Open Tuning on the Mandolin A mandolin's standard tuning of GDAE makes for easy melody playing. 4.6 out of 5 stars361. Here are a few views of the headstock and the nut: After we delivered the final product, we were super excited to hear from Kevin and Coleman after they recorded this cover of Ring Them Bells by Bob Dylan. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Octave_mandolin&oldid=1000253330, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 09:59. This is common with the mandolin. Tuned an octave lower than a Mandolin in unison 5ths (GG-DD-AA-EE), and using acoustic guitar steel strings, this fabulously well engineered instrument produces a huge, rich texture and seemingly endless sustain. Remember the mandolin is tuned GDAE, but there are other instruments (mandola, octave, mandocello etc.) Here are a few views of the headstock and the nut: This geographic distinction is not crisp, and there are cases of each term being used in each country. Alternate tunings of G−D−A−D and A−D−A−D are often employed by Celtic musicians. The Octave Mandolin Chord Bible, with its 1,728 chords offers a complete solution for both beginner and experienced professional musician alike. Octave mandolin / mandocello . A customer learned of this particular conversion online, and asked us to make it a reality using his Martin LX1. In the sound spectrum, its range sits below a Baritone ukulele but above a Mandocello (which is tuned commonly CC-GG-DD-AA). Great job gents!! We offer two premium quality string sets, one for standard GDAE Octave Mandolin tuning, and the second for guitar style DGBE, but truly the only limit is your own imagination. Usually, courses of 2 adjacent strings are doubled (tuned to the same pitch). The string pairing results in a much thinner fingerboard compared with a guitar, so the first order of business was shaping the neck. Starting with the lowest course of strings as an example, tuning the C strings down (or up) to standard octave mandolin tuning (GDAE) would mean tuning them down (or up) to G. That's either going to make the strings very slack, or very tight -- this is because the scale length of the instrument has been calibrated for its standard tuning (CGDA). The instrument is tuned in fifths, to the pitches of the viola (C-G-D-A low-to-high), a fifth lower than a mandolin; the courses are tuned in octaves. The bridge needed to be addressed as well. More Buying Choices$11.99(8 new offers) Best Sellerin Mandolins. This tuning is one octave below the mandolin (or a fourth below the mandola), and is equivalent to that of the tenor violin: Steve Wilke. The scale length and fretting hand stretch is always a consideration with octave mandolins, but equally important for comfortable playing is how the right arm reaches around the body of the instrument. Models from Eastman, Erin, Agnew, Phil Davidson, Tanglewood, Buchanan, Crafter, Ozark, Countryman, plus other quality makers. Maybe I’ll do an alternate tuning such as the Irish Bouzouki tuning of DADG, a sort of drop-D tuning much like I’ve already done on the guitar and bass. and upgraded to a fancier model tuned to ggddaaee a full octave lower than mandolin tuning the inside label says: lark in the morning" made in china. Over 40 years later, we’ve grown into one of the world’s most respected sellers of new, used, and vintage fretted instruments.Learn more The tuning of Irish bouzouki is usually lower one octave than the mandolin. Jason added additional tuners in the headstock, and crafted a new nut to support the proper string spacing for an octave mandolin. Thank you for your interest in my Octave Mandolins. the tuning is different: g2 g2 d3 d3 a3 a3 e4 e4, one octave lower than traditional mandolins. Ten string and twelve string versions are known as citterns. However it is not tuned (low to high) CGDA, but GDAE, that is the same of the mandolin one octave below, so someone told me that it should be called "octave mandolin". 10 1/2" at its widest and 2 5/8" deep the sound board is spruce with what looks like mahogany back. Everything you’ll ever need for mandolin is right here at Eagle Music. Use this free online mandolin tuner to tune your mandolin. When it comes to tuning your Pono Octave Mandolin, there’s no right or wrong. Mandolin 2nd string pair (A or La): The guitar’s 2nd fret of the third string is an A (or La), at the same octave as the mandolin’s 2nd string pair. with different tunings. Usually the courses are all unison pairs but the lower two may sometimes be strung as octave pairs with the higher-pitched octave string on top so that it is hit before the thicker lower-pitched string. I’m having a ball with it!”. https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/little-martin/lx1-little-martin/. Even if chocolate chip is on your mind, our cookies make an important contribution to a great shopping experience. These instruments are typically constructed essentially like acoustic guitars, with similar woods and internal bracing. The internal bracing is similar to the mandolin and mandola, with a single transverse brace on the top just below the oval sound hole. Tuning the instrument is pretty important too! $124.99$124.99. The two strings in each course are tuned in unison. A guitar has 6 single strings, and a mandolin has 4 pairs of strings, with each pair tuned to the same pitch. Ross Cherednik. Mandolin 3rd string pair (D or Re): The guitar’s 4th open string is a D, and this is the same tuning with the mandolin… Octave Mandolins and Citterns. The scale of the octave mandolin is longer than that of the mandolin, and varies more widely, from 19″ (48.4 cm) to 24″ (61.0 cm), with 21″ (53.3 cm) being typical. Ready for your Celtic-style strumming, tuned GDAE. The term octave mandolin seems to have American origins and fits in with the mandolin, mandola, mandocello nomenclature. Octave Mandolins. From the mid-20th century on, a number of makers have produced octave mandolins with guitar-shaped (e.g., the “hourglass” or “figure 8”) bodies. Octave mandolins vary in scale length from 19” to 24”, so the LX1 is a reasonable choice as a platform for the conversion. The most obvious difference between a guitar and a mandolin is the string configuration. It’s tuned EADGBE like standard tuning (you play it just like you would a regular tuned guitar) except the lower four strings are tuned an octave higher. Vangoa A Style Mandolin Musical Instrument Sunburst, 8 String Acoustic Mandolin with Tuner, Strings, Bag, Picks. These can be tuned … Also, octave mandola is sometimes applied to what in the U.S. is a mandocello. On modern instruments X-bracing is sometimes used. Confusion will likely continue as the terms continue to be used interchangeably. Octave Mandolins at Europe's largest retailer of musical instruments - fast delivery, 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee and 3-year Thomann warranty Served with love! But, there are a few glaring differences between the two instruments that require some special attention! With this mandolin tuner you can: Tune with a microphone (easier) , by letting the online mandolin tuner use your computer’s mic to “hear” your mandolin’s sound and then tell you if you need to loosen or tighten the string using the tuning peg, or To solve this, Jason crafted a new bridge with steel pins to hold the loop ends of a standard octave mandolin string set. Octave mandolin construction is similar to the mandolin: The body may be constructed with a bowl-shaped back according to designs of the 18th century Vinaccia school, or with a flat (arched) back according to the designs of Gibson Guitar Corporation, popularized in the United States in the early 20th century. Alternate tunings exist in which the strings in some courses are tuned to octaves, rather than unisons, but this is more typical of the Irish Bouzouki. An acoustic guitar bridge is simply not compatible with standard octave mandolin strings. I’m happy to report that the results were fantastic!