Octave Mandola, alternative tunings

Subject: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: GUEST,Robroy
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 01:11 PM

I am aware of several tuning options for the Octave Mandola, but so far have not been able to get a list of the tunings together with the required chord shapes to suit. I will be eternally grateful if anyone can help me out, or can point me in the direction of a suitable publication. At the moment I am using standard E,A,D,G

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 01:35 PM

Try D.A.D.G

Gerry

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: GUEST,Robroy
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 01:47 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but where can I get the Chord shapes (fret positions) for it? any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 01:48 PM

Is there a difference between the Octave Mandola and the octave mandolin?

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Les from Hull
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 02:12 PM

There's an excellent free chord chart available at Han's Bouzouki site, plus lots more useful information about bouzoukis/mandolas/citterns. If you're playing chords, I reckon that DADG or rather GDAD is the best option. I'm sorry that I can't do the blue clicky thing but any search engine should find it quick enough.

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 23 Jul 02 - 03:34 PM

Judging by the standard tuning you are currently using (EADG) we're talking octave mandolin here. You are tuned an octave lower than a mandolin. If you were tuned an octave lower than a mandola (ADGC), you would have a mandocello. Just a matter of terminology... no big deal.

I like DADA (hi to lo). This is a "neutered" open D tuning. Since the third is left out it is neither major nor minor. Very drony sounding. Chords are available in any bouzouki instruction book or website, but it's real easy to just find them by ear.

This tuning pretty much requires use of a capo to play in other keys besides D. This can be a problem with octave mandos as their scale length is usually much shorter than a bouzouki. Playing in A means capoing at the 7th fret which gets a little tight on the shorter neck. If you hate capos or if you play in sessions/bands that do a lot of mid-medley key changes, DADG is a better tuning.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: GUEST,Robroy
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 07:58 AM

Thanks everybody, I appreciate it. And ,as pointed out, it appears that I'm playing an Octave Mandolin, so if this makes things clearer , then keep the suggestions coming.

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Genie
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 06:59 PM

I once heard a guy playing an octave mando with guitar tuning. (I thought his axe actually had 6 strings, but even if it was just 4, it was tuned like the 4 high stings on a standard guitar.)   
Being a guitarist, I thought that might make an octave easy to play and a good second instrument.   I have trouble with the itty bitty fretboards on most mandolins, because of arthritis in my left hand, so I liked the longer fretboard of the octave mando.

Anyone familiar with a guitar (or tenor guitar) tuning for one of those?

Genie

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Genie
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 07:00 PM

... and I just realized this thread's about octave mandOLAs, not mandoLINs.

Does that affect the answer?

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 08:12 PM

It varies.The same instrument that would be called an Octave Mandola in the UK would be called an Octave Mandolin in the States.

The relevant factor isn't so much the instrument itself as the tuning. Change a standard Mandola with viola tuning CGDA to GDAE and it becomes an Octave Mandola or Octave Mandolin, depending what side of the Atlantic you happen to be.

(There is also some ambiguity, in that any instrument with strings in double courses can have unison strings or octave strings, especially when it comes to the bass strings.)

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Sugwash
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 04:15 AM

A good source for 4 string (or course) chords can be found here 4 string chords It's free and lets you set the tuning as you wish.

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 03 Dec 08 - 04:37 AM

We just had all this on another thread about mandola strings...

How great to read your post Bruce - it's time we got this name thing sorted once and for all, and people stopped buying the wrong instrument or the wrong strings by mistake!

This explains all - though I can't claim I'm right about any of it!!

But my understanding after detailed historical research is this:

Mandola = alto instrument, senior member of family, no qualification necessary. As viola: CDGA (from Mandora, meaning almond shaped - it's technically a lute, and predates even the violin).

Mandolin = little mandola. As violin: GDAE

Mandodello = tenor member of family. As Violincello CDGA (one octave below mandola and viola)

Mandobass = bass member. As Double bass / Bass viol and German Bass (true bass violin): EADG - the only one tuned in fourths.

Octave mandolin = Octave below mandolin, GDAE (often tuned GDAD though).

Octave mandola = mandocello, therefore no need for this name. Ever!

Tenor mandola = could be mandola AND/OR octave mandolin. Danger - confusion lurketh here. It's either one or the other, so why not call it by whichever name is unequivocal!

Tom

PS As it happens I do tune one of my mandocellos (the one I gig with) ADGC, so use the lower four strings shapes from the EADGBE guitar tuning (but up one fifth) with opportunities for drones. Works for me!

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 04 Dec 08 - 01:39 AM

GDGD sounds nice, I also tune it as a variant of DADGAD, can't for the life of me remember the exact notation at the moment!

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: Waiheke
Date: 04 Dec 08 - 01:41 AM

Hi -try googling Four-string chord finder.
ChordFind.com-4stringchords.com
Good luck

Subject: RE: Octave Mandola, alternative tunings
From: theleveller
Date: 04 Dec 08 - 03:27 AM

I agree with Tom on tuning. Mine (it's mrsleveller's actually but she prefers her mandolins) is tuned an octave below the mandolin with the top pair down to D - this is the same interval as my cittern, which is tuned GCGDG.

If you're looking for chords for any instrument in any tuning download Chord Alchemy - it's brilliant for creating chords, looking them up in reverse and creating chord diagrams for putting into score etc. I think it costs around £20 or less and is well worth the money.