ignatzh
Oud Lover
Posts: 14
Registered: 5-17-2010
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Mandole tunings
Since nobody has been helpful in my search for mandole strings, I'm going to try to put something together myself.
I've heard all sorts of nonsense about mandole tunings, and can't find a straight answer on the web. Most people try to tune them like a guitar minus
the high "e", which is of course incorrect insofar as Chaabi and similar Algerian styles are concerned. But that's where I hit a dead end. As I'm
going to try to put together some string sets from Irish bouzouki and mandocello sets, it would be good to try to figure out what tunings are more or
less traditional for the Algerian mandole so that I don't collapse the top.
If anybody has any contacts in Algeria or France and could help me out here, I'd be much appreciative. The instrument in question has a 25.5 scale
length.
Thanks!
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ignatzh
Oud Lover
Posts: 14
Registered: 5-17-2010
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One possiblity
According to an Algerian source is D-AA-DD-GG, bass to high.
Given that and the dimensions of the instrument, any ideas?
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rootsguitar
Oud Junkie
Posts: 144
Registered: 7-12-2012
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I wish you much luck with your mandole-
I would like to share these ideas with you, though the exact circumstances are different.
One of my goals this winter has been to experiment with tunings and strings for a fretless lute.
Since I wanted to have the freedom of trying some set ups without using manufactured strings I used a spool of thick fishing line.
I value traditional tunings and resonating strings, I just thought that it might be interesting to try some ideas.
The important part was finding the tension that seemed to be just right for the wooden tuning pegs ( no gears on them).
The pegs worked best when their smooth operation was kept into consideration and very much influenced the over all rigging process.
( " ie. helped keep from over-working the overall bracing of this lute").
Also my goal was to rough out some tuning ideas, not nesc. with a finished tone.
Lately, leaving some pegs unstrung and creating space around some of the strings has been interesting as I focus more on slide tones .
Just ideas--I still have much to learn.
This tuning is DD-AD-D-D-AA-A-GD :
---best
[file]25563[/file]
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Ryadh
Oud Lover
Posts: 14
Registered: 9-13-2012
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Hello,
The tuning used for the Mandole may change a lot according to the style you play (Andalou, Chaabi ...), the most common tuning forthe Mandole in
Algeria is DADG, it's for the Chaabi Style (deepest to highest), but there a lot of people who play with a EADG guitar-like tunnig (I do). Nowadays,
you can also find some 5 Strings Mandoles, in this case the tuning is DADGC (the fist deep D is usually a single string like the deep C of the Oud in
Arabic tuning)
In Algeria we use two kind of strings, one is a bronze set made by Galli Strings, the are very heavy and thick, a real pain for the fingers, but very
cheap.
The best for the mandole and what professional players use in Algeria is the 12 strings Savarez Argentine set, originally made for Gypsy Guitar, they
perform great on a Mandole. If you prefer a lighter tension you can buy two sets of 6 strings light tension Savarez Argentine (that's what I use). We
use the deepest strings of the set and get rid of the one or two (it depends on on the kind of mandole) highest ones.
I hope this will help,
The link for the strings: http://savarez.fr/anglais/guit-manouch.html
Best,
Ryadh,
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