MandoCello/Bouzouki Cittern Chords + Scales

[pettyman]

Hi again.

Just wondering what info there is out there fore mandocellos/bouzoukis and more specifically citterns tuned CGDAE http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?

Before I get my Moon Cittern I want to build up a few resources so that I can straight down to it.

Obviously a lot of the stuff I've learnt on mando can be transferred straight over but what else would you suggest I buy/browse or generally delve into!?

Cheers
Matt

[Mandovark]

If you haven't already found it, Hans Speek's bouzouki site is a good place to start - there's a link to it on the Moon web pages.

I did a bit of hunting online for 5-course chords when I started to think about getting a Moon. Couldn't find much. I think for rhythm purposes the best way to go is to learn the chord shapes for GDAE (or GDAD) tuning and then think about what to add on the C course. And if you get desperate, mute the C and play a 4-course chord.

If I remember rightly, aren't you getting the long scale cittern? This does change things if you're used to playing melodies on the mandolin. The fingering is much closer to guitar technique than mandolin. When I got an octave mandolin after 10 years on guitar, I kept playing notes sharp at first because I was stretching too far - looking for where the note would be on a guitar. Coming from mandolin, you might have the opposite problem. You'll get used to it quickly enough though.

[Martin Jonas]

Trevor from TAMCO has got a useful short PDF here (http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/chord_10_string.pdf) which gives some tips for CGDAE chords. They're intended for short-scale citterns (mandola/mandolin pitch) but will equally work with long-scale ('cello/OM) citterns.

Martin

[pettyman]

Awesome - thanks.

Yeah I've ordered the long scale. I play both mando and guitar so hopefully will be able to make the transition reasonably smoothly - though I am willing to put in as much time as it takes.

I'm looking forward to hearing the bass that comes out of it - should be able to have a lot of fun.

From what I've heard Jimmy Moon's guitars and mandos are beautiful instruments. I've treated myself - my original budget was £400 but when I saw this one I couldn't help myself.

Any more info is always appreciated.

Thanks again

[Tom A]

One of my favorite resources is:

The Guitar Chord House (http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/guitar/index_rb.html)

You can select "New Standard Tuning" (CGDAEG) or change individual string tunings via the +- buttons, ignoring the extra string, of course!

Just about all the chords and scales you'll ever need there. I like the "display intervals" option, as you get a visual layout on all possible chord shapes and voicings in one picture.

[pettyman]

That is one powerful site.

Thanks for the link. I think that will come in useful a lot!

Matt

[delsbrother]

Anyone have any experience with this? (http://cgi.ebay.com/MANDOCELLO-CHORD-BIBLE-1-728-CHORD-DICTIONARY-NEW_W0QQitemZ140037147094) If it's just a repackaged mando chord book I don't think my fingers stretch that far.. Plus.. Does anyone play four string chords on their mandocelli?

[steve V. johnson]

Hey Tom,

Thanks for posting the Chord House site. I love that thing! I change a guitar picture to GDADDD, work out the stuff I want then shoot screen shot .pdfs of the page and erase the extra DD courses!

It's ideal for Cittern chords, and I hadn't thought of that, wonderful!

stv