High-Strung Mandolin

[Mike Herlihy]

When Yank high-strung his mandolin, which course did he string with the plain string?

The course closer to you or the floor?

[Michael Eck]

Ah, yes, mosquito tuning!

Replace one G string (the one closest to your face as you play) with an A string, and one D string (also the one closest to your face) with an E string. Tune those an octave higher and voila!

I used the tuning for the old Delmore Brothers tune, "Freight Train Boogie," on our album "Hobo Nickel." It gives a real nice sprightly bounce.