Newbie

[Pinky]

Hi everyone. My name is Christine and I jsut got my first mandolin. I have played guitar for the past 3 years and have ALWAYS had a "thing" for mandolin's. My grandmother played mandolin to use as little children. I have such sweet memories of it. However, my granny is gone now and I need some advice. First of I purchased an Ibanez M510 Electric/Acoustic...it's so beautiful. It's eight strings. Do I tune the strings as "pairs" starting with G below middle C, then D,A,and E being the highest? Also, what beginner book would be the best? If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

[nilodnam]

Hi Christine,

Welcome to mando. The tuning is from lowest to highest pitch g,b,d,e where the pairs of strings called courses are tuned to the same note, as you mentioned.

There is a wealth of good instructional material. Visit Elderly Instruments or Homespun Tapes, online. When I first started, I got fretboard roadmaps for mandolin. I would suggest you get a few lessons to learn how to hold the pick, pick correctly, place the left hand etc. It really is different than guitar. You will find that mandolin is really suited to melodic tunes and improvization. The wide world of fiddle tunes are very playable.

Have fun.

Jim

[Mando4Life]

Christine,

Check out Bert Casey's Mandolin Primer book. I think a lot of folks, including myself, started with it. If you want you can PM me your address and I'll send you my copy. I don't need it anymore.

Good luck and enjoy the world of mandolins.

WBL

[AlanN]

To answer one of your questions, the open G string is indeed G below middle C on the piano.

[arbarnhart]

Here is a place to start online if you are just itching to get at it:

Folk of the Wood's free online mando lessons

[otterly2k]

Christine-
I'm not sure what Jim had in mind, but you were on the right track with the tuning... GDAE (not gbde).

You will find a lot of helpful people and a tremendous amount of great info here on Mandolin Cafe.

Welcome aboard!
KE

[jim_n_virginia]

Christine try and find a teacher if you can even if it is just a few lessons to get you started like tuning, holding it right and such.

Good luck I am a guitar player too and you are going to love the mandolin, it's addicting and my guitar gathered dust for a while but now I am back to playing both, but i still prefer mandolin over guitar!

happy picking!

[Pinky]

Thanks everyone! I so appreciate it. Not only do I think I'm going to love playing the Mandolin, but I think I'm going to love the people I'll be meeting along the way. You all seem so great. It's very refreshing to find such hospitality. Thanks again. I think I read that GBDE is an "alternative" way to tune. I think I'd better start with the basic GDAE
Christine

[Pinky]

O.K. real quick one more question. The bridge came seperate from the mandolin...meaning "not on it already" It is an adjustable one...now this may sound stupid but...do I just put that on myself?

[mandroid]

Not being familiar, with specific brand and model, is this an acoustic arched top, with electric bits added ?
If So, the usual situation is the string pressure holds it down.
Location is bestsounding precisely = 2(0>12)
fret #12 is halfway between where the nut/0 fret is ,and the bridge.
so measure 0>12, and transfer that distance to know where the bridge belongs.
This is most commonly the E string distance , with the other 3 pairs offset ,[compensated] [the wiggly edge on top of the bridge edge] slightly.
Point in the middle of the F holes is pointing to, roughly, that spot.

[Pinky]

O.K. thanks I think I got it..... BTW I have an Ibanez M510 Electric/Acoustic

[Mando4Life]

Christine,

I got you PM. I'll get the book in the mail in the next day or two.

Check on www.folkofthewood.com They used to have a section on the proper setting of the bridge (correct intonation). It's pretty simple.

WBL

[fatt-dad]

Pinky,

Regarding the bridge:

1. go buy an electronic tuner
2. Measure the distance from the nut (the piece of white plastic/bone material just above the first fretwire) to the 12th fret.
3. Measure from the 12th fret to the top of the mandolin and position the bridge perpendicular to the strings at that point (it is usually about the mid-point of the f-holes).
4. Bring a few of the strings up to pitch (or close) and then see if the note at the 12th fret is the same note as the open string (it will be one octave higher, but the same note).
5. If it's flat on the 12th fret then you have to move the bridge toward the nut if it's sharp then move the bridge away from the nut.

When you get the bridge positioned at the right place, bring all the strings up to tension and voilla - your done!

Good luck

fatt-dad

[Lee]

Christine, here's a photo of your Ibanez M510. You see how the bridge is located at the mid-points on the F-holes. This will get you in the ballpark. Be sure to keep the strings fairly loose when you're moving the bridge. It can tilt and tip-over and marr the surface.

[glauber]

To answer one of your questions, the open G string is indeed G below middle C on the piano.

Or, to put it in another context, the same note as the 3rd string on a guitar.

[Pinky]

Excellent...thanks guys.....and LEE.... yes...that's my baby(thanks for taking the time to find that pic and explain the bridge to me).....I know it's probably not much to you guys who have the real good stuff...but I love the look of it. I have an American Made Fender strat that I spent a LOAD on and I just wanted something kinda cool looking to start off with. I've always heard preety good things about Ibanez, so I hope it;s decent once I start playing.

[nilodnam]

Jim Can't type first thing in the morning.... GDAE of course for tuning.

[Lee]

Oh my, and you play a Strat too.
I bet you've got a killer amp. No wonder you bought the acoustic/electric version of the Ibenez!

[8ch(pl)]

Whatever you decide on an instructional book, I would also get a copy of Mandolin Chord Dictionary. I think the Alfred company publishes it. It is a great resource for chords.