Mandolin Glossary

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Intonation

The proper adjustment of the length of each course of strings so that all harmonics and intervals play properly.

Also known as scale length, the length of each course of strings is usually optimized by using a staggered bridge. The overall intonation is set by moving the bridge towards or away from the nut until a fretted note played at the 12th fret has the same pitch as the harmonic played at the same fret. This distance may be different for the first and fourth courses of strings, requiring the bridge to be positioned at a slight angle. Intonation may change when a different gauge of strings are used or when the bridge height is adjusted to change the action.

Authored by: Jack Roberts