You left out the most common reason for stringed instruments not staying in tune. The most common reason for all stringed instruments not staying in tune is that the strings have not been stretched properly. New strings (and even old strings) need to be stretched to stay in tune properly. It's very simple. Tune the string up to the correct pitch. Then take the string and bend it back and forth gently with your fingers to apply extra pressure but not enough to break the string. When you first do this the string will drop dramatically in pitch. Tune it back up and repeat two or three times. Do this with each string then tune your whole instrument. If this doesn't work, you may have other more serious issues, but this should solve most tuning problems.
As a newbie to picking up a mandolin for the first time, might you have a list in order of what lessons to start with? Thanks. What your doing is awesome!
After you stretch out your strings and they settle, they will have a tendency to go sharp. You have to tune them down and back up to pitch. Sometimes if you haven't played in a while and the weather changes, you might find your strings are flat. This comes from a guitar / uke player that's happy with all his strings and never blames anything on them.
@@thegood9 if your your strings have settled, stretched out and you play that guitar on a daily basis, every day, for months and months straight, strings will go sharp. Instruments need to be played.
@@openpalmjustice i play every day, mandoilin, guitar, and violin, and honestly have never noticed my new strings running sharp..,.flat, yes, sharp, no. That's my experience.
This was super helpful for tuning my new mandolin, but sadly the instrument has a problem with the tuning pegs where the mandolin cannot keep a note. Thanks anyways
As guitar player of 40+ years it takes about a Min of an AVG of 3 years of constant playing to train your mind/ears , that's if a person starts as a beginner.It's no different on a Mandolin , just HANG IN THERE you'll get to the end of the tunnel and when you do it's most satisfying.
I had some flat strings on my recently acquired mandolin, so just finished tuning. I use a free phone app (this is not a spam post - I won't name it. But it is reputed to be one of the better ones). However my observation is that you need a really clear note for the app to report well - I had a few slightly flubbed notes that reported B flat and clear notes on the same string came in as A. I've seen this behavior when tuning my Low_D Irish whistle too. It's been suggested I tune 1 string to the tuner and the second string to the first. But my hearing is slightly poor and I do not have the ear for that - seeing the frequency reported on the app makes it easier for me. I think in the end I will get a hardware tuner. But phone apps are probably 90% of good for me, right now. P.S. I wanted an Eastman MD305 for my first mandolin. But being pretty much unobtainable. So I treated myself to an Eastman MD404-BK. Partly as I love it's oval hole sound and also for the upgraded tuners which should eliminate problems there. Not a cheap upgraded instrument, but glad I did it.
I just found a mandolin in the dumpster at my apartment complex. The nerve of some people! Is it natural for the E strings to sound really tinny? It's like they're too tight on the instrument, but my tuner is showing it's measuring at E. Thanks in advance 😊
I'm so confused, there's two strings next to each other, are they supposed to be tuned to the same octave? What in the world is the point of having 8 strings if half of them sound identical to the other half
Just got a mandolin, but it seems after tuning it right we've been struggling to play past open notes. When we try to play the fretboard the note sounds the same, the further down we go on the fretboard it doesn't change. Any suggestions?
@@MandoLessons I know I am late to the party but what is that you have between the nut and the tuners? Is a piece of wood or leather and what is it for? Unwanted noise maybe... Anyhoo, thanks for the video and I hope life finds you well.
+Goku Uzumaki Ah, I understand! What you can do is fret the C string at the 7th fret, and it should be the same note as your open G string. I hope this helps! Thanks, Baron
The Custom Ranger Channel I know right? I thought he was going to fix world hunger at one point. Video is about tuning a mandolin and he talked about every damn thing that might need repairing as well.
G.D.A.E. for tuning.
@Jason Alijah I've been using flex SEAL for years! After a day on the water, the boat is completely dry!!!!!! :D
@@crookedzebrarecords hahaha bot
You left out the most common reason for stringed instruments not staying in tune. The most common reason for all stringed instruments not staying in tune is that the strings have not been stretched properly. New strings (and even old strings) need to be stretched to stay in tune properly. It's very simple. Tune the string up to the correct pitch. Then take the string and bend it back and forth gently with your fingers to apply extra pressure but not enough to break the string. When you first do this the string will drop dramatically in pitch. Tune it back up and repeat two or three times. Do this with each string then tune your whole instrument. If this doesn't work, you may have other more serious issues, but this should solve most tuning problems.
As a newbie to picking up a mandolin for the first time, might you have a list in order of what lessons to start with? Thanks. What your doing is awesome!
Thanks Ken! I've got a beginner series over on my website, and from there you can browse the beginner tunes in the fiddle tune section. Happy picking!
@@MandoLessons 5:41
After you stretch out your strings and they settle, they will have a tendency to go sharp. You have to tune them down and back up to pitch. Sometimes if you haven't played in a while and the weather changes, you might find your strings are flat. This comes from a guitar / uke player that's happy with all his strings and never blames anything on them.
hmm, that's interesting. I've never had my new strings go sharp, they've always gone flat due to simply stretching.
@@thegood9 if your your strings have settled, stretched out and you play that guitar on a daily basis, every day, for months and months straight, strings will go sharp. Instruments need to be played.
@@openpalmjustice i play every day, mandoilin, guitar, and violin, and honestly have never noticed my new strings running sharp..,.flat, yes, sharp, no. That's my experience.
@@thegood9 you're moving the goal posts, 'new strings'. Shut up.
This was super helpful for tuning my new mandolin, but sadly the instrument has a problem with the tuning pegs where the mandolin cannot keep a note. Thanks anyways
Your strings may be stretching out, due to the nature of geared tuners it's almost impossible for them to slip out of tune.
It's because it's new/ the strings are new
As guitar player of 40+ years it takes about a Min of an AVG of 3 years of constant playing to train your mind/ears , that's
if a person starts as a beginner.It's no different on a Mandolin , just HANG IN THERE you'll get to the end of the tunnel
and when you do it's most satisfying.
Very helpful. Thank you!
Hi I just bought a mandolin and I want to know if I need a tuner just for mandolin?
Hi I have a question I just bought my first mandolin and I was wondering if the tuner has to specifically be for mandolins or can they be for guitar?
Most tuners will work, there are also free tuner apps for phones.
love that mandolin ! i have an A style gibson it’s a from around 1915 -1920 , it needs some tlc
Good god , man!!!
I had some flat strings on my recently acquired mandolin, so just finished tuning. I use a free phone app (this is not a spam post - I won't name it. But it is reputed to be one of the better ones). However my observation is that you need a really clear note for the app to report well - I had a few slightly flubbed notes that reported B flat and clear notes on the same string came in as A. I've seen this behavior when tuning my Low_D Irish whistle too.
It's been suggested I tune 1 string to the tuner and the second string to the first. But my hearing is slightly poor and I do not have the ear for that - seeing the frequency reported on the app makes it easier for me.
I think in the end I will get a hardware tuner. But phone apps are probably 90% of good for me, right now.
P.S. I wanted an Eastman MD305 for my first mandolin. But being pretty much unobtainable. So I treated myself to an Eastman MD404-BK. Partly as I love it's oval hole sound and also for the upgraded tuners which should eliminate problems there. Not a cheap upgraded instrument, but glad I did it.
May I ask if you also show how it actually sounds in tune?
I just found a mandolin in the dumpster at my apartment complex. The nerve of some people! Is it natural for the E strings to sound really tinny? It's like they're too tight on the instrument, but my tuner is showing it's measuring at E. Thanks in advance 😊
I'm so confused, there's two strings next to each other, are they supposed to be tuned to the same octave? What in the world is the point of having 8 strings if half of them sound identical to the other half
It just gives it a nice full sound
Volume and a unique sound
Thank you in 2021!
Can I tune my Mandy with an average tuner. Settings are chromatic guitar bass and ukelele
Yep, use chromatic and tune (low to high) G, D, A, and E
Just got a mandolin, but it seems after tuning it right we've been struggling to play past open notes.
When we try to play the fretboard the note sounds the same, the further down we go on the fretboard it doesn't change.
Any suggestions?
Great lesson!!
+MandoLessons when you do more songs could you focus on the mandolin in different types of music instead of just folk and Celtic?
+Adrian Lee That's really all I know how to play, I don't know much about other styles of music. Thanks, Baron
@@MandoLessons
I know I am late to the party but what is that you have between the nut and the tuners? Is a piece of wood or leather and what is it for? Unwanted noise maybe...
Anyhoo, thanks for the video and I hope life finds you well.
@@tomasotreasaigh111 @MandoLossons I also would like to know about this and am equally late to the party. Let's call it fashionably late.
Thanks for the tips! Question: I have a 10 string mandolin, how do I tune the c string?
+Goku Uzumaki on a 10 string the lowest set of strings is usually tuned to C.
+Goku Uzumaki Oops, sorry, I misread your question. I guess I don't quite understand the question.
MandoLessons my question is how do you tune the extra c string?
MandoLessons my tuner only tunes gdae for violins and mandolins.
+Goku Uzumaki Ah, I understand! What you can do is fret the C string at the 7th fret, and it should be the same note as your open G string. I hope this helps! Thanks, Baron
Great lesson thank you
that is why it is called "tuning up".
Cause if it is flat you need to "turn up" to meet the pitch. And turning down is the opposite when the note is shape
Nice vid, and the tuning by ear tip is great, but ". . . as the batteries in tuners go dead, they become less accurate" is, well, not accurate.
So helpful!
Thanks a lot!
Thanks bro
Thank you sir
Bottom string is g
What are the rest ? Thanks
GDAE are the natural tones from bottom (1&2) to top (7&8)
Just show me how to tune it bro shhesh
Had my neighbor tell me the two bottom strings were to be tuned in octaves
This is not the case, all string courses (set of two strings) are in the same octave, tuned G D A E lowest pitch to highest pitch
#AdrianLee I subscribed!!! 🤗😍 I love you
Well, I just tuned one. . . NOPE.
The sound is interesting. My friend wanted me to figure it out for him. I wont be playing it.
You wasted my time.
Talking too much
Like ur videos but u talk to much
The Custom Ranger Channel
I know right? I thought he was going to fix world hunger at one point. Video is about tuning a mandolin and he talked about every damn thing that might need repairing as well.
just tune it less talk