janolov - Posted - 12/27/2010:  03:18:21

My major instrument is Old-Time banjo and there we use a lot of different tunings. I do also play a little fiddle and guitar and have learned some alternativ tunings. What about manolin? How many of you use alternative tunings (GDGD for example)?

unclepoppy - Posted - 12/27/2010:  08:23:14

On the New Lost City Ramblers album " there ain't no way out" Mike Seeger uses 2 alt. tunings listed in the liner notes. On the tune "God's Gonna Ease My Troublin Mind", FF CC GG AD and on "Do You Call That Religion", FF CC FF CC. The first tune has Tracy Schwarz on fiddle tuned DCGD.

mandoman - Posted - 12/27/2010:  10:55:25

Bill Monroe used AF# DD AA AD for Get up John. That's the only other tuning I use

Jim Yates - Posted - 12/27/2010:  11:11:15

I use GDAD as standard tuning on my octave mandolin.

janolov - Posted - 12/27/2010:  12:50:57

quote:

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Originally posted by mandoman

Bill Monroe used AF# DD AA AD for Get up John. That's the only other tuning I use

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Edited by - janolov on 12/27/2010 12:51:53

fred davis - Posted - 12/30/2010:  11:13:46

I once tuned mine GgDdAaEe sounded good

dmiller - Posted - 12/30/2010:  18:03:26

I've cross tuned the fiddle several different ways. Banjo as well.
Never did try different tunings on the mandolin though. I'll have to give it a go!

irishbanjos - Posted - 01/04/2011:  23:20:18

quote:

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Originally posted by fred davis

I once tuned mine GgDdAaEe sounded good

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Jim Yates - Posted - 01/06/2011:  20:16:31

I have an old Ibanez mandolin that I like to tune as a "high strung" mandolin. gGdDAAEE for blues and jug band numbers. I use spare 2nd for the high G and a spare 1st for the high D.

irishbanjos - Posted - 01/06/2011:  23:21:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim Yates

I have an old Ibanez mandolin that I like to tune as a "high strung" mandolin. gGdDAAEE for blues and jug band numbers. I use spare 2nd for the high G and a spare 1st for the high D.

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Mandolin Ant - Posted - 01/07/2011:  09:21:04

Looks like it's time to do some experimenting. I've never thought of trying different tunnings.

irishbanjos - Posted - 01/07/2011:  12:21:56

quote:

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Originally posted by Mandolin Ant

Looks like it's time to do some experimenting. I've never thought of trying different tunnings.

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majikgator - Posted - 01/07/2011:  15:49:06

i have known a couple 12 string guitar players that tuned the pairs to the root note and it's fifth, don't know how that would work with mandolin, a whole lot of fifths going on already if in standard tuning.