aldocruise - Posted - 09/28/2014:  13:42:49

Just wondering if the mandolin tabs can be played on a tenor guitar? Given they are both four strings. I realise the tenor guitar is tuned differently but should this still work.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 09/29/2014:  05:19:54

If they aren't tuned the same, you can't play the tabs and have them sound right.  You would have to retune your mandolin to whatever tuning is used on the tenor guitar, then you could use the tab, but then the chord shapes wouldn't be the same on the mandolin as what they were before you retuned.  

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 09/29/2014:  06:00:17

Tenor guitars are "normally" tuned CGDA and mandolins are "normally tuned GDAE lowest string to highest string . Both instruments are tuned in fifths. Sooooo if you decide to use the mandolin tab to learn tunes you will be playing the same melody but in a different key. In explanation one fifth lower than the mandolin because of the standard tuning of CGDA is a fifth lower than GDAE low string to high. It is possible to string and tune a tenor guitar to play an entire octave below standard mandolin tuning to Octave Mandolin tuning. See this Youtube post .... youtube.com/watch?v=Qz9xSQ5xdMU ..... the spacing of the frets on a tenor guitar is different than a mandolin due to the length of scale on the two instruments so unless you have really long fingers many chords will be three note forms ..... Luck R/

SteveZ - Posted - 09/29/2014:  12:00:40

Have tried both CGDA and GDAE tuning on the tenor guitar and prefer CGDA.  However, Elderly is selling a GDAE tenor string set they put together for Breedlove tenor guitars.  I tried it and it worked fine for me.  

aldocruise - Posted - 09/29/2014:  12:30:56

Thanks for all of that. I just found a really great clip on you tube that explains it all. Go into You Tube and enter Tenor Guitar then look for a video by Jamie Boss. It's really very informative.

Donnie - Posted - 09/29/2014:  21:43:18

You bet it translates. ie: 1st finger, 2nd string, 2nd fret, 2nd finger, 1st string, 3rd fret. Looks like a 2-finger G chord on the mandolin, but it's a C chord on the Tenor guitar, Mandola too. I often switch from mandolin to tenor guitar, and back again during concerts. I switch to tenor banjo turned an octave below mandolin too, depending on the instrument mix, isn't the relativity of these instruments AWESOME! When people comment about how easily we switch instruments and ask how we keep from getting mixed up, we try and explain the relativity... mostly though we do it to appear more talented than we really are!

SteveZ - Posted - 09/30/2014:  05:40:31

I tuned my TG, TB, ukes and one mandolin to CGDA out of convenience. They all sound good that way for rock, most country and show tunes. Two mandolins are still GDAE and used when the mood hits. Since I rarely do bluegrass, the CGDA fits me better overall.

aldocruise - Posted - 09/30/2014:  12:43:41

Fantastic response. Thanks to all. I've only been learning the Mandolin for a few months now. My first ever attempt to play anything. Having a ball with all the tabs available on the net and thought I might buy a TG just for a different sound. Can't imagine I'll ever get good enough to play in public but I'm enjoying myself and at 72 I'm easily pleased. My family seem to like what I'm doing so I'll keep it up. Now all I have to do is find a TG in Australia.
Thanks again for all the advice.

SteveZ - Posted - 10/01/2014:  06:24:52

• Don't worry about playing in public.  My audiences consist mainly of my spouse (she has little choice, living in the same house) , my two dogs ( they like everything!) and an occasional grandchild. That's plenty.

Edited by - SteveZ on 10/01/2014 06:25:12

DHopkins - Posted - 10/02/2014:  11:56:48

CGDA is "normal" mandola tuning