Alternative mandolin string gauges?

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 23 Jun 2021 8:17 am

I'm toying with the idea of tuning my mandolin like the top four strings of a regular guitar (at a suitable pitch). This would obviously require non-standard string gauges, at least for the two bottom pairs.

I know this will reduce the tonal range of the instrument somewhat, but for my very infrequent use that is not an issue. I'm comfortable enough playing chords on a regular mandolin tuning (as comfortable as my sausage fingers will allow...), but playing melody lines would be so much easier with ordinary guitar grips

Has anyone tried this and can recommend suitable gauges that result in balanced string tension?

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 23 Jun 2021 11:56 am

Try asking on the Mandolin Cafe . Good luck!

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 23 Jun 2021 4:33 pm

Mandolin E string is 0.010" (light) or 0.011"(medium). With that in mind, two packs of electric guitar strings would be an easy starting point, discard the heavier A and E strings.

Mike McBride · Post by **Mike McBride** » 22 Sep 2021 1:50 am

How did it work? I'm thinking about doing it.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 22 Sep 2021 3:23 am

I have a friend who did that so he wouldn't have to learn all these hand destroying mandolin chords. Of course with no heavier strings in the bass, chop chords wouldn't sound as good. I still can't do the G chop chord because I have small hands.

D Schubert · Post by **D Schubert** » 22 Sep 2021 5:11 am

According to modern legend, studio guitarist Tommy Tedesco kept dozens of instruments tuned this way. Every one of them tuned just like a guitar in single, double courses, beginning with E B G D..... primarily for sight-reading. Tuning a mandolin this way, with or without re-entrant or octave strings, puts it in ukulele territory. I'm a mandolin player, but I keep my tenor banjo tuned in the Chicago style (E B G D) with telecaster strings. Brought it to a blues jam one time, just to be different. And it was.

Tom Spaulding · Post by **Tom Spaulding** » 30 Sep 2021 8:46 am

Tommy Tedesco Gauges. No octaves:

1st string (double string) E .009
2nd string (double string) B .012
3rd string (double string) G .017
4th string (double string) D .024

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 30 Sep 2021 10:01 am

I think I have all those gauges as singles, will try! Thanks!