I recently posted about waldzither tuning And asked if it could be tuned GDAe, well I've got the instrument ,the scale length is about 430mm about the same as a short scale Mandola.I can tune it to CDGA but unfortunately I play a little mandolin and fiddle and this tuning doesn't suit melody with fiddle et cetera Is there a way round this? Sean
ps I want to learn some chord accompaniment on this instrument and am very limited in my knowledge of alternative tunings,what is the advantage of tuning GDAd
I can't say that I have been exposed to mandolas that much or a variety of tuning preferences. However, if you are playing accompaniment, the standard tuning I see is the GDAE you have mentioned. I have seen different tuning for playing lead. The variation I see with GDAE accompaniment is sometimes people tune the standard octave below a regular mandolin for an octave mandolin, or short scale bouzouki and then tune one G string and one D string an octave lower. This results in a unique sound to the chords. If you are getting a buzz with this tuning with mandola strings, it may be a mismatch of the size strings for the tuning or an install issue. If you have a shortscale mandola, you might be able to work with octave mandolin strings or short scale bouzouki strings designed for GDAE. Check the string length. There is a Bouzouki CDrom Tutorial sold at MadForTrad for GDAE accompaniment that is excellent.
Waldzither tuning screws would probably be very difficult to obtain. I have a piano tuner, instrument repair and restoration friend in my area (California). I would check your area to at least consult with this type of person and get an estimate for repair. They may be able to help on alternatives to Waldzither parts, even if you chose to repair it yourself.
Brian McDonagh of Dervish plays a mandola. I spoke to him after one concert about his tuning.
The mandola is tuned to CGDG, which is a varient of the bouzouki GDAD tuning. However, he playes almost everything with the capo at the 3rd fret. (D#,A#,E#,A#) Since Dervish plays everything a 1/2 step sharp, this is equivalent to DAEA capoed at the second fret.
The interesting thing about this tuning is this. Mandolins, fiddles and octave mandolins are typically tuned GDAE, but the tunes are largely played only on the D, A & E strings. So Brian has these as the lower three strings on his mandola (capoed at the 2nd fret) for melodies, but also has a bouzouki tuning, which doesn't work so well for straight melody, for bouzouki style playing and bouzouki chords.
Standard mandola tuning is CGDA, a 5th below mandolin tuning. Brian capos at 2 (or 3 to play 1/2 step sharp) and tunes the A string down to G. I play an octave mandolin tuned to GDAE most of the time and GDAD occationally. His tuning and use of the mandola is brilliant because it gives you the range of both the mandolin and octave mandolin, but also lets you play in a bouzouki style that was pioneered by Donal Lunny.
Regarding strings for the Waldzither... If you buy regular loop-end strings - whatever guages you decide - you still need another loop on the other end.
I measure where the loop should be and then bend the string back at that point. Then I grab the two strings above the loop point about 2 or 3 inches up with a pair of pliers. I put a screwdrive through the loop and start twisting while pulling tightly. After I put about 10 twists in the loop, I cut off the excess.
Not the most elegant solution, but I've never had a problem with these hand-made "loops" slipping or breaking (yet).
CGDA isn't a bad tuning for accompaniment--the most common keys like G, D, Am, Em, Dm sit well. Depending on the string tension, you may also be able to retune to something like DGDA, CGDG, or even DAEA using the same strings (but be careful with the latter, because the tension would be significantly higher). Or, follow dfost's suggestion for making double-loop strings and go for whatever tuning you like.
I have a 1904 Waldzither Cittern that I use for Irish.
I keep it tuned as an Octave Mandolin ( no capo ) with
the GDAE on the BOTTOM 4 courses and I add a high
'b' on the top side. This is KILLER for keys like 'Em'
with that top 'b' note droning.
So no-capo tuning would be...
G DD AA ee bb
The wonderful thing about this tuning is that now if
you just slap a capo on the 5th fret... Volia!... it's
a real mandolin with the GDAE 'box' now falling on the
TOP four courses thus...
C GG DD AA ee
With a capo on fret 5 of the Waldzither... it even FEELS
like the same scale as a mandolin with the added
benefit of the wider neck... which is great for someone
like me with big fingers who could never play a
narrow-neck mandolin even if I wanted to.
Question for Dave ( dfost ): Exactly where do you buy
your 'standard mandola strings'. Just curious.
mandola tuning (waldzither)
mandola tuning (waldzither)
I recently posted about waldzither tuning And asked if it could be tuned GDAe, well I've got the instrument ,the scale length is about 430mm about the same as a short scale Mandola.I can tune it to CDGA but unfortunately I play a little mandolin and fiddle and this tuning doesn't suit melody with fiddle et cetera Is there a way round this? Sean
ps I want to learn some chord accompaniment on this instrument and am very limited in my knowledge of alternative tunings,what is the advantage of tuning GDAd
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by doire
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
I also have a Waldzither with the same scale length. One of the tuning screews broke, so I don't use the 9th single bass string.
(BTW, does anyone know where I could get a replacement for the broken tuning screw?)
Anyway, I use standard mandola strings and tune my Waldzither just like an octave mandolin - the string tension seems just right to me.
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by dfost
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
I have done this with the original strings 2 loops and the result sounds twangy.How do you fit your mandola strings
# Posted on March 20th 2005 by doire
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
I can't say that I have been exposed to mandolas that much or a variety of tuning preferences. However, if you are playing accompaniment, the standard tuning I see is the GDAE you have mentioned. I have seen different tuning for playing lead. The variation I see with GDAE accompaniment is sometimes people tune the standard octave below a regular mandolin for an octave mandolin, or short scale bouzouki and then tune one G string and one D string an octave lower. This results in a unique sound to the chords. If you are getting a buzz with this tuning with mandola strings, it may be a mismatch of the size strings for the tuning or an install issue. If you have a shortscale mandola, you might be able to work with octave mandolin strings or short scale bouzouki strings designed for GDAE. Check the string length. There is a Bouzouki CDrom Tutorial sold at MadForTrad for GDAE accompaniment that is excellent.
Waldzither tuning screws would probably be very difficult to obtain. I have a piano tuner, instrument repair and restoration friend in my area (California). I would check your area to at least consult with this type of person and get an estimate for repair. They may be able to help on alternatives to Waldzither parts, even if you chose to repair it yourself.
Best Wishes
# Posted on March 21st 2005 by CeolCairdeas
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
Brian McDonagh of Dervish plays a mandola. I spoke to him after one concert about his tuning.
The mandola is tuned to CGDG, which is a varient of the bouzouki GDAD tuning. However, he playes almost everything with the capo at the 3rd fret. (D#,A#,E#,A#) Since Dervish plays everything a 1/2 step sharp, this is equivalent to DAEA capoed at the second fret.
The interesting thing about this tuning is this. Mandolins, fiddles and octave mandolins are typically tuned GDAE, but the tunes are largely played only on the D, A & E strings. So Brian has these as the lower three strings on his mandola (capoed at the 2nd fret) for melodies, but also has a bouzouki tuning, which doesn't work so well for straight melody, for bouzouki style playing and bouzouki chords.
Standard mandola tuning is CGDA, a 5th below mandolin tuning. Brian capos at 2 (or 3 to play 1/2 step sharp) and tunes the A string down to G. I play an octave mandolin tuned to GDAE most of the time and GDAD occationally. His tuning and use of the mandola is brilliant because it gives you the range of both the mandolin and octave mandolin, but also lets you play in a bouzouki style that was pioneered by Donal Lunny.
# Posted on March 21st 2005 by Craymcla
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
Regarding strings for the Waldzither... If you buy regular loop-end strings - whatever guages you decide - you still need another loop on the other end.
I measure where the loop should be and then bend the string back at that point. Then I grab the two strings above the loop point about 2 or 3 inches up with a pair of pliers. I put a screwdrive through the loop and start twisting while pulling tightly. After I put about 10 twists in the loop, I cut off the excess.
Not the most elegant solution, but I've never had a problem with these hand-made "loops" slipping or breaking (yet).
# Posted on March 21st 2005 by dfost
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
CGDA isn't a bad tuning for accompaniment--the most common keys like G, D, Am, Em, Dm sit well. Depending on the string tension, you may also be able to retune to something like DGDA, CGDG, or even DAEA using the same strings (but be careful with the latter, because the tension would be significantly higher). Or, follow dfost's suggestion for making double-loop strings and go for whatever tuning you like.
# Posted on March 23rd 2005 by tedium
Re: mandola tuning (waldzither)
I have a 1904 Waldzither Cittern that I use for Irish.
I keep it tuned as an Octave Mandolin ( no capo ) with
the GDAE on the BOTTOM 4 courses and I add a high
'b' on the top side. This is KILLER for keys like 'Em'
with that top 'b' note droning.
So no-capo tuning would be...
G DD AA ee bb
The wonderful thing about this tuning is that now if
you just slap a capo on the 5th fret... Volia!... it's
a real mandolin with the GDAE 'box' now falling on the
TOP four courses thus...
C GG DD AA ee
With a capo on fret 5 of the Waldzither... it even FEELS
like the same scale as a mandolin with the added
benefit of the wider neck... which is great for someone
like me with big fingers who could never play a
narrow-neck mandolin even if I wanted to.
Question for Dave ( dfost ): Exactly where do you buy
your 'standard mandola strings'. Just curious.
Yours...
Kevin
# Posted on July 15th 2005 by kiley