How to TUNE a MANDOLIN perfectly 💡

NOTE- the G should be 196 Hz, not 392 Hz. My Apologies.
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In this video I show how to tune a Mandolin, in two parts.
Part One
Within the first minuet has me plucking each of the 4 notes of the mandolin which is all many might need. I then give 2 more tuning tips (tuning up and tuning to itself)
Part Two
The second "part" of this video is a far more detailed description of tuning a mandolin using Hertz numbers and cents to get the tuning exact. (It is really half of a "How to set up a mandolin" video).
I made this video because I have met a lot of people who have trouble differentiating between notes that are close in pitch.
To remedy this, I:
1- Show how to use HERTZ numbers on free tuning app to help you get it spot on. (There are many free (or not) tuning apps. n-Track tuner is just the one I happen to use.
2- Show how to place the bridge in the best location using CENTS to get perfect intonation (with free tuning app).
Topics:
PART ONE
0:00 Introduction.
0:57 Quick tuning.
2:04 Tuning UP (Quick tuning tip # 1).
3:12 Tuning to "Its self" (Quick tuning tip # 2).
PART TWO
4:20 String notes, gauges, and Pitches in Hertz.
5:33 n-Track Tuner- Free tuning App (with Cents and Hertz).
6:18 Using the n-Track tuner's HERTZ reading to tune perfectly.
14:12 Setting the Action- starting at 5/64th (1.9mm)
15:05 Intonation and Compensation- What it is.
17:20 Intonation/Compensation- How to make it perfect.
18:17 Using the apps CENTS feature to get perfect intonation.
21:43 Tuning again.
22:20 Outro.
I never promote products I don't personally use or believe the quality therein.
This video is not sponsored.
#beauhannamguitars #beauhannam
~ Luthier of luxury heirloom quality Guitars and Ukuleles ~
WEBSITE: beauhannamguitars.com
FACEBOOK / beauhannamguitarsanduk...
INSTAGRAM: / beauhannamguitars

[@MarksGuitarLounge]

Thank you, I just got a Seagull S8 and needed to know how to tune and set it up. I do all my Guitars but knew nothing about Mandolins. I bookmarked your video and wanted to thank you for your kind Helpful Well Taught Lessons that will benefit me the most in my Mandolin journey. I don't think a lot of people understand that they can do this if they do as you instruct and can save time money and earn pride in their music instrument learning to do this for themselves. Well Done Sir Thank You So much.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thank you Mark. My pleasure

[@Trapper4265]

I remember the acronym Great Danes Are Enormous. GDAE.

[@palliaskamen5722]

Just to be exact, there are 8 strings. The first two low note strings are tuned to G. The next two strings are D and so on.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Did I say 6?? Maybe I said 4 strings but ment 4 courses. Opps.

[@ScottDMoore]

Duh, I forgot I had a tuning app on my phone. Nice vid

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

:)

[@waynesheldon4910]

great vid i just broke my strings

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Sorry to hear that

[@raju.v.nnichalose4871]

Thank u for the video. I've just bought my Havana mandolin, when I tried to tune the G string to 392Hz it broke long before it reached the 392 mark. what about the 192Hz instead ...

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Oh dear- it seems I wrote down the wrong hz number!- it should be 192hz

[@django02]

I may have missed it, but I don't think you pointed out that when tuning the first string in a course, it helps to deaden the second string so that the tuner is only hearing one of the two strings. I see that you are doing that with your pick. You pick the first string and bring the pick to rest against the second string to damp it. I do it by damping the second string with my right hand middle finger. Both methods work. Is there a reason why you check the intonation by comparing the fretted twelfth fret note to the open string rather than to the twelfth fret harmonic?

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Hi, If I didn't mention that it's best to tune one string and deaden all others I just forgot. That is of course what you do. I much prefer to intonate to the fretted 12th fret (instead of harmonic) as it's a better real world test and takes into account the displacement of the string when fretting, which a harmonic doesn't. In reality, there probably isn't much difference (but now i'm interested to test it!)

[@elba9066]

This is an excellent tutorial emphasising using the Hz. FYI, on Google play store I found the cheapest version of the app was 7.99 .

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Thanks :)

[@francoismoutou2303]

thanks for the tips. The app looks nice. However, I tried to tune a banjo mandolin witht the values you suggested and never reached 392Hz, the string (34) broke before I could get there - around 350hz. And it sounded way higher than yours anyway. Any idea?

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Some strings break earlier then they should. Possible you out a string in the wrong place (I’ve done that a few times). The G4 should be 392hz

[@francoismoutou2303]

@@BeauHannamGuitars thanks for following up. I might do something wrong, but as I'm trying again with the remaining 34 string, I can tell you that I have a hard time turning the pegs past 320ish hz... I forced for the first once, but I'm pretty sure if I force on this one, it'll break too. The tension (and sound) seem higher than in your video. As for the outing, I have no idea if it's done right, I never dealt with such an old fold instrument before (banjo mandolin I bought for 10 bucks on a yard sale).

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

@@francoismoutou2303 strings can break from a sharp area of the tuner post or sharp saddle etc

[@alberttablanza2480]

My phone came up with: G strings = 196 Hz D strings = 294 Hz A strings = 440 Hz E strings = 660 Hz This was when I matched the tones with the video.

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Don’t trust the compute speakers to perfectly reproduce the tone- that’s why I gave the Hz numbers :)

[@bobreeves3093]

Albert, the problem with the frequency shown on the card for the G string is that the app has responded and displays the second harmonic i.e. 196Hz x 2 = 392Hz, not the fundamental correct frequency. That's the problem with many of these gadgets. Would have thought any musician would have realised a higher note = higher frequency

[@Gunner662]

@@bobreeves3093 I about broke a string trying to get to 392 lol

[@leer1024]

Unfortunately you gave the wrong hz for G...that would make it higher than D

[@morisphawa2919]

What is the name of this tuner,can you tell me please????

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

N-Track Tuner

[@GarumaHunde-pi5ln]

Frustreted ...& ok

[@allenmcdaniel1470]

Are ALL mando players so boring & MONOTONE.....? I JUST WANT THE STRINGS AND THE TUNING. PERIOD. Sorry, I am frustrated. Thankfully, THIS GUY gets it tho! Lot of ADS though. But STILL..... THANK YOU!

[@BeauHannamGuitars]

Hahahha- Cheers Allen. Sorry about the monotone. In this video I did the quick version then a deeper explanation of getting it spot on for those that wanted to know.