My FAVORITE CHORDS for the OCTAVE MANDOLIN! | Specific chord shapes that are unique to the octave!

[@LadyMoonCries]

This is a wonderful lesson, Emma! 🏆

[@emmabordersmusic]

Aww thanks so much!

[@kennethmassey534]

I just purchased the Eastman Octave Mandolin I Love it and Your method of Teaching is WONDERFUL Young Lady I Love it... ESPECIALLY when You show How to do the Chords I will be a Permanent follower I Love Your Methods showing how to do the Chords You're the BEST 👑Young Lady 👍🏽🌅🌠

[@emmabordersmusic]

That’s awesome!! Thank you so much!

[@MothersRuin80]

Thanks so much Emma - one of the best tutorials I've found so far for octave mandolin! Please keep the octave lessons in mind!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@blueeyedsoulman]

Weber. That's a serious instrument. Nice video.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks! I love it!

[@jaspersquire5931]

I play octave mandolin but I tune in GDAD. Makes it sound magical and certain things are much easier.

[@WWS322]

i own a really really nice bouzouki and i don't play it because I'm too busy with the mandolin and guitar. i think tomorrow I'll pull it out for a spin. that mandolin sounds really nice!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Ohh yes you totally should!!

[@davestambaugh7282]

In 1920 Gibson made their first banjo tuned in fourths. The reason being is that it is far easier to play orchestrial cording than all of the stretching you have to do on an instrument with such a long scale. That is why most of the jazz players eventually went to guitar, leaving the tenor guitar behind. In 1920 Gibson thought that plectrum banjos with Chicago tuning would win out over tuning in fifths. It took a while but it eventually happened guitar tuning won out with the L-5 being the choice with the jazz players.

[@gamalielyd1029]

so useful. just got on octavo mandolin and am amazed at how much more beautiful the right chord shapes are!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Yes!!

[@travisb1757]

This is great!! More octave lessons needed. Thank you soo much!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@MrLaserbob]

Thanks Emma. Great video. I've been playing octave mandolin for about 6 months. I've been trying to play it just like a regular mando but these chord voicings make a lot of sense and are really pretty

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad this was helpful!

[@WeirdSouls]

Thank you Emma! Very clear tutorial! I've just been offered my octave mandolin (I'm a banjo player), you'll be my teacher!

[@emmabordersmusic]

That is awesome!! So glad this was helpful!

[@jamesmorgan9539]

Great that you take us through so many wonderful cords. I find it difficult to figure out where you’re putting your fingers with just seeing the side view. It would be great if you could provide a fingering chart for these different cords. I am new to the octave mandolin and I love it sound.

[@gwonya]

Thanks Emma, Very helpful this morning in Toronto!

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad!

[@rickkaylor8554]

Thanks for posting. I found this very useful. I recently got an octave mandolin after playing regular mandolin for years. You almost have to treat it as a totally different instrument.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Oh that’s awesome! Yes, they are so similar yet very different.

[@Anjohl]

Love the format, with the inset fingering view!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@gabithemagyar]

Great video !! I think I will watch this many times until I soak in the chord shapes you demonstrated.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@gabithemagyar]

@@emmabordersmusic Just realized that you have a chord chart available for this. Purchased and downloaded :-)

[@mouseyknight8392]

oh wow what a brilliantly helpful video! Thank you! I'm brand new to octave mando and I was really lost but now i feel like i have some direction to get learning!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks so much! I’m so glad you found this helpful! Octave mando is a super fun instrument!

[@davidtrevaskis2195]

Hi Emma , my third time watching this so helpful clip. Love how you show so clearly the finger position etc from both angles. As I’m a bit dyslexic I just remember the shapes and sounds, I’ve always frustrated other muso’s when they ask what cords or cord I’m playing in and I have to sorry I have no idea lol! Lastly young Lass you not only play your instruments to such a great standard but you have the gift to show and share how it’s done, again may the Lord Bless You as you Bless the Music World 👴🏼🙏🏽🇦🇺

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you so much!

[@daveslivesound3143]

Amazing! I briefly played around with one the other day in a local music shop.... If I get one...I'm coming back here! Thank you!

[@erichschlender857]

Very helpful. Definitely in my saved list of octave mandolin reference videos. Would you be able to post a similar video demonstrating some good picking patterns that work for octave mandolin accompaniments to worship or hymns?

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! Yes!

[@travisb1757]

I am using mine for the same reason....

[@TyrannosaurusTroy]

Thank you so much for this video! I was about to give up on my OM. I just couldn't get most regular open mandolin chords to sound good on it, but these modified shapes do wonders! I guess it helps to think of the OM as a similar but distinct instrument and not just a big mandolin.

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad to hear that!! For sure. Exactly! It is its own instrument with its own voicings, though it is similar to the mandolin. Keep on playing!

[@c.a.t.732]

This was great... thank you! I got out a sheet of binder paper and a pencil and diagrammed all these shapes for future use. If I may... another "A" shape I often use is first finger on the 7th fret of the D strings and second finger on the 9th fret of the G strings. It doesn't have the root note on the bottom, but it does have a nice open airy sound.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Oh!! That is great! I will have to experiment with that shape as well!

[@c.a.t.732]

@@emmabordersmusic Dropping the note on the G strings two frets allows one to go from an A to a D chord. Being a simple-minded fellow, I like simple things like that on the octave mando! Thanks again for your great lesson.

[@ciarankeating7346]

Thanks Emma At last. Your teaching is very clear and taking time with each chord and letting it ring out is really useful because it allows the listener to play along. Also good to hear a brilliant musician can have buzzy notes too 👍 Ciaran

[@emmabordersmusic]

So glad you found this helpful!

[@nguyenducthanh7025]

Thank you so much for this wonderful video on your favorite chords for the octave mandolin! The unique chord shapes you demonstrated were really insightful and helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise and knowledge with us. This video has been extremely valuable in expanding my understanding of the octave mandolin. Thank you again for your contribution to the music community! 💯❤

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you so much! I’m so glad to hear that this has been helpful!

[@JamesVandevanter]

What I hear in 4/8 string inst. Are very mysterious,Ambient voicings.not so much a solo string thing but a spice or musical binder between other instruments. Can't get one yet ...but thank you ..for what I do these sounds provide some missing musical links.😊🔆👍🐬🎸

[@MrLaserbob]

Thanks

[@creekculturelures6843]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have a tenor guitar that is tuned to mandolin tuning and your lessons are so helpful .

[@creekculturelures6843]

I really hope you are going to keep doing the tutorials because you are now my teacher! Thanks 😊

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad you find them helpful!

[@Gilbert0Jimenez]

This is so wonderful Emma! What a great lesson ❤ thanks a lot!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@davetye]

Don't play the OM but have a tenor guitar tuned the same. A handy chord is an open Bm7 (4002 or 4005) as the iii of G and the vi of D.

[@bobblehead67]

Good stuff, Emma. Thanks! My favorite E7 on octave is 7074 (DDEG#) . Cool V chord in A or Amin.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Ohh I’ll have to try that!

[@saoirsepaddy]

😎Grand lesson there Emma many thanks👍 There's couple of Great books out there The Octave Mandolin Chord Bible: GDAE Standard Tuning 2,160 Chords by Richards THE BIG BOOK OF OCTAVE MANDOLIN CHORDS: AN IN-DEPTH By Harvey Reid GUIDE TO OCTAVE MANDOLIN & BOUZOUKI BOOK by John McGann A Baroque Sampler for Octave Mandolin by John Goodin You got me started on playing chords again 🙂 👍

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! Those are great resources!

[@saoirsepaddy]

@@emmabordersmusic I forgot couple of video's lessons out there people might want to check out The Mandolin and Bouzouki of Tim O'Brien Learn to Play the Irish Bouzouki Taught by Zan McLeod One can use really cool chords "The octave mandolin, cittern, mandocello, and bouzouki are basically the same. The tunings are the main variation. I use GDAD on the video. The mandolin also sounds nice with that tuning, especially when you play open chords. I also use the "standard" straight fifths tuning GDAE, but the GDAD sounds more Irish." -- Zan McLeod

[@chickenlickin3820]

Thanks Emma x

[@johnrochester3551]

Marvelious im in my first frustrated year Going to love this

[@zsuzsannarajeczky9010]

This video was very helpful, thank you 💗 I would love if you make more like this!

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad!!

[@patrickniedermeyer2112]

Thank you, thank you!!

[@emmabordersmusic]

You’re welcome!

[@chrischambers2043]

Very helpful. Thankyou

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad!

[@88elton]

Thank you very much Emma, that was great 😊

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@chickenlickin3820]

My Eastman MDO605 arrives on Tuesday Emma x

[@emmabordersmusic]

Yay!!! So exciting!!

[@didianandakrpa]

great video. so helpful

[@denishdutrisac3413]

Thank you for that Emma. How do you tune your octave mandoline, GDAE or GDAD ?

[@emmabordersmusic]

GDAE!

[@Mandolin1944]

FYI, purchased the chord sheet but several of the chords mentioned in the video are not on it -- e.g., F (3:45) or D (10:55)?

[@emmabordersmusic]

I have another video that goes through each chord on that chord sheet in detail here!kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn-1hGeclrOKrrssi=QnZ10Svy0S3-42uC

[@Mandolin1944]

@@emmabordersmusic OK thanks!😊

[@iaingoodwin8514]

Would be helpful to know which tuning is being used. Figured out it wasn't the same as I use, pity.

[@emmabordersmusic]

I use GDAE

[@musicistipermatrimonio4547]

Hi Emma, how is the tuning of your bouzouki?

[@emmabordersmusic]

My octave mandolin is tuned GDAE!

[@travisb1757]

@@emmabordersmusic do you ever use GDAD?

[@PanteRan]

I don't know why but it takes me to the unplugged of alice in chains/nirvana/days of the new...

[@markpoppe8681]

I want to transition from 6 string guitar to an octave mandolin, but I would be playing along with others with their guitars. Any advice?

[@emmabordersmusic]

Oh that’s awesome! The nice thing about the octave mandolin is that it is tuned in 5ths which is different from guitar. I think you will enjoy the instrument!

[@jmalittle]

Hi Emma, great wee video, just wondering is it GDAE that the octave mando is tuned to?

[@emmabordersmusic]

That is correct!

[@cliffsandifer3877]

bouzouki is easier to acquire now since internet you tube came about.

[@geoffreybennettspeer1410]

All these years, I’ve been barring most of my chords. Does anyone else here have trouble smooshing their sausage-fingers onto different courses on the same fret?

[@mickjarl]

This video fails in one important respect. It doesn't begin by stating clearly the selected tuning of the octave mandolin. Given the dominance of DGAD tuning in Irish music, the listener might assume that is the tuning employed in the video, not DADE.

[@GoodPhotos]

Three comments up Emma states that she tunes this OM to GDAE.

[@waynekelly1419]

@@GoodPhotos Mick is correct that standard tuning in Irish music is DGAD so many of these chord subtleties don’t translate to normal bouzouki tuning.