OCTAVE MANDOLIN VS MANDOLIN | How are they different? How are they similar?

[@ELECTRICEYEMEDIA]

Guitarist here. I'm picking up an octave mandolin. Been playing Baroque Classical since 1984 and even Neo-Classical on electric guitar. Will be cool to explore this instrument and come up with some new pieces.

[@omkaczmarczyk]

You’re the real Thng!!!It’s a wonderful world when musicians reach out to wanna be musicians !! The harmony grows. May our grandchildren speak loudly and true the Music Language!

[@webcann1212]

Great comparison. Your presentation was the final impetus for me to order the octave mandolin. I love it. I’ll never stop playing my standard Mando, but a new instrument is very motivating. Thanks!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Yes!! The octave is an amazing addition!

[@brentmatusikmusic]

Awesome comparison, well done!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@artsie8282]

I like the octave mandolin sound better - especially the sustain. You are tempting me to get one . Excellent content

[@emmabordersmusic]

Yes!! The sustain is beautiful on the octave!

[@MarkMLatham]

Thank you! This helped so much. I bought an inexpensive mandolin and am ready to learn. I’ve been hearing some octave mandolin, and am very taken with its sound. So, as I get started with mandolin, hopefully I can eventually explore the octave mandolin. Such a lovely sound.

[@emmabordersmusic]

I’m so glad. Ah I hope you enjoy learning the mandolin! Both are wonderful instruments!

[@chickenlickin3820]

Your smile could brighten a thousand days x Thanks

[@giannihenk]

Absolutely love the make up you are rocking. And ohyeah awesome vid. Being a new mando player I imidiatly subbed. Great channel

[@erichschlender857]

Good demonstration. I’m glad that you mentioned the OM‘s usefulness in accompanying singing in a worship setting. This is one of the reasons why I bought my OM recently. Would you consider doing a video using the OM to accompany singing a common hymn or two?

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! That is a great idea!

[@Sunshine-Light]

Hello can you explain about tuning a octave lower using electronic tuner ❤❤❤❤

[@elizabethmoyasolar9419]

Hola Emma, soy de Chile 🇨🇱, un pais al sur del mundo. Me encantan tus videos, me gusta como interpretas las canciones, generas un ambiente lleno de emociones, principalmente alegría. Gracias por tus recomendaciones, pues he podido aprender cosas que no sabía sobre la mandolina y la mandolina de octava. Un abrazo. 🤗

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you so much!!

[@paulodonnell4831]

A very informative and helpful video. Thanks!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@sboy1955]

Seems like as a guitar player I would be best off to start with an Octave then move to the Mandolin once I understand the scales and chording.

[@Gilbert0Jimenez]

Well and beautifully explained!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@Shanieka63]

I am a beginner mandolin player, and since seeing this instrument in my local music shop and your playing of this instrument... I am now leaning towards the octave mandolin... Any tips on purchasing would be very much appreciated, and I will keep watching as your teaching style is excellent! Thank you so much for your wonderful videos!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you so much!

[@DH-yj7bx]

Can you put a capo for guitars on the octave mandolin and get the upbeat brightness of the standard mandolin, but with more sustain? Best of both worlds if possible

[@DH-yj7bx]

@emmabordersmusic

[@emmabordersmusic]

You can do that! It is really fun!

[@DebbieCollinsMusic]

Hi, I really like the sounds of the octave. Can you tell me where you got your instrument, and/or where I can find one? Thanks

[@emmabordersmusic]

My octave is a Weber A-style Bridger model!

[@TheNamelessBard]

Good reminder for me to use my pinky more often!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! Hahah😂😂

[@bharat.kapuskar7355]

Good information ❤ Thanks from India

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you!

[@ath3263]

Excellent

[@saoirsepaddy]

I really love your music & video's Thumbs up Lady Em :) I always wonder one can do a bluegrass bluegrass mandolin chop on a octave mandolin. Last night I came across Sierra Hull video Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson: Octave Mandolin Strumming & Chopping with Sierra Hull || very enlightening video :) Also came across Craig Irving video's on Irish/folk Strumming Patterns very cool video's. I use to have a weber octave mandolin many yrs ago sadly the soundboard cave in on itself they forgot to put the braces on it. I really love the sound the octave mandolins . I ended on getting Long Scale 10 strings Irish Citterns , P.W.Crump lll , Long scale 3 Nyberg Citterns in different woods. I hoping to get a small scale cittern kinda like octave mandolin /mandola with 2 extra strings. Keep on picking Lady Em :)

[@oliviergerthoffer548]

Thanks for the video...but I'd like to know the difference between an octave mandolin and a Irish bouzouki.?..cheers from France

[@Mole-Skin]

The Mandolin family is much like the Violin family.. Same deal, but bigger.. Violin..Viola..Cello..Double Bass.. (Probably missed some..) A Bazouki is the longer scale..

[@williamlynch2375]

nice video, informative

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks!

[@dianemcmahon8672]

I play alot of open mics with other musicians, it's mainly country and bluegrass, so playing both my guitar and mandolin it's a good mix with the music. I'm thinking I would like to add the Octave mandolin but unsure it would be suitable with this type of open mic, would like to hear your opinion

[@emmabordersmusic]

I think the octave mandolin would work great in that sort of setting! It can be used in bluegrass and country music for sure

[@teddyb4957]

Hello, played the classical guitar ~ 40 years ago [and forgot most of it] and was thinking of trying the Standard Mandolin. Its portability appealed to me but I find the sound a little 'grating', AND when I heard the Octave Mandolin I much preferred it. Two questions, what of the two would you recommend for a beginner/what's the easiest to learn?...and, is the Octave still portable...oh a third question, do they both hurt your fingers as much OR in one 'kinder' to your digits than the other? Thanks

[@emmabordersmusic]

Yes! The octave mandolin definitely has a softer and rounder tone overall. Since they are very similar instruments, I think they would both be great for beginners. I do think that the standard mandolin is a bit harder on your fingers as first. The octave tends to be a bit easier in that aspect because the strings are bigger, though you will still have to build up callouses. The octave is about like a guitar in terms of how portable it is. You can definitely take it places and carry it around; however, it is obviously bigger, so it would be harder to fly with I would think than a standard mandolin would be.

[@teddyb4957]

@@emmabordersmusic Thank you for your help :-)

[@gabithemagyar]

Great video. Subscribed and liked. :-) For me, I found that tenor banjo fingering patterns work well on the octave mandolin. Of course the tuning of a tenor banjo is different (CGDA) but the neck length and fret sizes are similar.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! Ah that’s interesting!

[@barrycreed9886]

Any suggestions for a mandolin with a wider neck? I played a mandolin for years but stopped as I couldn’t get used to the thin neck profile especially on the first few frets.

[@WysteriaGuitar]

That was great thanks for posting. Do you also tune your octave to GDAD and play irish and celtic on it? If so would love to hear you do a song in both tunings sometime.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thank you! I haven’t ever tuned my octave to that tuning, but it would be fun to try it sometime!

[@miguelmaduro7110]

Great explanation Miss Emma. What ia the tuning for the standard Mandolin? Is the same for the Octave mandolin? Or do you have a video only on the standard Mandolin? Thank you in advance for your help. Miguel from Aruba. Regards.

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks so much! The standard tuning of the mandolin is GDAE, which is also the standard tuning of the octave mandolin.

[@Mole-Skin]

As I am getting older (70) (and after a lifetime of hand damage in the construction industry) I found regular guitar ever more difficult to play, especially forming chords like C or F.. but.. I have moved more to a Mandola where I have it strung with octave in the pairs (so 7 different strings) and find it much easier to play.. but still with a full sound. If you are struggling.. give these instruments (Mandola.. Octave Mandolin) a try.. Many of the basic chords use only 2 fingers.. I am currently converting a budget Epiphone AJ100 (6 String Guitar) to an 8 string (The longer headstock allows 8 Machine heads) in the 4 x 2 string configuration and hope it will contribute a more 'bassy' element missing from the mid range mandolin family. As Emma points out.. There is no real defined place in Music for these instruments.. Also..particularly useful for songwriters looking for inspiration.. See Sarah Jarosz..

[@lydiapiano24]

Sarah Jarosz is so amazing

[@sab001]

Would love to know the difference between an octave mandolin and a mandocello.

[@congz5101]

Is it possible to tune it as CREAM as mandocello? I am curious what's the difference between mandocello and this octive mandolin.

[@emmabordersmusic]

So the mandocello is very similar to the octave mandolin! It is tuned CGDA, so it is a fifth lower

[@congz5101]

@@emmabordersmusic Thank you so much for your answer :) I'll find chance to have a try of octave mandolin~

[@lowellirish]

I play guitar (6 yrs- progressed rapidly)- perform. Play fiddle: 10 yrs. etc. I am debating $300 Loar vs $1k Eastman Octave - which should be my FIRST purchase? 🤔 I sing and perform 8-12x a month- cafes, festivals, venues, busking. I expect to take to either mandolin rapidly- I have played Irish session-traditional for 25 yrs. NOT inclined to play bluegrass! Should I invest cheaper $ into the mando, and wait...or go for the octave? 🤔 oh the decisions!! 😅 ❤ Love your channel, BTW!!

[@emmabordersmusic]

Thanks!! Ohh that is a tough one! I’d say that the Octave Mandolin is far better for accompaniment while singing. If that is what you think you will be using it for most, I would go with that one! However if you like playing more instrumental music or really fast tunes, then the mandolin might be your best bet. Octave Mandolin is great for instrumental music as well. I’m sure you will love either one!! They are both fantastic instruments and can be used multiple different ways.

[@robertaldunate9232]

I just fall in love.

[@luigiduca]

I wonder if the octave mandoline is the same as the "mandola"?

[@emmabordersmusic]

Not quite! The mandola is tuned CGDA instead of GDAE like the octave mandolin

[@PanteRan]

I find it hard pressing on standard mandolin...is it easier on the octave mandolin?

[@emmabordersmusic]

Hmm…the strings are bigger on the octave so they don’t hurt quite as much because of that. However, they do require just as much pressure to get pushed down all the as the mandolin does. The set-up of your instrument does make a big difference when it comes to this! If you’re having trouble with pressing down on the mandolin, you might consider getting the action of your instrument looked at to see if it could come any lower. It does take practice and stamina to build up your fingers to being able to play for long periods of time though.

[@PanteRan]

Thanks shalom

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

What is the difference between Octave Mandoline and Irish Bouzoki? 🤔

[@emmabordersmusic]

From my understanding, the Irish Bouzouki is a couple inches longer in its scale length than the octave mandolin and is tuned to G D A D instead of G D A E like the octave mandolin.

[@colauty2598]

I play irish bouzouki tuned to GDAE

[@seamusmclaughlin7142]

My Sobel is 14 inches long, 18 frets and I always thought it was an octave mandolin?

[@ELECTRICEYEMEDIA]

Coming from playing 24 fret guitars for 40 years I think playing the octave mandolin will be easier for me than a regular mandolin. The spacing between strings and notes will be easier to fret for guitarists IMO.

[@emmabordersmusic]

That makes sense! I hope you enjoy the octave mandolin!

[@JamesVandevanter]

😊yep always have wanted...I play guitar, an octave or mandola would seem comfortable to me. Forgive me but I've played bottleneck bango.😊👍🐬🔆🎸

[@saoirsepaddy]

Hi Lady Em I don't know if you or your friends know about this book Mike Marshall's Mandolin method The Great Book of Finger Buster It's a fantastic book get your right hand moving . Mike Marshall any others big on Pick Down on the beat and up stroke on &. I came across a book Art of Picking by Jimmy Bruno Jazz Guitarist. One of the exercises is playing with the accent on the up stroke. Using Mike Marshall exercises then going in reverse with the accent on the up stroke. Most people play jigs Dud Dud Dud leaning Jimmy Bruno technique playing with the accent on the up stroke Dud Udu Dud Udu. Leaning both techniques one is free . Like Johnson livingston seagull Novella by Richard Bach Fying without fying or Bruce Lee Fighting without fighting. I hope this make sense Happy Picking my friends “You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.” ― Bruce Lee

[@umbertocapasso67]

How beautiful you are ........!!!!!

[@Heimrik01]

ArkansaS not ArkansA !!!!