Mandolin tuning

gomania16 · New Member Joined: Sep 10, 2008 Posts: 1

This is my first post and I would like to ask a question. Any response is appreciated. I just recieved my first mandolin today and while I was tuning it I broke a string. My question is when I tune it (I have a chromatic tuner) what note octaves should I tune it to? I know the strings from 1 to 4 are E A D and G. But my question is how should the chromatic tuner read ... like E4 or E5 or E2? I think E2 is to low and E3 is probably to low also. I believe my electric guitar tunes E4, B3, G3, D3 and so on. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks alot.

BARNAGRASS · Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject: Re: Mandolin tuning

zombiember · New Member Joined: Nov 26, 2009 Posts: 3

You have to tune it properly.There are two types of gear.worm gear above round gear, and worm gear below round gear.Since the gears were cut to turn in only one direction, assembling the gears on the backstrap so they would look correct meant that some machines turned backwards for tuning purposes. Two words emerged from these changes; "inverted" and "reversed." Inverted gears are those with the worm gear above the round gear. Reversed gears are those that tune opposite of normal.Both our regular and our inverted machines tune correctly.
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