You Can Play the Mandolin

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Generally, the best idea is to keep the strings low while you're learning to play and then raise them up some when you're ready to start showing off—most experienced players prefer a higher action because it produces a louder sound. (Incidentally, whenever you do need to raise the strings, it's a good idea to carefully twist a screwdriver between the lower and upper parts of the bridge, to make adjusting the screws easier.)

If you have any trouble getting your strings set up properly—so that they're just a hair above the first fret and about a nickel's width above the twelfth—show your mandolin to a musician friend or take it to a store that specializes in musical instruments. Most folks who are into making music are more than happy to help an eager beginner.

TUNING

OK. Now that you have your mandolin adjusted and rarin' to go, let's get it in tune. Sit down with your instrument again, holding it just as I described earlier, and look at the strings: The pair closest to your knee is a the first string and should be tuned to E. The second should be tuned to A, the third to D, and the fourth to G. There are a number of ways to accomplish this, so let's take a look at each one.

Tuning to a pitch pipe: As you may know, the mandolin's four strings are tuned to the same notes as a violin's four strings . . . so if there's a music store in your neighborhood, it'd be a good idea to stop in and pick up a violin pitch pipe. Then you can tune your mandolin's strings simply by adjusting them to match the pitch pipe's four notes.

Tuning to the mandolin: If you don't have access to a pitch pipe, don't panic; you can always tune the mandolin to itself. Here's how: Tune both G unison strings so that they sound exactly the same. Then hold down that pair (the "fourth string") at the seventh fretin other words, push the string down onto the space between the sixth and seventh metal strips-and pluck it. Be sure to push your fingers onto the fret board hard enough to get a good, clear sound.

Now pluck the third string without pushing it down on any of the frets, and compare the resulting note with the one the G string produced. If there's a difference, change the D unison strings until that pair produces the same note when played open, or unfretted, as the G string makes when held down at the seventh fret. Once you get the D string to sound right, push it down at the seventh fret and adjust the A unison strings in the same manner . . . and finally, finger the A string at the seventh fret and tune the E unison strings so that they correspond to the fretted A. All this sounds complicated, but it's not really. Try it, and you'll see.

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