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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
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| new mando student Question about strings - Mandolin - Other Instruments - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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PJMCG Approved
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My husband got me a mandolin for Christmas I have never played any instrument before. This should be lots of fun. Any I have question about strings I was told that some beginner's use lights or ultra lights and have any easier time of it. Anyone have any experience with this or any advice for me? Also what brand of strings should look for or any I should avoid? I also read in a few places that lowering the bridge helps it this true? I have very small hands and have trouble holding down both strings evenly so I seem to have to hold my fingers at an angle instead of straight on. Any suggestions would be most welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks PJ
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Hi PJ, Someone will come along who knows more about the mandolin than me, but I'll throw in my 2 cents until they do. If you've got a new mandolin I don't think I'd worry about changing the strings right away. They're probably light strings on there anyway. When it needs new strings then be sure to get light or ultralight strings. I think it's recommended most steel strings like on a mandolin are changed after 30 hours or so of playing. Or you could do like some of us and change them after 300 or 3000 hours. Lowering the bridge could help if the action is too high but you could mess things up if you don't know what you're doing so it might be best to take it to a luthier or to a guitar store and see if they can adjust it. If you've been dying to play the mandolin then there are a lot of good instructional websites with mandolin music (none here on ezFolk unfortunately) and there are also good books and DVDs to help you learn. You might even consider private lessons in your area. Not to be the devil's advocate or anything, but if the mandolin just seemed like a nice small instrument to play for someone with small hands and it just happened to be there, then you might want to consider trading it for a ukulele. Pound for pound the ukulele is probably about 10 times easier to play, has no built-in expectations, is great for accompanying your singing, and is an almost perfect beginner instrument. Having said that though, if you really do love mandolins then by all means stick with what you love. Best of luck to you! Hope that helps a little bit, and keep us informed on how you're doing. Oh, and feel free to ask more questions. As I said, there are some others here who know more about the mandolin than I do. 
____________________ Richard Hefner Webmaster, ezFolk.com MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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Charlie Approved 
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Hi PJ, I can add a little more info about the mandolin as I have played around with one for a few years and took lessons for a while with it, First about strings, the lighter ones are easier to fret and the heighth of the bridge can help, but be very careful there and get a shop maybe to help you with that. I have quite playing mine because of hand problems and my age and as Richard said about the ukulele's, They are so much easier to play and I have learn more about music playing it than I ever did with the mandolin. But don't let that discourge you about the mandolin as they are a wonderful instrument and I love them still, They are just harder to play, But do seek some help with it and take a few lessons. Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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PJMCG Approved
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Hi Charlie thanks for your suggestions. We did take it to our local music shop to have the strings changed to lights. So much easier to fret glad we did. However they informed me that the nut has a very low action and suggested I get it filled and grooved to make the action higher or replace the plastic nut with one made out of bone. Since this is a brand new mandolin we're going to take it back where we bought it and see what they will do for us. My husband feels we should return and purchase one some where else. I really do love the mandolin the sound is great and it's a beautiful instrument. I would like to learn to play several stringed instruments. PJ
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Tim3finger Approved 
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Hi, I just started playing a mando about a month and a half ago. Since I already play guitar, uke, and bass, learning a mando has not been a big learning curve for me. I will give you some unsolicited advice that I learned from the above instruments. IMO The uke (soprano,concert, tenor,baritone) is a perfect instrument for anyone with no musical experience. It is relatively easy to play and the more you learn, the more you love it. you will never outgrow a uke musically. The baritone is tuned like like the top four of a guitar (GDBE) so crossover to guitar is easier. Guitar, steep learning curve, but you can get proficient fairly quickly. Lots of guitar players out there. Bass, got to know your notes and scales ( fretboard memory) ,helps to have big hands/long fingers . If you don't have natural rythmn, forget the bass. Easy to learn, hard to play well. Mando, steep learning curve, very unforgiving of mistakes, bad technique. Unless you are dedicated, very easy to give up on. Absolutlely beautiful sound Having said all that, here is what they all have in common. If they aren't decent quality, with good materials, pick ups, etc. They will be hard to play and sound like crap, which will discourage you and make you want to quit. Musical instruments are a definite case of ," you get what you pay for ". So, regardless of which instrument you settle on, get the best one you can afford, trust me, you are more likely to commit to learning to play a better quality ( $ ) instrument than one one you bought online for $39.99. Because it is a good instrument, the action will be good ( or easily adjusted ), it will stay in tune , will sound good , etc. I agree with Richard, leave the mando for later, learn the uke first. I play mine a lot still, just sitting around figuring out melodies, and generally playing for fun. If you are set on playing a mando, get a good one right of the bat. Tim
____________________ Tim "Trying to give back a little of what I've been given" |
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Charlie Approved
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Tim you have nailed it pertty good, I started off to late in life to learn the mandolin really good, I get by playing chords with groups, but have had to use capo on some of the songs as the groupe plays in a lot of different keys with out anouncing what key, C, D A G are OK, but Bb and Eb and keys like that . But with the ukulele and 4 string banjo I have no trouble playing with them all because I tune my tenor banjo to DGbe like a baritone ukulele and love it. PJ I hope you might think about ukulele and you will learn more about music on it and then can switch to other instruments. I have even played with bluegrass groups with the ukulele, So you are not limited to any special music with one, But I would suggest maybe a good tenor ukulele or baritone for louder sound. Hope this helps out some Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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wheels Approved
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Hi PJ, I don't know if you're still on the mando forum but I would like to know how you are doing with the mando. I bought myself a $5 mando on the web for Christmas. It's a piece of junk. I almost gave up on learning the mando because I couldn't get my fingers to do what is needed to play it. I bought a Uke and started on that. However, After learning to play the uke a little I found it easier to play the mando because of the training my fingers were getting with the uke. I have always wanted to play a mandolin and bought a $140 Rover A style from Musicials Friend for $60. It is exactly the same instrument as the Stagg my local shop has for $140. Many people would say that It is junk but it's all I can afford and after fine tuning and adjusting the intonation, it sounds presentable. Now I find that I play the mando more than the uke. I'm not very good yet but I'm having a great time. Bob
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| ezFolk Forums > Other Instruments > Mandolin > new mando student Question about strings | |
