This does, however, depend on your budget - archtop octave mandolins are relatively uncommon and, unlike their flat-top counterparts, don’t really come in budget models. I find the opposite
Lower on the register still are octave mandolins (a full octave below a mandolin… I had a Luna "Celtic Knot" bouzouki with the octave string set-up. I started accompaniment on guitar, then switched to bouzouki to be able to both accompany and play tunes. I believe the heel should ideally be resting behind the bridge, but when i do that my pick is too far from the hole of the body and the sound is not great. Before you buy an OM/zouk, try a downtuning and capo on yours so you can see what scale length you want. The TC was too long. I had a TC zouk and got an OM made by Richard Hess. The closest acoustic relatives to the mandolin include the mandola, octave mandolin and mandocello. I do play the tenor banjo too, so I’ve slid down the slippery slope haha. It took 701 miles of driving though. Ensemble members are Greg Rohrer on mandolin; Kevin Neidig on mandolin, octave mandolin, and vocals; Tom Cook on mandola, mandolin and vocals; and Henry Koretzky on mandocello, mandolin and vocals. History of Mandolin. The Harrisburg Mandolin Ensemble draws from this tradition, but on a smaller scale. As a smallish person myself, I find that playing long-scale bouzouki-type instruments (without a capo) makes my left shoulder ache after quite a short time. I feel the same way about ‘zouks. When designing the Coombe octave mandolin, the overall consideration was to make it easy and comfortable to play, and of course to make it sound good as well. More information about John is available from our feature interview with him from July, 2011. Weber Sage#1 Octave Mandolin with McIntyre Feather pickup I bought this wonderful Sage#1 octave mandolin from in 2011 and have been playing it off and on for the past couple years. The other tuning choice with Octave Mandolins is whether to have the lower string pairs in unison or octaves. I play melody on a long-scale GDAD bouzouki and my hands are each 5mm shorter than they were five years ago (6 nasty surgeries). With its 23 1/2 inch scale. If you aren’t a member of The Session yet, you can sign up now. I would point out that rather than taking a straight bluegrass approach, I phrased this solo a bit more in a traditional jazz mode- with rests, long notes and syncopation. After tune playing became more of my focus, I bought an OM to make the tune playing a bit easier. An archtop f-hole mandolin seems to fit between the two in terms of being heard above the din. I never took it to a session, I wouldn’t subject any of my friends to the sound. I’m not personally in favor of the octaves since the break between the octave and normal pairs fall smack dab in the middle of typical trad tune range. The longer scale of the bouzouki gives it more sustain and sweeter overtones, making it more suitable for chordal and arpeggiated accompaniment. American/Gibson inspired mandocellos seem to be around 25"-26" scale length, which is about the same as an average guitar. Paul. There are a bunch of different ways to play, but here are some basic chords for tunes in the key of D: It is mostly used for mandolin orchestras as an alternative for mandolas, and it can be used in playing traditional Irish music. They sorta look like almost the same exact thing. with My OM I find its more hearable for melody
I know one guy who removed the extra strings to make it a 4-string, which worked well for him and gave it a bit more "cut". It’s also a lot better at playing backup too. An octave mandolin in very clean condition, features a X-braced solid spruce top, modern tuners and an easy playing 21 fret rosewood fingerboard. Why would an OM be different from a mandolin which also has octave strings and is quite commonly used for melody? I know I’ll get shunned for this, but occasionally I use Cello fingering on mandolin (the regular sized one, not the octave kind) when I’m playing something that’s really fast. The only good thing about the Luna was that with the cheap wood and all, it had a tone that would have stood out well in a session. The heel of my hand rests on the edge of the bridge and this is deadening the sound. The octave mandolin is often favoured for melody because its shorter scale length makes the fingering more comfortable and gives a slightly punchier sound. It doesn’t cut as well as a Mandolin and that’s just fine with me, so it can get lost in a loud, noisy session. There are 20 tunes included in the book, fully transcribed in tablature and standard notation, from Irish to blues and jazz, even a Venezualan waltz. ), and I’m hard pressed to keep up with him on flute.
We usually have 1 piper up to 3 or 4. Some mandolin models have 10 or 12 strings. Over the past decade or so, Boise, Idaho, luthier Austin Clark has established himself as a well-respected builder of mandolin-family instruments. The stars lined up for me this week and I managed to make it to five sessions in one week. For melody, not so much, especially in a session. If the fiddle players don’t like it then they can go get another beer, or add in lots of rolls to keep ‘em busy. 1 3/8 inch nut width and very comfortable action. One of the other musicians at my local session plays Octave Mandolin, and he once let me play a tune on it; it was the most satisfying instrument to play melody on, even though it sounds great playing backup on as well. He plays guitar for accompaniment (very tastefully) and uses the OM exclusively for melody. http://www.osborneguitars.co.uk/octave-mandola-2/. So perhaps you could approximate string gauges by observing the notes produced by each gauge on a guitar string set, and comparing what you would need to produce the notes of octave mandolin in a satisfactory way. Clark’s A- and F-style mandolins are built in the Gibson tradition (check out our demo of a 2016 Clark F5), but his three octave mandolin models showcase his original designs.Fiddler and mandolinist John Mailander recently stopped by the …
Many octave mandolins are large instruments with a long scale length that make them difficult to play. I have a Goldtone OM that does not cut at all and is better for backup. Octave mandolin at Banjolin gives an explanation of why Europeans use the term “octave mandola”. It all depends on the instrument, of course. That last session of yours has more trad box players than the entire state of Arizona - and it’s pretty much the case with the other instruments as well. GDAE Anyway one of my A strings is constantly going out of tune, always trending sharp. There used to be a guy who came to our session with an octave mandolin. And the only way to really tell that is to try playing it in sessions, which can be difficult. I thought it was bouzouki is for backing and OM is for melody. My impression - listening to , rather than playing - an OM, is that the sound gets lost in a session of more than 3 instruments. The OM is perfectly capable of being a loud instrument, and it has a beautiful sustain. I’ve been talking with a luthier (Siveen Mandolins) and he has given me a few choices on wood types so that’s my next step I guess. Due to the length of the octave mandolin neck, standard mandolin fingerings do not always work. Special thanks to the Mandolin Cafe's primary business partners. OMs are wonderful for melody. As the Reverend says, the slope is slippery and mine is littered with a lot of fretted instruments - including a banjo. Callison, there are a lot of folk’s that play ITM in Minneapolis/St. The problem with the high A, B & C notes on the mandola can be very easily overcome by playing in 4th & 7th "positions" {as in classical guitar method} where necessary. He has recorded on Green Linnet, Narada, Rounder, and Flying Fish to name a few. And, no one bothers you if you put a capo on an octave mandolin. When learning how to play, you should practice playing single notes and simple chords before moving onto full songs. Tenor banjo players with long scale instruments seem to manage, so take that with a grain of salt. I am not a fan of split courses (eg the G string having a low G and a G one octave higher on it). IMO the mandolin cuts through more while the OM sound gets lost. A full body model, a florentine cutaway and a sharp cutaway. This means that I often play 5th fret notes with the pinky, and move the hand vertically along the neck if I need the 6th and 7th fret notes when I am in "open position". One with very, very good players and generally only one box player - I bring the OM for that. It’s a lot easier to get your notes to come out using this fingering style, especially on OM when you have to push down harder. Many makers still build them. The octave mandolin can be tuned the same as the bouzouki but with the shorter neck is much easier to play melodies while still giving a good chord sound. Here is an example of the octave mandolin played in an unusual setting: The Wayfaring Strangers. But it is my personal favorite. but this, and what you choose to use it for (melody, accompaniment or both), are, as far as I can see, entirely matters of choice. John McGann (deceased) was Associate Professor of Strings at Berklee College of Music, the 1985 National Mandolin Champion and author or Mel Bay: A Guide to Octave Mandolin & Bouzouki. And you might experiment with GDAD, ADAD, AEAE, or other tunings. It’s a lot harder to derail a session with an OM than a banjo. Crisp highs and resonant mid range tones! I use a Buchanan octave mandola {scale: 500mm / 19.68" } tuned GDAD for playing melody & an old Gibson Blue Ridge {1969} guitar in G / D modal tuning {DADGBD} for accompaniment. He was great. The Eastman comes with a fabric gig bag only. I think there’s a reason why the tenor banjo is the only lower-pitched instrument that’s become a solid part of the tradition for melody playing in Irish trad. I rather like the term CBOM for this family of instruments. Strumming chords is a great way to begin playing on the mandolin. I play banjo, mando and OM. If that is well within your budget, then you might want to aim hugher and seek out a luthier who makes archtop octave mandolins. Thanks. The other A string goes sharp too, but not as much or as often as the other. I find the reach of my OM and tenor banjo to be about the same; the banjo being easier to fret since the tension is less due to it having fewer strings. Some players (either melody players or backers) might prefer the shorter scale length for general comfort. FWIW. I build three styles of Octaves, all of them archtop guitar bodied with a 20.25" scale length. In a loud session it may also be difficult for others to hear when you’re kicking off a tune set. That’s basically just a slippery slope down to the banjo. (Clifford Essex sell string sets in both configurations). Back then you chose the body size, the number of courses, and the scale length. Because the pitch and timbre is similar to guitar, it’s easily buried by the inevitable guitar player in a group. When he takes a break I’ll cover the accompaniment part which lets me stretch out a bit and try things besides bashing chords. If you choose an octave mandolin (20" - 23" scale) it will take your melodic mandolin playing down an octave and you’ll have a chance to add in some open chords and some closed ones, too, probably, cross-picking and strumming. *Higher* is what I meant . Mandolins, bouzoukis, octave mandolas, citterns, tenor mandolas and all other types in the mandolin family plus accessories, books and music. Been playing it for about 2 months now while enjoying it I am noticing a problem with my picking hand. Kind of like nails screeching on a chalkboard (yeah, I’m that old…) and cat that’s just had it’s tail stepped on. My opinion and not worth much. "I have heard it stated categorically that an octave mandolin is tuned GDAE …". What I’m about to say may be discouraging, but it’s just one person’s opinion. On the other hand, your fingers may be longer than mine, or just younger and more flexible. >>>: "No. "I thought it was bouzouki is for backing and OM is for melody." Its relationship to the mandolin is that of the tenor violin to the violin, or the tenor saxophone to the soprano saxophone. Weber Sage#1 Octave Mandolin with McIntyre Feather pickup I bought this wonderful Sage#1 octave mandolin from in 2011 and have been playing it off and on for the past couple years. There is no hard-and-fast rule. I don’t have the repertoire nor skills to want to be above the din very often though. I play melody on mandolin, octave mandolin, and a bit of flute. CMO thanks, I see what you mean - although both my banjo and OM are sufficiently short scale I can reach the 7th fret with my ‘pinky’, "… you might want to aim hugher …"
If you are new to the octave mando, the first thing you'll find is that it is nearly impossible to use traditional mandolin fingerings without stretching your hand into oblivion. The lower sound is a nice contrast to the normal bunch of higher pitched melody instruments. I would echo what most people have said, that the most common ‘complaint’ with the octave mandolin as a melody instrument is that it sounds ‘muddy’ amid a session. The point is that some mandolin chords are impractical on octave mandolin because of the finger stretch required. This solo is played entirely in open position, so it can provide some good material for fingering experiments. I hope to hear the octave mandolin used in more styles of music- it is really a fabulous instrument with great potential. John performs locally and internationally from his base in Boston, Massachusetts. ‘Cello fingering’ just means using 1 finger per fret rather than having one finger govern two frets - so you would shift to a higher position in order to reach the 7th fret. His fingers are not particularly long. Mandolin emerges in Italy at the end of 17 th century. Wow, 5-6 sessions a week! It’s a great sound but can be limiting without a capo. But seriously, do not abandon the OM. You can also give it a bit more distinct sound that might help it be heard by putting octave strings on the two low courses. His volume is good enough to be heard in a large room.
‘Cello fingering’ just means using 1 finger per fret rather than having one finger govern two frets - so you would shift to a higher position in order to reach the 7th fret. I don’t know what I’d do without ‘Cello’ fingering, or ‘Guitar’ fingering for that matter. ; John McGann on Octave Mandolin John McGann, author of Guide to Octave Mandolin and Bouzouki proposes standardized terminology, and discusses a variety of issues on playing the octave mandolin. Banjos are really easy to find at modest prices. So I suggest keep it up and make a go of it. Yes, OM players generally play trble clef music, ignoring the fact that the notes actually sounded are an octave lower. Visit NorthfieldMandolins.com Simon DS. I personally wouldn’t think that an OM would be that difficult but possibly you could choose some bright phosphor-bronze strings to give it the best go. The melodious sound of mandolin was produced when the strings plucked with a plectrum. Description. If you are a member of The Session, log in to add a comment. Hi- Just to mention another option, I play melodies on a 1995 Flatiron mandola strung with Thomastik 174 heavy flatwound and tuned to GDAE, the octave below the mandolin. But it’s still a slippery slope down to the banjo, he says, speaking from experience… . As for speed I’m slower on the OM, partly because of the fingering, but mostly because I like how the OM sounds and tunes are wonderful on it at a slower pace. The octave mandolin produces a rich haunting sound that is unlike any other stringed instrument. Your best bet is going to be trying different instruments to see what you like. I find it sits in the mix well and the guy playing the Martin D15 (Mahogany) in DADGAD and I aren’t fighting for the same sonic space. Belonging to the mandolin family, the octave mandolin is an instrument with four pairs of strings tuned in fifths, G, D, A, E. Just as the name implies, this instrument is an octave below a regular mandolin. My tenor guitar is just as loud, probably because it has a lager body than the OM, and the single string seems to stand out better. The mandocello is often described as being to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin. Everything you’ll ever need for mandolin is right here at Eagle Music. The sustain is wonderful on tunes like marches, "metered airs," and slower settings of reels. Belonging to the mandolin family, the octave mandolin is an instrument with four pairs of strings tuned in fifths, G, D, A, E. Just as the name implies, this instrument is an octave below a regular mandolin. Right now it’s a little fewer folk as a lot of the main players are in Ireland or elsewhere in the US teaching or playing festivals. Holy Cow Steve! When I’m playing for a dance, I use the banjo for reels and jigs, and the OM for Waltzes. Octave mandos are often tuned GDAD (bass-to-treble). For melody it’s my first choice. That’s why I bring a mandolin to local sessions and not the OM. ‘Irish bouzouki’) and an octave mandolin is scale length (and even then, there is a grey area). I play melody on both and my OM has almost exactly the same scale length as the banjo so the fingering is identical. And I’ve never been quite sure what the difference is between the two instruments. Learn cello fingering, you cannot use the same fingering as the little mando. Carved/arched top and back would probably cut through more but also make OM more expensive, prohibitively so for many. Not only will a lot of those camps have a luthier or two there with multiple instruments you can try, there will be lots of players with instruments that you can hear in sessions, and possibly swap with the players to give different instruments a whirl and see how they play before you go spending lots of money on an upgrade. The paired strings just seem too "muddy’ to me as a melody instrument when thrown in to the mix of all the other melody instruments. It is mostly used for mandolin orchestras as an alternative for mandolas, and it can be used in playing traditional Irish music. The only fundamental physical difference between a bouzouki (i.e. Dec-12-2019, 11:10am #9. A cave painting in France depicts a beautiful musical bowl which is now known as the mandolin. The history of the mandolin can be traced back to 13,000 BC. "Disadvantages" include the much longer scale, which makes four-string "closed" (no open strings) chords difficult to finger. r/octavemandolin: This is a sub for octave mandolin and irish bouzouki players to share resources, play songs, and just share a common love for this … The mandolin is an eight string instrument that is usually featured in country, bluegrass, and folk music. Anyhow, the scale length on my OM is 20.5" so rather short (it does have a very large body though). What you called it was whatever you wanted. OM yes is a bit muddier but if you are rock solid it contributes to melody just fine (it doesn’t have to stand out to contribute!). "Friend of the Devil," Grateful Dead. Also, the wider fret spacing and larger neck make it less agile than the mandolin -- harder to play really fast melodies, unless you're quite advanced. If you’re after volume and are not into the banjo, the Octave Mandolin is for you. But as others have mentioned, the OM didn’t have the punch or ring of the bouzouki, and got lost in the mud. If you’re just playing chords its okay but for melodies - not so much. The problem with OM is that they often sound great when you’re playing by yourself, but get lost in the middle of a louder session. The New England Conservatory of Music grad has carved out a solid niche where contemporary folk, Americana, and roots music intersect. Joe Cooley’s, Merry Blacksmith, Lucy Campbell’s, etc. That can give it more of a sound that stands out, and is less "muddy". I play tenor banjo and mandolin, and I’m satisfied with both. Here's an overview on how to balance string gauge, neck relief, bridge radius, action height, intonation and string height to make your mando play great. We have 5-6 sessions/week in the Twin Cities so you can get your fill of playing. Chords are groups of notes that are played together by strumming all the mandolin strings while holding down certain strings with your left-hand fingers. Sierra Hull discusses how she adapts her technique when playing octave mandolin and performs a solo version of the fiddle tune “Grey Owl” at the 2019 Marshall Mandolin Summit, using her Northfield Archtop Octave Mandolin. One thing you might be able to do is go to one of the festivals or camps that are for players (as opposed to the festivals that are meant to connect people with their inner celtic-ness, and feature rock bands and sword fighting). Hi all, thank you so much for your input. It has a wonderfully rich, delicious ring with the easy reach of a 17 in scale. It’s a terrific, powerful sound. Also, with increased sustain (which, as justjim points out, is great for ornamentation and crosspicking) comes decreased attack, so the beginnings of the notes can become indistinct in among the other instruments. If it’s within your means, something like this might be worth a try https://tinyurl.com/yxpno3lp (I cannot *recommend* it as I have never tried one, but having tried their mandolins, I think you would get good value for money).