If your mandolin is starting to sound a bit dull and less lively, or you've even broken a string, then it's probably time for a fresh set of strings. We stock a wide range of mandolin strings so you can find the right pack and freshen up your sound.
Finding the Right Mandolin Strings
We have plenty of packs of mandolin strings available, so if you want increased grip and stability, then go for a thicker gauged set. If you want a looser playing feel, then a thinner gauge is probably a better idea. The materials used to make mandolin strings are also pretty much the same as the materials used for steel-string acoustic guitar strings. So they're often made of bronze or phosphor bronze, which has been coated to keep them sounding fresh for longer. If you like a more retro or traditional sound, or if you prefer things more modern and tight, then you'll be able to find the right pack of strings for the job.
The 8-String Ancestors of the Mandolin
While the mandolin has been the most popular four-course (double-stringed) member of the lute family since its invention in the 17th century, it's not the only mandolin-style instrument out there. You can also get the mandola which, like the viola is tuned a fifth lower in pitch, in C, G, D and A instead of the standard mandolin tuning: G, D, A and E. Then there's the octave mandolin, where the strings are tuned an entire octave down from the standard tuning, and the mandocello which has had a recent surge in popularity and is tuned an octave lower than the mandola - bringing it down to the same tuning as a cello. Strings for each of these mandolin-like instruments can also be found in this department.
Mando-Guitar & Banjo-Mandolin Strings
Guitarists looking for that distinct mandolin-like sound could try out the mando-guitar, which has the same tuning as a guitar but an octave up so you can play the same chords and scales but gain that double-string shimmer and sparkle. The banjo-mandolin (also known as the banjolin) looks like a mini-banjo but has doubled strings and the same standard tuning as a mandolin, so you get a classic banjo sound but mandolin-style playing technique. Here, we have banjolin strings and strings for the 6-string mando-guitar.
Changing Mandolin Strings
If you've never changed the strings of your mandolin, don't be daunted. The process is actually the same as changing the strings of an acoustic guitar. If you're having trouble changing the strings yourself or you're just not sure, then you can get some help from a local guitar luthier.
A mandoline has a total of eight strings, which are four groups of two strings. This means that the mandolin and other mandolin-style instruments are four-course instruments - meaning that they have four sets of doubled-strings. Each set of two strings is tuned to the same pitch so a single note has a more lush and complex sound.
The standard tuning of a mandolin is the same as that of a violin: G, D, A and E, but has eight strings instead of just four. Each group of two strings is tuned to the same pitch.
