Is it possible to learn the guitar and be able to play the mandolin? Are the similarities between these two instruments close enough so you could only learn one instrument but easily transition? Well yes and no. I initially learnt the guitar and after a few years decided to learn how to play the mandolin. As I had some experience on the guitar picking up the mandolin I found was pretty easy for me. There are similarities and major differences between these two instruments.
This article will be giving a deep dive into each instrument and how they compare. I will also give you a few tips and tricks on how to transition over from one to the other.
Firstly the guitar. The guitar has 6 strings mainly all tuned in fourths. The standard tuning for the guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E. There are an infinite amount of variations of the guitar (as well as tunings). Some of these are dependant on what music or sound you would like to achieve. For the average beginner musician, the choice tends to be between acoustic and electric.
The mandolin has 8 strings tuned in fifths. When we are talking about fourths and fifths, we are talking about intervals which are the distance between each note. The guitar is tuned so that each string is a perfect 4th apart, which is 5 semitones. The mandolin is tuned in fifths, so each set of strings is tuned a perfect 5th apart, which is seven semitones. To explain semitones, the chromatic scale is A-A#-B-C#-D-D#-E-F-F#-G-G#. If for example you started on E and counted 5 semitones onwards you would arrive at A. The tuning of the mandolin tends to be G-D-A-E.
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Is playing the mandolin the same as guitar?
No, the mandolin is tuned differently as explained above, so the chords and the notes need to be played in different places. If you have come from learning the guitar, then it would feel like learning a whole new set of chords and the scales. Although the notes are all in alternative places, the main techniques are still the same. If you have strummed a guitar or picked a few notes on a guitar, playing the mandolin physically is the same. The main difficulty when learning a stringed instrument is the coordination between right and left hand. I found the separation of both my hands difficult initially. It is similar to rubbing your tummy and patting your head. This has to be overcome for the mandolin and the guitar. Another difference between the mandolin guitar is the number of strings. The mandolin has 8 strings but 4 notes. Each note has a set of strings tuned to the same note. So the note of each string would be G-G-D-D-A-A-E-E. This sometimes can take some getting used to as you have to have both strings pressed firmly down for the notes to sound perfect. With the frets and strings all so close together this can get tricky, especially if you are picking up the mandolin as a second instrument and you are used to all that luxurious room you have on a guitar.
Finger Position on mandolin vs Guitar Finger position.
One of the main differences between the mandolin and guitar is which finger is in charge of which fret. The guitar has a rule of one finger per fret and the mandolin due to its smaller size has a two-finger per fret rule. The hand on the neck has to adopt a more violin style grip than a guitar style grip. I would suggest trying to learn it this way form the start as trying to change this later can be a pain.
Are mandolin chords the same as guitar chords? (Including Examples)
Mandolin chord shapes are very different from guitar chord shapes. If you know how a chord is structured (using triads), you can easily make similar guitar chords. You will just have to transpose or invert them. With the mandolin’s tuning and the guitar being different, each note of the chord will be in a different position. Plus there are only 4 strings on a mandolin, so you have two fewer fingers to worry about. The easiest way to learn mandolin chords is to just look at some chords charts. Below I have included some of the most common chords for the mandolin.
Can you play guitar songs on the mandolin?
As mentioned earlier, due to the mandolin and the guitar being tuned differently, you cannot play the same tunes on a mandolin, using the same ‘music tab’. You will have to find a dedicated mandolin version or guitar version if you wish to play mandolin tunes on guitar. You could transpose this yourself if you know the exact notes. I would suggest, although the playing physicalities are the same, the mandolin and the guitar have to be treated as different instruments. The mandolin has a more melody-driven sound, and you tend to be concentrating more or individual notes and tremolo of each of them. I would never say you cannot play the mandolin in the guitar style as music has no hard and fast rule. There will be die-hard mandolin players who will be very vocal about not playing guitar songs on mandolin or vice a versa. I don’t take much notice of these players and would suggest neither should you. Sometimes entire music genres come out of playing an instrument differently.
Is the mandolin harder to learn than the guitar?
The mandolin and the guitar each have their own difficulties when learning. Like the guitar, the mandolin uses two hands, and each hand has its own techniques. Chop chords, Tremolo and cross-picking, are all techniques that will be needed to be mastered on the mandolin. The smaller neck of the mandolin some say is easier, and some say harder. This can depend on the size of your hand to which you find easiest. Learning to play any instrument is difficult. I believe the easiest of the two is the one you enjoy learning the most. Learning either the guitar or the mandolin is a journey, and will take time and effort. Keeping motivated and pushing through the hard times will depend on how much you enjoy to play either. Being disciplined enough to practice day in day out will be a challenge, so make it easier for yourself and choose the instrument you enjoy the most.
Can a mandolin be tuned like a guitar?
Yes, the mandolin can be tuned like a guitar. The strings can be tuned E-E-B-B-G-G-D-D. This is known as Chicago tuning. Chicago tuning mainly came from the banjo but has been used on many 4 stringed instruments and smaller stringed instruments.
One of the advantages of this tuning is that if you usually play the guitar, the chords are instantly available on the mandolin. The only issue is now you have to try cram all your notes into two frets which may be challenging. This tuning lends itself more to a tenor guitar and one jazz musician ‘Tiny Grimes’ used this tuning.
Studio guitar player Tommy Tedesco used the tuning E-B-G-D for his mandolin and other instruments. This tuning made alternating between multiple 4 string instruments and sight-reading the music given to him easier to manage.
You will have to change the string gauges for this style tuning. You can use gauges: 0.010 – 0.014 – 0.019 – 0.024. This change in string gauges is due to the mandolin being one octave above the guitar, and you will need to get the correct tension for optimum playability and sound.
How easy is it to transition from the guitar to the mandolin?
The transition from the guitar to the mandolin will have its difficulties. The shorter scale and smaller neck will magnify the nuances affecting the tone and volume. This means you will certainly want your mandolin setting up for optimal playability. The hand positioning is also very different. On the mandolin, each fret is assigned to two fingers. This may cause problems with the muscle memory you have brought over from the guitar. The mandolins optimal hand positioning is more comparable to the violin than the guitar. Another issue you may have is the callouses on your fingers. Hopefully, you will have been playing the guitar long enough to toughen the fingertips. Unfortunately, many players find the transition still quite painful, even guitar players who have been playing for many years.
Positively, many guitar players who have made the transition from guitar to mandolin also find they have improved as a guitar player. Many believe their picking speed has improved as well as their hand dexterity. The transition back from practising the mandolin takes some getting used to. The difference in size makes more of a difference returning to the guitar than the other way. Some guitar players commenting on the stretching between notes and the handgrip positioning, taking them a little time to re-adjust.
