Sedgwick
12 string Mandolin & Mandriola
Most people refer to this instrument as a 12-string mandolin but strung with triple courses (3-3-3-3) and still tuned G, D, A,
E. The extra strings gives the instrument a fuller sound and makes it slightly easier for tremolo picking. There are a couple
of variations on how the instrument can be strung as described below, but once you play a 12-string mandolin it is hard to
go back to a regular one.
The most famous and traditional mandolin is the Italian Neapolitan mandolin, with the deep round lute like back. According
to Franz Jahnel's 'Manual of Guitar Technology' The Sicilian mandolin was similar to the Neapolitan type but has a wider
neck because it had 11-strings. The top three courses had triple strings with the lowest string on each course tuned an
octave lower. The lowest course being 'G' was usually just doubled, but the modern instruments have complete triple
stringing. (With the body so small, acoustically it wouldn't work so well to have an octave lower G-string. This is probably
why the G only had double strings).
The Mandriola is another name for the instrument but strung slightly different. One of the strings in each of the lower
courses are tuned an octave down. The alternative way to string the instrument is to have one of the strings in each of the
lower courses tuned an octave up. The string company Optima did produce two sets of mandriola strings, High Octave
and Low Octave.
The more common approach is to have triple courses of the same gauge rather than adding any octave strings, which is
pictured to the right.
E. The extra strings gives the instrument a fuller sound and makes it slightly easier for tremolo picking. There are a couple
of variations on how the instrument can be strung as described below, but once you play a 12-string mandolin it is hard to
go back to a regular one.
The most famous and traditional mandolin is the Italian Neapolitan mandolin, with the deep round lute like back. According
to Franz Jahnel's 'Manual of Guitar Technology' The Sicilian mandolin was similar to the Neapolitan type but has a wider
neck because it had 11-strings. The top three courses had triple strings with the lowest string on each course tuned an
octave lower. The lowest course being 'G' was usually just doubled, but the modern instruments have complete triple
stringing. (With the body so small, acoustically it wouldn't work so well to have an octave lower G-string. This is probably
why the G only had double strings).
The Mandriola is another name for the instrument but strung slightly different. One of the strings in each of the lower
courses are tuned an octave down. The alternative way to string the instrument is to have one of the strings in each of the
lower courses tuned an octave up. The string company Optima did produce two sets of mandriola strings, High Octave
and Low Octave.
The more common approach is to have triple courses of the same gauge rather than adding any octave strings, which is
pictured to the right.
Guitars
© Copyright 2003-2021 Stephen Sedgwick
Mandolin
Harp Guitar
Sitar Guitar & Sympathetic Strings
CDs
About The Maker
Concert
21-String Harp Guitar
Talking Board Guitar
Artists
Exhibitions
Sedgwick
AVC
Double Neck Guitar
Videos
Ordering
Jumbo
10-String Guitar
Triple Neck Guitar
Articles
For Sale
Dreadnaught
11-String Guitar
Pythagoras Guitar
Contact Info
Sedgwick
Guitars
© Copyright 2003-2021 Stephen Sedgwick
12 string Mandolin & Mandriola
Most people refer to this instrument as a 12-string
mandolin but strung with triple courses (3-3-3-3) and
still tuned G, D, A, E. The extra strings gives the
instrument a fuller sound and makes it slightly easier
for tremolo picking. There are a couple of variations
on how the instrument can be strung as described
below, but once you play a 12-string mandolin it is
hard to go back to a regular one.
The most famous and traditional mandolin is the
Italian Neapolitan mandolin, with the deep round lute
like back. According to Franz Jahnel's 'Manual of
Guitar Technology' The Sicilian mandolin was similar
to the Neapolitan type but has a wider neck because
it had 11-strings. The top three courses had triple
strings with the lowest string on each course tuned
an octave lower. The lowest course being 'G' was
usually just doubled, but the modern instruments
have complete triple stringing. (With the body so
small, acoustically it wouldn't work so well to have
an octave lower G-string. This is probably why the G
only had double strings).
The Mandriola is another name for the instrument but strung slightly
different. One of the strings in each of the lower courses are tuned an
octave down. The alternative way to string the instrument is to have one of
the strings in each of the lower courses tuned an octave up. The string
company Optima did produce two sets of mandriola strings, High Octave
and Low Octave.
The more common approach is to have triple courses of the same gauge
rather than adding any octave strings, which is pictured to the right.
mandolin but strung with triple courses (3-3-3-3) and
still tuned G, D, A, E. The extra strings gives the
instrument a fuller sound and makes it slightly easier
for tremolo picking. There are a couple of variations
on how the instrument can be strung as described
below, but once you play a 12-string mandolin it is
hard to go back to a regular one.
The most famous and traditional mandolin is the
Italian Neapolitan mandolin, with the deep round lute
like back. According to Franz Jahnel's 'Manual of
Guitar Technology' The Sicilian mandolin was similar
to the Neapolitan type but has a wider neck because
it had 11-strings. The top three courses had triple
strings with the lowest string on each course tuned
an octave lower. The lowest course being 'G' was
usually just doubled, but the modern instruments
have complete triple stringing. (With the body so
small, acoustically it wouldn't work so well to have
an octave lower G-string. This is probably why the G
only had double strings).
The Mandriola is another name for the instrument but strung slightly
different. One of the strings in each of the lower courses are tuned an
octave down. The alternative way to string the instrument is to have one of
the strings in each of the lower courses tuned an octave up. The string
company Optima did produce two sets of mandriola strings, High Octave
and Low Octave.
The more common approach is to have triple courses of the same gauge
rather than adding any octave strings, which is pictured to the right.
