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Think of the mandolin family like the violin family.
In the violin world you have the following, presented highest to lowest pitch.
Violin: GDAE (in fifths)
Viola: CGDA (in fifths)
Cello: CGDA (octave below the viola)
Contra-Bass: EADG (like a bass guitar)
You have the same in the mandolin world:
Mandolin GDAE
Mandola (which I play): CGDA
Mandocello: CGDA: Octave below the mandola
Mando Bass: EADG
You should see a parity between the Viola and Mandolin class instruments with regards to their tunings.
There are out some other instruments though.
The Viol: a 6 sting cello like instrument with standard tuning of D-G-C-E-A-D
Cittern: a 5 course instrument that had a lot of different tunings though its life, developed from the cytole.
I could write pages about the cittern, but I won't but suffice to say that it is often tuned
DGDAD for a long scale, and GDAEA for a shorter scale.
Bouzouki's are often tuned GDAE like the mandolin (-8va of course).
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
I'm a fairly recent convert and like to use G-D-G-D, which is very drone-y and quite 'eastern'. I've also tried variations on that - such as G-D-A-D. This is Irish bouzouki though. Greek style is different.
Mandolin can be bluffed-out by trying to think of it being strung like an upside-down guitar, which sometimes works.
Feedback
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
The "Irish" bouzouki is sometimes strung with octave pairs in the lower two courses, giving an effect similar to a 12 string guitar. This gives a slightly brighter, janglier sound.
Sonically there is a large overlap between octave mandolins, bouzoukis and citterns and it's often very difficult to tell them apart in recordings. I have an "Irish" bouzouki (flat back construction as opposed to the Greek, bowl back) and I love it but find the lack of tuition resources a bit frustrating (although YouTube has helped hugely with this). I've also found learning 'zouk parts of recordings to be very difficult as it's very often capoed and mixed in with guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin etc.