Bouzouki AKA Octave mandolin. It normally has a Guitar length neck and is often tuned and octave below the mandolin, the same as the octave mandolin. Despite its origin it is effectively a larger member of the mandolin family and really the same as an octave mandolin but with a longer scale length.
It is commonly tuned in octaves, the lower two notes - in standard tuning G and D - having one string an octave above the other like a twelve string guitar. The mandocello was developed by Gibson for its orchestras. Tuned an octave below the mandola, as its name suggests it is the cello to the viola mandola and violin mandolin.
In many ways it is similar to the long scale bouzouki, the only reason you can't use a bouzouki for a mandocello is that it may need a slightly wider neck to accommodate the thicker strings on the mandocello and will need wider slots in the nut and bridge, there may also be issues with the build of the instrument with heavier strings.
Until recently mandocellos were hard to get unless you could afford a vintage Gibson but many of the American makers now include them in their catalogues. Mandobass The mandobass is so ugly it becomes a thing of beauty. It's a beast with only four strings, tuned as a double bass EADG. I don't know anybody who makes one or owns one for that matter.
You can guess how they came about if you've read up to here. Scale length is TAMCO's famous mandobass has become our mascot! A5 Bluegrass Weber Yellowstone A5 trad sunburst. And with 5 strings mandolins you also get an extended range of note.
Also some people prefer the single course of strings, instead of double strings on regular mandolin. But if you still care to try one, check out one of these luthiers:. Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar In the world of instruments, the mandolin is kind of an ugly duckling. And the truth is that the mandolin is just not as popular an instrument as others… Which is one more reason to start playing it!
Sounds good? First off… Types of Mandolins The very first question you should ask yourself is whether you want to play on a classical mandolin… Or a Bluegrass mandolin.
There are 2 types of bluegrass mandolins: A-Style — Which are mostly used in folk and Celtic music and are cheaper F-Style — Which are the typical bluegrass mandolin and are more expensive Bluegrass mandolins, whether A-style or F-style have a flat back, making their production costs lower than a classical bowl-back mandolins.
That is why F-shaped holes mandolins are usually recommended for bluegrass music, or any other genre in which you need to play loud… Whereas round hole mandolins are generally used in Celtic and folk music, where they need to blend in more. As for the construction process, there are 2 techniques: Solid — which means the part was carved out of a single piece of wood.
Laminate — which means various sheets of cheap wood are placed on top of each others, usually covering one layer of more expensive wood. Next up… How to choose a pick Mandolins are played using picks, even though some players play with their fingers. Check out this video to hear what they sound like: Here is the model I recommend: Thomann Octave Mandolin — Thomann Now, octave mandolins are not to be confused with mando cellos , which are tuned just like a regular cello: CGDA, whereas octave mandolins are tuned like a regular mandolin but just 1 octave lower.
The mandocello is often described as being to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin. So why not just play a regular guitar then? The mandolin is tuned similarly to the violin, which is great news for violinists looking to pick up the mandolin or new mandolin players who are itching to learn some fiddle tunes. And like the violin and its orchestral relatives, the mandolin has a whole family of related instruments.
Mandolas are tuned lower than mandolins, similar to violas, giving them a mellower tone. Below that is the octave mandolin, tuned a full octave lower than a standard mandolin.
The bouzouki is similar to the octave mandolin, but it usually has longer scale length and sometimes features octave courses instead of unison courses on its lower two courses. There is also the rare mandobass, which is tuned similar to an upright bass. The mandola, octave mandolin, and mandocello are all nice instruments with rich timbre.
The mandobass, however, is a bit of a novelty and not very useful in most musical contexts. There are also hybrid instruments like the banjo mandolin, which features a mandolin neck and a banjo body. These are fun instruments that combine the brightness of a mandolin with the meaty plunk of a banjo.
There are also resonator banjos, which have a metal amplifying cone built into the body of the instrument. Another intriguing hybrid is the Manditar, which uses a large mandolin body, wider neck, and 6 or 12 strings tuned like a guitar, but an octave higher.
Hopefully these questions give you some direction in your search for a mandolin. The best thing to do, if you have the opportunity, is to try a bunch of different instruments and see what suits your taste.
There are a lot of fine mandolins out there. Item added to your cart. These extra design elements to the F style put it at a higher price point that the simpler A styles. These mandolins have, in addition to their lavish embellishments, two f-holes like a violin or a single oval hole. The extra curlycues in the body increase the body volume, which contributes to the overall sound.
The bowl-back is exactly as it sounds: a fretted string instrument with a very round back that sits against the player like a bowl.
It is the style of mandolin often depicted in film or television as a stereotype of the instrument. It is also known as a taterbug or watermelon.
This is a very old-fashioned style of mandolin that resembles early Italian lutes, the instrument from which the modern day mandolin evolved. The deep bowl makes for deeper tones than the flatback styles, but they are rare to find. Often they are antique lute-violin hybrids and run a high cost. They are less practical for playing purposes, but have undeniable strong tonal resonance.
The mandola is tuned a fifth lower than a mandolin, and is slightly larger. It is tuned CGDA.
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