| The mandolin is the soprano member of the | | | | The instrument scale length is typically |
| mandolin family, just as the violin is the | | | | about 25 inches (635 mm). Note that a |
| soprano member of the violin family. Similar | | | | violoncello scale is 27" (686mm). |
| to the violin, the instrument scale length is | | | | |
| typically about 13 inches (330 mm). | | | | The Greek laouto is actually a mandocello, |
| | | | ordinarily tuned D-G-D-A, with half of each |
| So what are the different types of mandolin | | | | pair of the lower two courses that are being |
| that can be found? Well, below is a list of | | | | tuned an octave high on a lighter gauge |
| some of the main type of mandolin: | | | | string. The body is a staved bowl, the |
| | | | saddle-less bridge is glued to the flat face |
| The mandola (US and Canada), termed the tenor | | | | like most ouds and lutes, with mechanical |
| mandola in Europe, Ireland and the UK, which | | | | tuners, steel strings and tied gut frets. |
| is tuned to a fifth below the typical | | | | Modern laoutos, as played on Crete, have the |
| mandolin, in the same relationship as that of | | | | whole lower course tuned in octaves as well |
| the viola to the violin. Some people also | | | | as being tuned a reentrant octave above the |
| call this instrument the "alto mandola." The | | | | expected D. The instrument scale length is |
| instrument scale length is typically about | | | | typically about 28 inches (712mm). |
| 16.5 inches (420 mm). It is normally tuned | | | | |
| like a viola, which is: C-G-D-A. | | | | The mando-bass, has 4 single strings, rather |
| | | | than double courses, and it is tuned like a |
| The octave mandolin (US and Canada), termed | | | | double bass. These were made by the Gibson |
| the octave mandola or mandole in Europe, | | | | company in the early twentieth century, but |
| Ireland, and the UK, which is tuned an octave | | | | appear to have never been common. Most of the |
| lower than the mandolin. The instrument scale | | | | mandolin orchestras will prefer to use the |
| length is typically about 20 inches (500 mm), | | | | ordinary double bass, rather than a |
| although such instruments with scales as | | | | specialized mandolin family instrument. |
| short as 17 inches (430 mm) or as long as 21 | | | | |
| inches (530 mm) are not unknown. | | | | The piccolo or sopranino mandolin is a rare |
| | | | member of the mandolin family, tuned one |
| The mandocello, which is classically tuned to | | | | octave above the tenor mandola and one fourth |
| an octave and a fifth below the mandolin, in | | | | above the mandolin; the same relation as that |
| the same relationship as that of the cello to | | | | of the piccolo or sopranino violin to the |
| the violin: C-G-D-A. Today, it is quite | | | | violin and viola. The instrument scale length |
| frequent that it is restrung for octave | | | | is typically about 9.5 inches (240 mm). |
| mandolin tuning or the Irish bouzouki's GDAD. | | | | |