Playing Mandolin - A Unique Instrument

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