There are very few people in the world who have never heard the word “mandolin”. Interest in the mandolin among musicians is growing. Mandolin is a small string instrument which originated in Italy. It is a subspecies of the lute but with a smaller number of strings. The easily recognizable mandolin tremolo causes associations with the motives of Italians. There is more than one type of mandolin. Learn about the distinctive features to choose the best affordable mandolin.
A-Style Mandolins and F-Style Mandolins: Which One Is for You?
Among all types of mandolins, the Neapolitan has become the most widespread. It is widely used in many musical directions. Its varieties are also often used. For example, the bluegrass mandolin has become the most widespread in the US. The classical mandolin of the A/F-style is a rather common subspecies of the instrument.
- A-style mandolins can be drop-shaped or oval-shaped. The term itself derives from the A-type Gibson mandolin produced at the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the instruments of this type have carved backs and tops. This type is recommended to be chosen by the musicians playing classical/folk/Celtic music.
- F-style mandolins are equipped with deck tabs at the bottom. This allows the musician to hold the instrument comfortably while resting on the thigh. They are also called the Florentine mandolins. They are especially popular with country and bluegrass performers. This style has become the basis for many other mandolin varieties.
Mandolin Varieties and Their Differences
Perhaps you are looking to produce original music for your business, and have taken an interest in the different sounds of various mandolins. There are the following modifications of the best mandolins:
- Neapolitan. Neapolitan mandolins have an almond-shaped body, curved like a ball. It needs 4 double strings, tuned like a violin string – G-D-A-E.
- Milanese. Unlike the overwhelming majority of the rest models, it has 5 double strings.
- Portuguese. The Portuguese mandolin has an almost flat body, on which there is a shell. The decks are almost flat. There are variants of such instruments with with a resonator hole.
- Mandriola. It is a modification of the mandolin, which has 4 strings. It’s widely used in Mexican music. The lowest triple string, which gives a note of salt in the standard structure, is tuned in unison or octave.
- Mandola. It is an instrument that is a direct ancestor of the mandolin. Its scale is 420 mm (approximately 16.5 inches). The pitch is a quint below the standard mandolin, C-G-D-A.
- Octave mandolin. This instrument has a magnitude range from 500 to 584 mm (20 to 23 inches).
- Mandocello. This type of mandolin (from 635 to 686 mm, or from 25 to 27 inches) approaches the guitar. It has a C-G-D-A structure, like a mandola.
- Laouto. It has a length of 712 mm (28 inches). It is widely distributed in Greece.
- Mando bass. It can be either a 4-string E-A-D-G, like a double bass or an 8-string with four pairs of strings along the pattern of a mandolin.
- Irish bouzouki. It has 4 double strings, pairwise tuned in pairs in unison.
- Cistra. This instrument has 5 double strings in the D-G-D-A-D or G-D-A-D-A structure. It sounds like an octave mandolin, although it has an extra pair of strings.
Check the best mandolin reviews before choosing the instrument. They will help to pick the right one that will sound best for you.
