mandolin

Also known as Brescian mandolin, Cremonese mandolin, flat-backed mandolin, Genoese mandolin, Lombardian mandolin, Milanese mandolin, Florentine mandolin, Tuscan mandolin

A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of eight strings. A variety of string types are used, with steel strings being the most common and usually the least expensive. The courses are typically tuned in an interval of perfect fifths, with the same tuning as a violin (G3, D4, A4, E5). Also, like the violin, it is the soprano member of a family that includes the mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello and mandobass.

AI overview

A mandolin is a stringed instrument from the lute family that is typically plucked with a pick and has eight strings arranged in four doubled pairs, usually tuned like a violin. It matters as the soprano member of a family of related instruments and is widely used in music because of its distinctive bright sound and relatively accessible construction with affordable steel strings.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Instrument.name: Mandolin
Instrument.image: Mandolin MET DP169023 (2).jpg
Instrument.image_capt: Neapolitan mandolin
Instrument.background: string
Instrument.classification: String instrument Plucked string instrument
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs: 321.321-6 (Neapolitan) or 321.322-6 (flat-backed)
Instrument.hornbostel_sachs_desc: Chordophone with permanently attached resonator and neck, sounded by a plectrum
Instrument.developed: Mid-18th century from the mandolino
Instrument.timbre: varies with the type: spruce carved-top, bright flatback, warm or mellow
Instrument.decay: fast
Instrument.range: 130px|center(a regularly tuned mandolin with 14 frets to body)

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Mandolin1.jpg

Show 3 more facts

Commons category: Mandolins
Hornbostel-Sachs classification: 321.321-6
Commons gallery: Mandolin

Sources (6)

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~44 min read

Article

39 sections

Contents

History
Construction
Tuning
Mandolin family
Soprano
Piccolo
Alto
Tenor
Baritone/Bass
Mandobass
Variations
Bowlback
Neapolitan and Roman styles
Manufacturers of Neapolitan-style mandolins
Other bowlback styles
Brescian mandolin or Cremonese mandolin
Genoese mandolin, a blend of styles
Archtop
Pressed archtops
Flatback
Tone
Double top, double back
Others
Mandolinetto
Mandolin-banjo
Resonator mandolin
Electric mandolin
Playing traditions worldwide
Notable literature
Western European classical music
Unaccompanied solo
Accompaniment with solo
Duo and musical ensemble
Concerto
Mandolin in the orchestra
See also
References
Further reading
External links

There are many styles of mandolin, but the three most common types are the Neapolitan or round-backed mandolin, the archtop mandolin and the flat-backed mandolin. The round-backed version has a deep bottom, constructed of strips of wood, glued together into a bowl. The archtop, also known as the carved-top mandolin, has an arched top and a shallower, arched back both carved out of wood. The flat-backed mandolin uses thin sheets of wood for the body, braced on the inside for strength in a similar manner to a guitar. Each style of instrument has its own sound quality and is associated with particular styles of music. Neapolitan mandolins feature prominently in European classical music and in traditional music like the Andean music of Peru. Archtop instruments are common in American folk music and bluegrass music. Flat-backed instruments are commonly used in Irish, British, and Brazilian folk music, and Mexican estudiantinas.