Description: In
Spanish (Mandolina), In Italian (Mandolino), In Portuguese (Bandolim,
or Bandolina) in German (Mandoline). The mandolin is a short necked
plucked lute and a member of the chordophone family of musical
instruments. The mandolin has its origins in the boroque period. In
17th Century Europe the mandola predates the arrival of mandolin. Some
early mandolins were constructed either like rebecs or gitterns. The
musicologist Karl Girigner (b. 1899 d. 1989) he pointed out that in
earlier texts the name mandolin may have originated from the Latin name
“mandore”. In Italy the mandolin may have had its origins in Naples
henceforth the “Neapolitan mandolin”. They have a staved body, a short
length neck and eight strings. In Italy the mandolin evolved in
different regions ranging from having three, five or six courses. From
Italy the mandolin had spread all over continental Europe starting in
neighbouring countries to Italy including Slovenia, Bulgaria, Albania
and Greece. In Greece the mandolin has a long history in Crete and in
on the Ionian islands. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the mandolin
second to the violin or tenor banjo in Celtic music. Geographically the
mandolin has spread as far as Central to South East Asia. In Myanmar
[Burma] a type of mandolin exists only having six single strings. In
India the mandolin is a solid body instrument having a single coil
electric pickup it has five strings. In South America: Throughout South America the mandolin remains very popular in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. In Peru the mandolin is played in many different departments from Ayacucho, Apurimac to Cajamarca and the costal regions. The mandolin is played either solo in accompaniment with other instruments. The instrumentation of the conjunto is regional. In Cusco the instrument maybe quena (flute) > violin > arpa (harp). Or in Patacumbo the conjunto may include quena (flute) > accordion > mandolin and percussion. The Peruvian and Bolivian mandolins usually have 10, 8 or 12 strings. The andean 10-string mandolin has two extra A and E strings. Outside the andes the mandolin remains quite popular in Brazil under its portuguese name “Bandolim”. The bandolim has 8 strings although a slightly wider body. In the Choro ensembles the bandolim is one of the lead instruments. One of the major exponents of the bandolim was Jacob Pick Bittencourt, better known as “Jacob De Bandolim”. His pen-name comes from the bandolim. Numerous alternate tunings exist for the mandolin in South America and around the world.
In North America: When the mandolin arrived in North America it was available in the Neapolitan style. During the 1900s the mandolin was being introduced to the Vaudeville circuit. Since the arrival of the mandolin finds its use in Appalachian, roots, blue grass and folk music. Later the mandolin found its self in jazz, blues and other genres. In Eastern Canada the mandolin would find its self in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. The Gibson mandolin's "Model A to Model F" from the time period 1907 to 1935. These Gibson model's have a flat back, 8-strings, a very thin neck, and fancy scroll work at the head-stock. The finger boards are often made of ebony and the gauge of frets are quite thin. David Grisman and many others are known to play this type of mandolin.
Mandolin Orchestras: These "mandolin orchestras" are mostly a tradition of European origins although in North America they were very popular in the 1900s. The family of mandolins includes the piccolo being the (smallest) to tenor, octave mandolins and the largest being the "upright bass-mandolin" this type of mandolin today is very rare. Mandolin orchestras have originated from Germany, Austria and later on to France. My teacher Rene Hugo Sanchez tells me of a friend of his who is a classical mandolinist and she has her own personal collection of mandolins. The mandolin also has a presence in classical compositions for chamber ensembles to classical orchestras and symphonies.
Variations: The banjo-mandolin was patented by John Ferris in the 1880s (b. Connecticut USA). The body of the banjo mandolin was originally stretched with goat hide although today's banjolins use thin plastic heads. The bridge of the banjo-mandolin is also adjustable.A rim is used to hold the skin in place with thin bolts which allow the tension of the skin to be adjusted. Another instrument called the banjolin only has 4-strings although it utilizes the same tuning as the banjo-mandolin both are considered different instruments from each other. National Guitars built a few "Triolian Resonator" mandolin in the 1930s. These "resonator" type mandolins had a triangular shape with a Dobro-style resonator into the sound whole. In Turkey the Cumbus in its mandolin format is quite similar although made with an entirely spun metal body. The mandolin in the form Cumbus is also popular in Marrakesh Morocco.
| Standard | G-D-A-E |
| Alternate | G-D-G-D |
| Mandola | C-G-D-A |
| Ayacucho | C-E-A-E |
| D Major | A-D-B-E |
Mandola (Alternate) |
D-A-E-A |
| Carnatic Mandolin (India) | C-G-C-G-C |