Description: The mandolin is a stringed instrument and a member of the chordophone family, that is either plucked or strummed, tremolo, staccato are achieved with a plectrum is a major feature in playing this instrument. In its current form the mandolin has 8-strings. Originally the mandolin evolved from lutes in the 16th to 17th century's early mandolins had 6 gut strings and they were tuned similar to the lutes of this period. The mandolin spread through out continental Europe from Italy to Germany, the Balkans to Ireland to Greece..

A mandolin specific repertoire called the "Kantates" evolved in the Ionian islands under Venetian rule and in Crete the mandolin is second to the loauto [lute], lyra and violin. The mandolin has a strong presence in Blue grass, Celtic and Klemzer musics. Mandolins are available in many shapes, sizes, courses and a wide range of alternate tunings, the mandolin has spread as far from South America to Central Asia to India and Myanmar [Burma] and Indonesia. The name "mandolin" may have its roots in the Latin word "mandore" that is found in earlier texts. This observation was made by the musicologist Karl Greigner (Germany, b. 1899 d 1989).

Many regions in Italy had their own form of mandolin these include Milan, Briscia, Lombard and Naples these regional mandolins had 12 strings and or 14 strings paired. Although the modern mandolin in its current bowl backed form originated in Naples Italy, the Neapolitan mandolins are staved in in their construction, they have short necks and 8-strings, and this type of mandolin was very common up till the American civil war period in the 18th century prior to the Gibson mandolin we see in North America today.  

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 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.

Gibson Mandolins: Orville Gibson the founder of the Gibson guitar company of Kalamazoo Michigan USA. He created the model A to model F mandolins they were popular from 1907 to 1935. These types of mandolin were called "Florentine mandolins" have a flat back body, 8-strings, a very thin neck and fancy scroll work at the head stock. Their fingerboards are often made of ebony and their frets are of a very thin gauge. Notable musicians include David Grisman, Ricky Scaggs and many others.

In Continental USA: Upon the arrival in continental North America the mandolin was made in the Neapolitan style. These mandolin were in the form of the Neopolitan style. The're first exposure was in the vaudiville circuit and then later the mandolin found its use in Appalachian, old time, folk, Blue Grass music's. Currently the contemporary use of the mandolin is found in blues, jazz, country, pop, alternative particularly in the mid 1990s to experimental.

In Peru & South America: The mandolin is most popular in the Cuzco department its also found in Cuzco, Ayacucho to Apurimac, Cajamarca to the coast of Peru. In Peru the mandolin has 10-strings each courses of the strings are tuned the same for example ggg-ddd-aa-ee. Some of the mandolins have from 8 to 12 strings. In Brazil the name "Bandolim" has a slightly larger body and 8 strings and is strongly associated choro music. In Brazilian music the bandolim gained its popularity largely due to Jacob De Bandolim (born as Jacob Pick Bittencourt). His pen-name comes from the bandolim being the type of mandolin which he played.

In India: The mandolin dates back since the 1940s although it mainly had a presence in "filmi" or Indian film music by the Raj Kapoor Studios. Quite recently the adoption of the mandolin gained a foothold in Carnatic [South Indian classical music] and was made popular by the musician U. Surinivas. Most of these carnatic mandolins only have 4 to 5 strings due to U. Surinivas removed the rest of the strings for experimenting with the mandolin he wanted to see if the mandolin could be used Carnaetic music, so during his experimintations with the mandolin his father recomended that he kept the fifth string as a bass. These types of mandolin are constructed as solid body electric mandolins usually with a single electro-magnetic pickup. This type of mandolin has also found its way in Punjabi Bangra music.

In Myanmar [Burma]: A type of mandolin exists only having 6 single strings. A three disc anthology of Burmese traditional music features the mandolin in Myanmar recorded by Rick Heizman.

Variations: The banjo-mandolin was patented by John Ferris in the 1880s (b. Conneticut 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 Marakesh Morocco.

Mandolin Tunings

Standard	E-A-D-G
Huamanguina, Ayacucho	E-A-E-C
D Major	E-B-D-A
Alternate	G-D-G-D
Mandola	C-G-D-A
Mandola (Alternate)	D-A-E-A
Mandolin (India)	E-B-E-B
Carnatic Mandolin (India) U. Surinivas	C-G-C-G-C

Alternate Mandolin Tunings: There does exisit many alternate mandolin tunings both in South America and around the world. The configuration of the 10-string mandolin is arranged as follows for the "E and A" strings there are two courses of strings. For the rest of the strings the "D" and "G" strings there are the courses of three strings. In Peru the mandolin is very popular through out the Cuzco department, Cuzco city, Cajamarca, Rio De Oporeza, Patucombo and many other areas. in the Cusco department the traditioanal arrangement of instruments in such an ensemble would be the mandolin > harp > kena, or sometimes the violin > harp > flute and usually accompanied by percussion. In Patacumbo the mandolin is accompanied by kena > violin > accordion and percussion.