The Forgotten Instrument - the Mandolin

[protectionist]

For the people who, when seeing a mandolin for the first time say, "Is that some kind of ukelele ?" here is a brief introduction to the mandolin. It is a small, wooden, stringed instrument, with 4 pairs of steel strings, tuned exactly the same as the violin. Unlike the violin, however, the mandolin has a flat bridge. like the guitar, and thus it cannot be played with a bow, but is instead played with a small plastic plectrum (pick).

This photo is of the Bonne Amie Musical Circle (now the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra), the oldest fretted-instrument music organization in the United States, in 1908. This was the popular time for mandolins, when mandolin orchestras were common. These instruments are all round back with oval sound holes.

This next picture is from 16 years later, (1924) when mandolins evolved to have flat backs and either oval holes or F-holes (similar to the violin). Some also hav a small scroll added to the top.

Today mandolins are much less common, as are mandolin orchestras, but they still do exist, as shown in this recent photo.

Mandolins are also still common in country music, especially bluegrass, and are still common in Italian music, from which they originated in Cremona, Italy, as did the violin.

Here's me playing Minuet # 3 in G Major, by Christian Petzold & JS Bach (published 1725) >>>

 

[JOSweetHeart]

To me, the best ever mandolin player is Adam Steffey.



God bless you and him and the other AKUS members always!!!

Holly (an AKUS fan for 30 years now)

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

Can you play Maggie may

 

[toobfreak]

For the people who, when seeing a mandolin for the first time say, "Is that some kind of ukelele ?" here is a brief introduction to the mandolin.

I'm well aware of the mandolin. Have been for about 50 years or more. Fine instrument.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs....2 of the better players...

 

[expat_panama]

For the people who, when seeing a mandolin for the first time say, "Is that some kind of ukelele ?" ..

Mandolin is no way forgotten in my part of the woods. imho one of the best things about a mandolin is the way it fits in airline overhead compartments. Without being evil or wanting to take over the world.

 

[the watcher]

The old Appalachian finger picking style resulted in a lot of injuries.

 

[JGalt]

For the people who, when seeing a mandolin for the first time say, "Is that some kind of ukelele ?" here is a brief introduction to the mandolin. It is a small, wooden, stringed instrument, with 4 pairs of steel strings, tuned exactly the same as the violin. Unlike the violin, however, the mandolin has a flat bridge. like the guitar, and thus it cannot be played with a bow, but is instead played with a small plastic plectrum (pick).

View attachment 1007195

This photo is of the Bonne Amie Musical Circle (now the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra), the oldest fretted-instrument music organization in the United States, in 1908. This was the popular time for mandolins, when mandolin orchestras were common. These instruments are all round back with oval sound holes.

This next picture is from 16 years later, (1924) when mandolins evolved to have flat backs and either oval holes or F-holes (similar to the violin). Some also hav a small scroll added to the top.
View attachment 1007212

Today mandolins are much less common, as are mandolin orchestras, but they still do exist, as shown in this recent photo.
View attachment 1007217

Mandolins are also still common in country music, especially bluegrass, and are still common in Italian music, from which they originated in Cremona, Italy, as did the violin.

Here's me playing Minuet # 3 in G Major, by Christian Petzold & JS Bach (published 1725) >>>

It truly is "the forgotten instrument." My wife bought a cheap Chinese-made mandolin on Amazon 10 years ago because she wanted to learn how to play it.

She hasn't touched the thing in 9-1/2 years.

 

[Dekster]

I see them in country music regularly. They occasionally reappear in rock as well. I think R.E.M. used one regularly.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Rich Del Grosso plays it exclusively...

 

[sparky]

strung in 7ths??? ~S~

 

[protectionist]

It truly is "the forgotten instrument." My wife bought a cheap Chinese-made mandolin on Amazon 10 years ago because she wanted to learn how to play it.

She hasn't touched the thing in 9-1/2 years.

Ha ha. Funny. She could take lessons from me (online-Zoom), or in person, if you all live in Tampa, FL. I also teach guitar (various genres), violin/fiddle, and piano.

Even if she never plays it, mandolins (flat backs) make a hell of a nice wall decoration, while adding a little cultural touch to your home.

 

[protectionist]

strung in 7ths??? ~S~

If you are referring to the intervals of adjacent strings, it is strung in 5ths, same as the violin. G...D...A...E.

 

[protectionist]

Can you play Maggie may

Sorry, I dont know that song...but there are thousands of songs.

 

[toobfreak]

My first experience with hearing a Mandolin:

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

Sorry, I dont know that song...but there are thousands of songs.

 

[playtime]

I see them in country music regularly. They occasionally reappear in rock as well. I think R.E.M. used one regularly.

 

[protectionist]

Here's a few examples of the versatile mandolin, playing American folk tunes and Italian ones, both.

 

[protectionist]

Mandolin is no way forgotten in my part of the woods. imho one of the best things about a mandolin is the way it fits in airline overhead compartments. Without being evil or wanting to take over the world.

Absolutely. I dread the idea of putting a musical instrument in an airplane baggage compartment. I heard of a guy who did that with an acoustic guitar in a hard shell case, and when they arrived after a long flight, the case was broken open, and the guitar was in a dozen pieces.

 

[expat_panama]

Absolutely. I dread the idea of putting a musical instrument in an airplane baggage compartment. I heard of a guy who did that with an acoustic guitar in a hard shell case, and when they arrived after a long flight, the case was broken open, and the guitar was in a dozen pieces.

Painful to hear about. There's little or no recourse either.