Mandolin Family Comparison

Ben compares a mandolin, a mandola, an octave mandolin, a bouzouki, and a mandocello

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[roberthouston]

I've always loved a mandolin family instrumental in the background. I've recently been exploring alternate tunings with my guitars and I've come to love the dichotomy of standard tunings displayed over (or even under) these alternates. I've looked at numerous vids trying to spell out what you just did in 5 simple minutes. Kudos to you sir, you've earned a subscriber at the same time as whetting my appetite to pursue this further. Now that preliminaries are out of the way...you are a gifted teacher.

Thank you.

[XxarnyxXx]

I can play none of them but I want all of them 😅

[ised-]

The octave mandolin is a mandolin that is tuned one octave below the standard mandolin (gdae), whereas a mandocello is a mandola tuned one octave below standard mandola (cgda). Both have larger body and longer and heavier strings.

[seankennedy]

OK, I have what was sold to me as a Celtic bouzouki, tuned to GDAD, with the G and low D tuned to octaves, rather than unison (I like the sympathetic droning of the high G string, it gives it an almost sitar like sound). What am I playing? A Greek or Celtic bouzouki? Or doesn't it matter?

[bobaldo]

I really like the sound of that octave mandolin made by the local builder.

[AmosTheTalented]

During the quarantine, I’ve been teaching myself how to play the mandolin. Now I’m convinced I have to buy an octave mandolin, and a mandocello.

[PaddysPubPatron]

Informative and appreciated. I have been looking for a video like this for a good while. Thanks tons. I'm in NM and may pay you all a visit someday soon. :)

[RockPopMandolin]

Cool! I want to get an octave mando next!

[circulodetas]

Very, VERY informative video. Exactly what i was looking for.

[LarryShone]

Nice video. I have a mandolin, just getting to grips with it

[guloguloguy]

WOW!!! PERHAPS it's tome has come, to popularize these types of instruments, and open up a whole revolution in musical tastes!!??!!.... They all sound great!!! Thanks, for this demo!!

[walterrider]

thank you i had no idea so many different mandolins existed .

[Kampfwageneer]

Thanks guy im debating whether to get octive mando or bouzouki

[arvedbohn]

Great video, thanks for that! I still got a question: I've been playing the guitar for a few years now, and I want to get a new sound to my repertoire. I want to get myself either an irish bouzouki or an octave mandolin - I want to tune the instrument to ADAD with octaved strings on the two lower courses. I'm not sure which one to get because of the difference in the scale length: Is it possible to string up an octave mandolin with octaved irish bouzouki strings, tune it to ADAD and still have a decent amount of tension on the strings? Or would the be too floppy for that?

[bennyblanko]

You said mandola is a 4th lower - I think you meant 5th? C vs G is a 5th.

[aidankeane]

Johnny Moynihan was the name of the Irish musician who brought the bazouki to Irish music, proper interesting fella and a damn good musician

[Mpactpics]

How can I get more information about the octave mandolin?

[ised-]

The mandolin is the alto member, mandola is alto-tenor, and both octave mandolin and mandocello are the tenor members.

[Demetriusz]

Did I get it rightly: there is no differrense between them exept they make an octave lower each time it gets bigger?

[marvinthemaniac]

The octave mandolin looks just like an acoustic guitar.