Mandola vs mandolin

A brief comparison of playing mandola vs mandolin. I talk about playing on vocals vs playing fiddle tunes.

12/3/22: This is one of my top 5 most popular YouTube videos and I have absolutely no idea why. This was completely spur of the moment and I actually did this for a friend who wanted the information.

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Playlists:

[jeremytrieloff]

Came here to find out about differences in tuning and playing patterns between the mandolin and mandola and this totally answered all of my questions. I also really enjoyed Bryan's casual playing that actually sounds pretty brilliant as usual.

[chironpl]

I agree that an advantage of the mandola is playing pieces 1/5 lower with same fingering as a mandolin. As a recorder player we often play same tune on an F recorder (alto) that is played on a C (soprano) in same fingerings. But playing a tune in the same key as the mandolin requires transposing it. Either way, it's fun

[DanDDirges]

I greatly prefer the sound of the Mandola. Nice playing

[merlesking]

Great job of explaining the difference. Answered a lot of my questions. Thanks!

[guitartech]

Thanks, Bryan—great video! I just bought a tenor guitar. Standard tuning for the tenor is CGDA, just like the mandola. I really appreciate your thoughts on playing mandola vs mandolin.

[pastyman]

Tenor Mandola or an octave down, the Mandocello can be tuned better for typical folk music from bass end as: D-A-E-B or a tone down from the usual C-G-D-A, so long as heavy strings are in place. This encourages you to play lowest 3 pairs which are the same notes and top 3 on a Mandolin/Violin and for Mandocello gets you into really low baritone territory where you can play less notes and let them ring.

[timetraveller]

Thanks, answered exactly all I needed

[ised-]

If you can play mandola then you will also be able to play tenor banjo and tenor guitar and also mandocello (octave mandola).

[subtlehills]

Cool video and nice playing. I'm a casual mandolin player and have heard of the mandola, but never seen one or knew what it even is

[ised-]

Maybe the mandola came first whereas the term mandolin came from Italian, mandolino, derived from mandola, which means "little mandola-like instrument".

[davestambaugh]

It is not so much the differences but what is the same in that there is a reason that saddle bridge instruments are bowed and tie bridge instruments are plucked. It seemed like a great idea at the time however I would much rather play an instrument with an average string tension of ten pounds rather than one with an average string tension of twenty five pounds especially if this is supposed to be fun.

[jacksprat]

Keep teaching. That's how it's passed on.

[mellecaster]

Good one I want a Damn Eastman after just selling My Trinity College :)

[WysteriaGuitar]

Speaking of Eastman, which mandolin model would you recommend? I was leaning toward an md815v as I heard the varnish and adi top was a good combo...

[davestambaugh]

On a mandola you will have a hard time getting the tension on the C string high enough to have acceptable intonation with out double winding. There are vast differences in the design parameters between a string for a bowed instrument and a plucked instrument. Stratavarius made one mandolin in his career however I could not help but notice that he used a bridge that is glued to the sound board instead of the tail piece and saddle bridge of a bowed instrument. This stuff is reliant on the physical sciences. You can not fool mother nature and I think Orvil tried to second guess Stratavarius.

[amandahugenkisch]

One is a stringed musical instrument. The other is the former President of South Africa.

[googleuser]

Hi Bryan, thanks for doing this comparison. I wanted to know all of this stuff but had no-one to ask! Just one thing I'm still wondering, would it be possible to use a capo on the mandola's fifth fret so it could be played as a mandolin, as and when needed? I don't want to buy two instruments but the mandola appeals as I already play the viola. Many thanks again!

[aaronprewitt]

What was that first time you played on the mandola?

[woodswalker]

I have a mandola...the action is painfully tight. I think it is a gold tone. I thought the action would be easier than a mandolin because less tension. Maybe I need to get a better quality instrument?

[VikoTheBassist]

Does the mandola also read alto clef like the viola?