How similar is a mandolin to a guitar?
I want to play a unique instrument.
I have done 7+ years of piano, but quit in 5th grade because we couldn’t find a teacher. I’ve had a few guitar lessons before, but basically that’s the only music experience I’ve had.
I don’t necessarily want it to be very similar to a guitar, I enjoyed the few lessons that I had but it wasn’t very exciting for me.
I like mandolins because they are unique, and small, and I’m pretty petite. (That’s why guitars were really frustrating for me.)
I think they sound beautiful, too. I’ve also considered the accordion, because those are also unique and can be very beautiful as well.
If the mandolin "speaks" to you, then you should definitely try one out. They’re great fun! They are tuned like a violin though, not like a guitar: E-A-D-G high to low; 8 strings where two and two are tuned in unison.
Like most other instruments, you can get a basic feel for it and learn the basic chord structures etc. fairly quick. But it does take lots of practice to master … again just like any other instrument.
Regarding your trouble with guitars. This may be due to you having the wrong kind of guitar, or a guitar not properly set up (adjusted) for your type of playing.
Take a guitar with a large box, long scale, heavy strings, wide and fat neck and high action, and you’re looking at an instrument that is hard to get a grip on (literally). Shorter scale, narrower and slimmer neck, lower action (strings closer to the fingerboard), lighter strings and a smaller box – and you have an instrument that is far more easy to play.
The scale is the length of the vibrating part of the strings, by the way – it’s the distance between the nut and the saddle. When the scale is shorter, the distance between the frets are shorter too. So yes, a mandolin (properly set up), should definitely be easier to handle (narrow neck, very short scale).
Oh, and yes, the accordion can be way cool too! Our keyboard player uses one from time to time in one of our bands.
Best of luck with your playing!
Mandolins have actually gotten very popular and just about every acoustic-based band employs a mandolin player at least some of the time. They’re quite different from guitars, in that the strumming is almost delicate by comparison and there are eight strings. But I’ve known many guitarists who added mandolin to their repertoire without any complications. My brother, who’s a guitarist, got good enough after a year of playing mandolin that he’s been asked to join bands in the recording studio. He says it’s an instrument anyone can learn if they’re committed to it.
As for accordion, if you’re going to play that, be sure not to start with a 120-bass one. I made that mistake as an amateur and was overwhelmed by the 120 buttons I was expected to coordinate with the keyboard. I wound up switching to a 12-bass model (which was much smaller and more comfortable to play) and moving up gradually from there. But if you have a piano background, you’re already halfway toward playing accordion.
If your instincts are telling you to play mandolin, you’ll probably be great at it. Half the battle is finding the instrument you love and were destined to play. And once you’re proficient, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding bands in need of your services. Good luck!
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Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist for 20+ years.
If the mandolin "speaks" to you, then you should definitely try one out. They’re great fun! They are tuned like a violin though, not like a guitar: E-A-D-G high to low; 8 strings where two and two are tuned in unison.
Like most other instruments, you can get a basic feel for it and learn the basic chord structures etc. fairly quick. But it does take lots of practice to master … again just like any other instrument.
Regarding your trouble with guitars. This may be due to you having the wrong kind of guitar, or a guitar not properly set up (adjusted) for your type of playing.
Take a guitar with a large box, long scale, heavy strings, wide and fat neck and high action, and you’re looking at an instrument that is hard to get a grip on (literally). Shorter scale, narrower and slimmer neck, lower action (strings closer to the fingerboard), lighter strings and a smaller box – and you have an instrument that is far more easy to play.
The scale is the length of the vibrating part of the strings, by the way – it’s the distance between the nut and the saddle. When the scale is shorter, the distance between the frets are shorter too. So yes, a mandolin (properly set up), should definitely be easier to handle (narrow neck, very short scale).
Oh, and yes, the accordion can be way cool too! Our keyboard player uses one from time to time in one of our bands.
Best of luck with your playing!
References :
Played all kinds of stringed instruments, including guitars and mandolins for 40 years.
mandolin is like a violin that you pick,and has double strings tuned..G.D.A.E.ovation make a good one.check out sarah jarosc on you tube she is an angel.accordians are rly heavy.also on you tue mike marshall
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