mandolin info

History and Information

The mandolin originated in the 18th century, and is related to the lute. It is the highest member of the mandola family of instruments, which also includes the mandola, the mandocello, and the mandobass. Its 8 strings are actually 4 sets of doubled notes and are usually played with a pick. The mandolin is used widely in many musical genres such as classical, bluegrass, folk, rock, and blues. Because it is tuned similarly to a violin, a lot of repertoire for that instrument can easily transfer to the mandolin.

When to Start

Students can start mandolin lessons as young as age 5 or 6, depending on a student’s dexterity and fine motor skills. Most instructors will incorporate reading music into their lessons, so students should know at least some reading and counting fundamentals.

Getting a Guitar

There are several brands and models of mandolin available to rent or purchase. For very young students, you may want to consider renting instruments for two reasons: 1) they will most likely grow out of instruments quickly and 2) they may lose interest (although we hope they don’t!). Most stores provide repair services for instruments that they rent out. We can give you recommendations for places near you to buy or rent your mandolin. Please contact us, and be sure to include your location!

Books and Supplies

Your instructor can tell you which books and supplies are appropriate. Most books and many supplies, including strings and cases, are available online. We can recommend stores near you where you can purchase supplies and music for your mandolin, if you prefer to do so in person. Please contact us, and again, remember to tell us where you live!

**Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. We can help provide you with additional resources.**

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