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Mandolin Facts

A mandolin is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family. It’s usually plucked with a plectrum or pick. Mandolins evolved in Italy and first appeared during the 15th century. Deep-bowled mandolins were produced mainly in Naples, and became popular during the 19th century.

Similar string instruments around the world include the traditional Russian balalaika, the Greek bouzouki, the Puerto Rican cuatro, the Brazilian bandolim, and the Arab dambura.

The mandolin’s sound is popular in many types of music, including bluegrass, country, folk, rock, ethnic, jazz, and classical. Ludwig van Beethoven composed music specifically for the mandolin and also enjoyed playing it.

Players are drawn to the mandolin because it’s versatile, accessible, and relative easy to learn. It also offers an excellent introduction to the world of music. Mandolin playing skills can easily be applied to many other folk instruments.

More Mandolin Facts

Fun Fact
A person who performs on this string instrument is called a mandolinist.

Notable mandolinists include Carlo Aonzo, Dave Apollon, Avi Avital, Jethro Burns, Jacob do Bandolim, Ry Cooder, David Grisman, Caterina Lichtenberg, Andrew Marlin (Mandolin Orange), Mike Marshall, Bill Monroe, James ‘Yank’ Rachell, Johnny Staats, Andy Statman, Adam Steffey, and Chris Thile.

The Mandolin

French Impressionist Artist Berthe Morisot (1889)

The Mandolin by Berthe Morisot

Listen to the Mandolin

Avi Avital and the Venice Baroque Orchestra

The sights and sounds of Venice, Italy come to life in an homage to the beloved Italian composer, Antonio Vivaldi. Joined by the Venice Baroque Orchestra, mandolinist and composer Avi Avital performs Vivaldi’s Mandolin Concerto In C Major from his album Vivaldi. The young musician is well known for his renditions of Baroque and folk music, much of which was originally written for other string instruments.

We Love Mandolins

Looking for more mandolin facts? Here are some of our favorite pages about mandolins for you to enjoy:

Business Cards for Performers and Teachers
Left-Hand Chord Charts

Best Gifts for Music Lovers

We’ve created more than 2,000 products for string instrument players and music lovers. Find a unique gift for your favorite mandolin player or enthusiast. Beware of inferior copycats! Our original designs are available here and in our String Kings Music Mandolin collection.

Find a Mandolin Online

Vangoa A-Style Mandolin Sunburst

Product details:

Made of quality tonewood with popular sunburst color, shiny finish
Mahogany neck and bridge
Played by picks, no more pains on your fingers
Relatively wider range of 20 frets is suited to beginners or experienced players
A-style mandolin makes a great gift or first instrument
Ready to play straight out of the box!

Vangoa A-Style Mandolin in Sunburst Color (Also Available in Redburst)Includes Pick-up, Picks, Strap, Extra Strings, Durable Soft Bag, and Tuner

Mandolin Gift Ideas

If you need to find a gift for your favorite mandolin player, you’ve come to the right place. We’re always creating new products and sharing our favorites from other designers.

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D’Addario Mandolin Strings EJ74 – Set of 8 – Phosphor Bronze – Full Tonal Spectrum – Medium String Gauge Hal Leonard Mandolin Method Book – Rich Del Grosso – Easy-to-Use Beginner’s Guide – Paperback The Practical Mandolin Chord Chart + Mandolin Fret Board, Tuning & General Info – Two-Sided Chart Evergreen Mandolin Music for Christmas – Butch Baldassari – Holiday Standards – Audio CD