Raven_Three_Feathers - Posted - 01/09/2011:  08:08:46

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I've been playing Guitar for 45 years but I'm new to mandolin, I bought a cheap Chinese A type to see if I really had an interest.
It seems that I do, but I really like the sound of the larger instruments so before I upgrade I need some info.

Here is my question, what is the difference between a Mandola, Octave Mandolin, and Bouzouki ? How are they tuned etc. It would be a big plus if I didn't need to learn a bunch of new chord shapes.

also any opinion on Trinity Collage instruments of this type ?

Thanks Much

ccravens - Posted - 01/09/2011:  10:52:30

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Well, a very brief and incomplete description:

Mando - you know already (compare it to a violin)

Mandola - next step up in size, tuned a little lower than a mando (CGDA) (compare to a viola)

Octave Mandolin - tuned an octave lower than mando (GDAE), bigger still in size

Bouzouki - biggest of the 3, wide variety in tunings, sometimes with octave pairs on first 2 strings, sometimes not.


TC has a good reputation for better-than average starter instruments, and good quality for the price.

Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 01/09/2011:  12:10:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by Raven_Three_Feathers

I've been playing Guitar for 45 years but I'm new to mandolin, I bought a cheap Chinese A type to see if I really had an interest.
It seems that I do, but I really like the sound of the larger instruments so before I upgrade I need some info.

Here is my question, what is the difference between a Mandola, Octave Mandolin, and Bouzouki ? How are they tuned etc. It would be a big plus if I didn't need to learn a bunch of new chord shapes.

also any opinion on Trinity Collage instruments of this type ?

Thanks Much

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The only real difference between the flatback bouzouki (the original zouk is Greek and traditionally a bowlback) and the OM is the scale length of the playing area. OM's are usually 20-23" scale and when the scale starts to get into the 24-26" range folks start calling them zouks.

Both are played in various tunings, but GDAE is considered the standard.

The Trinity Colleges instruments are a good place to start. A relatively small investment to see if you like them or not.

Cheers!

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Edited by - Gerry Cassidy on 01/09/2011 12:26:31

irishbanjos - Posted - 01/09/2011:  22:30:18

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Mandola - bigger than the mandolin, tuned CGDA

Octave - more or less the same size as the mandola, tuned GDAE (an octave below the mandolin)

Bouzouki - I don't really know. I know there are many types of bouzouki and that every type is tuned different from another

Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 01/10/2011:  05:49:55

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quote:

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Originally posted by irishbanjos

Mandola - bigger than the mandolin, tuned CGDA

Octave - more or less the same size as the mandola, tuned GDAE (an octave below the mandolin)

Bouzouki - I don't really know. I know there are many types of bouzouki and that every type is tuned different from another

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OM's are bigger than mandolas. They are the same size as bouzoukis and players change the tunings around on them as much as they do bouzoukis. Again, the only difference between an OM and a zouk is the scale length.

Jim Yates - Posted - 01/10/2011:  09:32:18

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These big mando-things are relatively new and have only recently taken on a sorta standard nomenclature. I wish this had been thought out better, but I guess it's too late to change it now.
The word "bouzouki" refers to a Greek instrument with 3 or 4 string courses, a bowl back and quite often a magnetic pick-up. It has recently been adopted by musicians playing/building flat backed instruments with 4 courses and a longer scale length, who use it to play a very different type of music.
The word "Cittern" has also been adopted by players/builders of mando-instruments with more than 4 courses. Since there is also a period instrument called a cittern, I wish a different name had been used here.
A flat backed bouzouki with a 24" scale has a lot more in common with an OM with a 23" scale than it does with a Greek bouzouki.
I like Grit Laskin's nomenclature. He called all of his large mando-things "long necked mandolins", regardless of the scale length or number of strings; simple, but accurate.

Man playing Bouzouki

Man playing Cittern

Gerry Cassidy - Posted - 01/10/2011:  12:15:05

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quote:

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Originally posted by Raven_Three_Feathers

I've been playing Guitar for 45 years but I'm new to mandolin, I bought a cheap Chinese A type to see if I really had an interest.
It seems that I do, but I really like the sound of the larger instruments so before I upgrade I need some info.

Here is my question, what is the difference between a Mandola, Octave Mandolin, and Bouzouki ? How are they tuned etc. It would be a big plus if I didn't need to learn a bunch of new chord shapes.

also any opinion on Trinity Collage instruments of this type ?

Thanks Much

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So, now that the same info has been repeated 3-4 times here we are hoping you have the info you need!