About The Mandolin
Brief History of the Mandolin
The mandolin is a member of the lute family of stringed instruments, and first appeared in the style we recognize now in Italy in the 17th century. Stringed instruments date much farther back of course. The earliest are known from wall paintings showing a single string type dated at 15,000 BC. From that simple sound of one string being plucked, human beings began experimenting with more strings, and most notably, the shape of the instrument. With each evolution, the capacity for musical sounds and music creation expanded throughout the centuries.
The popularity of the mandolin has waxed and waned over time, since it expanded out of Italy, into Europe and then beyond. As it did, the familiar bow backed shape of the first mandolin, was supplemented with flatter backed and arched neck construction in the late 1880's. The sound holes began to vary as well. With each physical alteration, the sounds varied and it's appeal widened to different cultures, who incorporated the instrument into their own musical styles. During the early 1900's in fact, the new popularity of the mandolin became almost a craze, with touring mandolin orchestras popping up all over Europe, America, and even Japan. These orchestras utilize all known forms of the instrument, for a wide range of tonal quality, and tenor.
In the late 1920's and '30s, the mandolin became famously used in Irish Folk and American Bluegrass music, and still provides it's distinctive sound today in popular new country music groups as well as the traditional. In the United States, legendary Bill Monroe is credited as the founding father of American Bluegrass music, which popularized the use of the mandolin.
Mandolin Styles
The first instrument called the mandolin had the bow back, curved top construction. It is still used today, primarily for classical and baroque music.
In the late 1800's, Gibson Guitar and Mandolin Company created new forms of the mandolin, with a flatter body, and variations on the sound holes and “f” scrolls seen on the front, as well as changes to the neck arch.
There are many variations on the mandolin today, but most current popular mandolins have sprung from the first Gibson designs.
Mandolins In Music
Bill Monroe, the “Father of Bluegrass” famously used the Gibson “F” type mandolin who's sound uniquely distinguishes that form of music. He first started in the late 1930's, creating a new sound that would eventually be incorporated into blues, “jug band”, folk, traditional country and rock music.
The examples of the mandolin being used in recorded music are far too numerous to list completely, but here are a few famous ones:
The Texas Playboys use the electric mandolin in their “Western Swing” style.
Ry Cooder and Vince Gill.
Rod Stewarts, “Maggie May”. If you are familiar with this classic, you will immediately hear in your head that high pitched string riff...that was a mandolin.
The Band member Leon Helm used the mandolin a lot in their music that blended bluegrass, folk and rock. “Rag Mama Rag”, one of my favorites.
Irish Celtics, and Irish Rockers like the Drop Kick Murphy's use the mandolin extensively in their music.
The Black Crows, Green Day, Heart, and the Dave Mathews Band use the mandolin.
In short the mandolin has weaved it's way into music of all genres because it produces a unique sound when blended with other instruments, like acoustic and electric guitars, and banjos' and winds.
The Amplified Mandolin
The advent of modern music and electric guitars at first made it hard for the mandolin to be heard, with it's high, softer tone. It would not stand out in a band, or group of guitars, especially with percussion overwhelming it. The ability to amplify the sound in live performance greatly increased the use of the mandolin. Electric mandolins are now widely used in bands, and for a more traditional mandolin sound, the use of an amp to instrument adapter, called a “pick up transducer” easily increases the acoustic mandolin sound so it can be used in live group settings.
The mandolin is a member of the lute family of stringed instruments, and first appeared in the style we recognize now in Italy in the 17th century. Stringed instruments date much farther back of course. The earliest are known from wall paintings showing a single string type dated at 15,000 BC. From that simple sound of one string being plucked, human beings began experimenting with more strings, and most notably, the shape of the instrument. With each evolution, the capacity for musical sounds and music creation expanded throughout the centuries.
The popularity of the mandolin has waxed and waned over time, since it expanded out of Italy, into Europe and then beyond. As it did, the familiar bow backed shape of the first mandolin, was supplemented with flatter backed and arched neck construction in the late 1880's. The sound holes began to vary as well. With each physical alteration, the sounds varied and it's appeal widened to different cultures, who incorporated the instrument into their own musical styles. During the early 1900's in fact, the new popularity of the mandolin became almost a craze, with touring mandolin orchestras popping up all over Europe, America, and even Japan. These orchestras utilize all known forms of the instrument, for a wide range of tonal quality, and tenor.
In the late 1920's and '30s, the mandolin became famously used in Irish Folk and American Bluegrass music, and still provides it's distinctive sound today in popular new country music groups as well as the traditional. In the United States, legendary Bill Monroe is credited as the founding father of American Bluegrass music, which popularized the use of the mandolin.
Mandolin Styles
The first instrument called the mandolin had the bow back, curved top construction. It is still used today, primarily for classical and baroque music.
In the late 1800's, Gibson Guitar and Mandolin Company created new forms of the mandolin, with a flatter body, and variations on the sound holes and “f” scrolls seen on the front, as well as changes to the neck arch.
There are many variations on the mandolin today, but most current popular mandolins have sprung from the first Gibson designs.
Mandolins In Music
Bill Monroe, the “Father of Bluegrass” famously used the Gibson “F” type mandolin who's sound uniquely distinguishes that form of music. He first started in the late 1930's, creating a new sound that would eventually be incorporated into blues, “jug band”, folk, traditional country and rock music.
The examples of the mandolin being used in recorded music are far too numerous to list completely, but here are a few famous ones:
The Texas Playboys use the electric mandolin in their “Western Swing” style.
Ry Cooder and Vince Gill.
Rod Stewarts, “Maggie May”. If you are familiar with this classic, you will immediately hear in your head that high pitched string riff...that was a mandolin.
The Band member Leon Helm used the mandolin a lot in their music that blended bluegrass, folk and rock. “Rag Mama Rag”, one of my favorites.
Irish Celtics, and Irish Rockers like the Drop Kick Murphy's use the mandolin extensively in their music.
The Black Crows, Green Day, Heart, and the Dave Mathews Band use the mandolin.
In short the mandolin has weaved it's way into music of all genres because it produces a unique sound when blended with other instruments, like acoustic and electric guitars, and banjos' and winds.
The Amplified Mandolin
The advent of modern music and electric guitars at first made it hard for the mandolin to be heard, with it's high, softer tone. It would not stand out in a band, or group of guitars, especially with percussion overwhelming it. The ability to amplify the sound in live performance greatly increased the use of the mandolin. Electric mandolins are now widely used in bands, and for a more traditional mandolin sound, the use of an amp to instrument adapter, called a “pick up transducer” easily increases the acoustic mandolin sound so it can be used in live group settings.
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