Differences Between The Mandolin and Ukulele … Furthermore, the frets of the mandolin are too narrow. Does the bridge need to sit exactly where the f-hole midpoints are? Why one Should Learn and Play the Best Ukuleles. Because it has fewer strings compared to many other stringed instruments such as the guitar and violin, reading tablature is definitely a lot easier. When you replace the strings on a guitar, you don’t have to worry about the bridge moving at all. There are few similarities between violin and mandolin which is the reason some newbies find it hard to decide on which they should start learning first. Other strange ukuleles include Banjo ukuleles, electric ukuleles, and all sorts of stuff like that. I can now get that beautiful mandolin sound playing the same guitar licks and chords I play on my standard guitar. So, how hard is it to play the ukulele? It's cheaper, easier to play, easier to string up, lighter in weight and arguably more fun to play than the mandolin is. Mandolins are actually tuned the same way a violin is tuned (except that mandolins have 4 pairs of strings and violins have 4 single strings). I especially recommend the ukulele to guitar players who feel they're in a rut and want something that sparks songwriting creativity for cheap. Brands like Lanikai and Cordoba are known for their relatively inexpensive instruments for those who are entering their first round of ukulele basics. It's cheaper, easier to play, easier to string up, lighter in weight and arguably more fun to play than the mandolin is. Though both of these facts are true about smaller instruments like the mandolin, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should play mandolin instead of guitar. Though 12-string guitars and mandolins both have strings tuned in pairs, the other differences between the instruments listed in this article still apply. On most guitars, the bridge is fixed or immovable. Less than full-size guitars aren’t just for children. A mando-guitar is a 6 string mandolin guitar hybrid instrument tuned like a guitar (EADGBE) except one octave higher so that it’s in the same tonal range as the Mandolin. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I already play the violin and guitar ... My sister has a mandolin that she's. Because the ukulele and mandolin are set up differently, their chords will be played in different ways. This can make learning mandolin more difficult than learning guitar. Should I take up the ukulele, mandolin or banjo? On fixed bridge instruments like the guitar, a beginner can quickly and easily replace the strings and otherwise maintain the instrument. For children or those with smaller hands, a smaller fret board like a mandolin’s make playing the instrument generally easier. This means you’re not going to be able to put down a ukulele, pick up a mandolin and start strumming (or vice versa). Third, it's a more difficult instrument to play that requires more finger strength. The ukulele is easier to learn than the guitar and other stringed instruments like the mandolin. I think the mechanics of playing the mandolin may be slightly easier than the mechanics of playing the guitar (but not as easy as the ukulele). A mandolin is acoustically much louder and from that can be picked up by microphones much easier. People are easily drawn to music and the arts. So after much deliberation, I sold my mandolin, purchased the goldtone mando-guitar, and have never once regretted the decision. Combined with this, it will take quite a bit more time to sound presentable on a mandolin. On the other hand, learning scales and the names of notes is much easier when it comes to playing the mandolin. This part isn't as straightforward. Why? Is mandolin easier to learn than guitar? However, there are other more legitimate reasons the mandolin might be a better instrument for you. The mandolin has more strings than the guitar but the strings are tuned in pairs which should make the left-hand fingering role easier than on the guitar. ‘You can always learn the mandolin after. What instruments to play on ukulele – learn to learn. If not, the guitar might be the better instrument for you to pursue. The notes of the open mandolin strings from thickest string (lowest note) to the thinnest string (highest note) are: GDAE (or really GGDDAAEE), (An acronym you can use to remember this is: Giant Dogs Ate Everyone.). And that includes the cost it takes to restring one. What’s the Hardest Part of Learning to Play Ukulele? Best ZOOM R8 tutorial bookhighly rated, get recording quick! If the bridge is set too far forward or too far back, you'll never get the thing in tune correctly. Its soft nylon strings are gentler on your fingertips and don't create finger pain like guitars do. The original instrument was the mandore, which evolved in the fourteenth century from the lute. On the other hand, the mandolin string pairs are slightly harder to pick with the right hand than the guitar. live street performance), the mandolin is the winner, no question. 12-string guitars have 12 strings tuned in pairs like the mandolin. If you still can’t decide between the guitar and the mandolin, you might consider getting a mando-guitar. But before you buy that instrument, check out the next section to see if the mando-guitar is a better fit than the mandolin. The main difference between the mandolin and violin is the way that they are played. I own multiple floating and fixed bridge instruments and I’m a little bit more nervous replacing the strings on my floating bridge instruments. See a whole bunch of mandolins right here, Fender Player Lead II is awful (get the III instead), How my guitars handled The Great Texas Freeze of 2021, All guitar companies need to start listing 1st and 12th fret measurements, BEAD tuning for bass, the easiest way for tuning down, Best electric guitars to play with fingers, Best acoustic guitar for under $500 might be the Guild DS-240. However, the mandolin is most often played in the above-mentioned genres. You love the tonal range of the mandolin and are interested in bluegrass, country, folk, and other genres that incorporate the mandolin. Violin is a beautiful instrument, but its can be very difficult to learn. On the other hand, the mandolin might be a better choice for you if many of the following are true: If you think this sounds like you, this mandolin could be a good starter instrument for you. If you want to learn the mandolin, then you should accustom your fingers in holding double strings. Thus, mandolins are usually more expensive than guitars of similar quality. Mandolins aren’t as popular as guitar, thus fewer are made, and the ones that are made are generally more expensive. Where it balances out is in the technique. From the link above you can easily spend hours going through them all. Most of the time the correct position will be just slightly behind the f-hole midpoints as shown in the mandolin photo above. One of the most apparent differences between guitars and mandolins is that full-size guitars are typically much larger than mandolins. I love the mandolin sound but always felt overwhelmed by the hurdle of learning a new instrument and as such didn’t play my mandolin as often as I would have liked. So if you’re on a tight budget, guitar is a better choice than mandolin. It's why all the kiddies these days chose the uke rather than the mandolin. Mandolins, on the other hand, have eight strings and each pair of strings are tuned to the exact same note. Willy has been teaching for over 20 years, and his students have ranged in age from young children to folks in their 80s. The strings are steel, which are a bit rougher on the fingers than the nylon strings used with a ukulele. One of the first things I wanted to know when I started playing the mandolin was how exactly these instruments differed. And a mandolin. Guitars have six strings and each string is tuned to a different note. Ukuleles come in many shapes and sizes. The entire reason the mandolin is louder is because it's more resonant, uses double the strings of a uke and also uses steel strings. As time passed and the instrument spread around Europe, it took on many names and various structural characteristics. I study two great sources of songs: ukulele-tabs.com and the ukulele teacher which have lots of contents dedicated for … They're built right. In general, the ukulele is going to be the easier instrument for most players to get a grasp on. However, there are some challenges that some people have come across when it comes to learning to play the mandolin. Both are stringed instruments. As I mentioned above, the mandolin’s open tuning is higher than the guitars and can thus reach higher notes than the guitar. The mandolin has more strings than the guitar but the strings are tuned in pairs which should make the left-hand fingering role easier than on the guitar. (This is one of the aspects of the mandolin that drew me to it.). If that’s you, then the mandolin might be the instrument for you to pursue. The C string is the lowest and thickest string on the ukulele. Your email address will not be published. In short, the guitar is probably a better instrument choice for you if many of the following are true: If this is you, check out my buyer’s guide to acoustic guitars here. The mando-guitar’s body closely resembles the size and shape of a mandolin. For that reason, you will need so much practice to have a presentable skills in playing mandolin. If you want the choice made real easy for you, get a Kala brand uke. The main differences with the mandolin would be: The tuning is pretty different, so one will need to learn some new chord shapes. If you already play guitar, you will find the mandolin much easier to play. Once the novelty of a mandolin wears off, you may find it difficult if not impossible to use it for songwriting. Still, your ukulele calluses should help you here. The fret board of the mandolin is smaller than the fret board of the guitar so it is easier for those with smaller hands and can be more difficult for those with larger hands. Fourth, there's not nearly as much choice with mandolins as there is with ukes. Mandolin is small, but yes, you're pressing down two strings with each finger, and it pretty much requires a flat-pick to get much volume. Tuning an ukulele like a mandolin is fun and, as you mentioned, you don't have to learn new chord patterns etc. I bought a $100 mandolin that functioned so poorly it wasn’t playable and ended up purchasing a Michael Kelly mandolin for ~$600 that worked great. You can totally buy a mandolin if you want, but don't be surprised if you rarely take it out to actually play the thing. On the other hand. You’re willing to spend more to invest in a quality instrument. This instrument provides a sound and note range similar to that of a mandolin with the number of strings and tuning of a guitar so that a guitarist can play it just like a guitar but get a mandolin sound from it. Start with the uke first. As such, you may be better off learning the mandolin if you’re particularly interested in the genres above. When you want to know where to set the bridge, the f-hole midpoints are your guide. As art and fashion always repeat themselves, similarly the fashion of ukulele has not faded away yet. You can also do simple street performances with one whereas with a uke that would be difficult just for the fact you really can't hear one. In fact, when it’s boiled down to its simplest form, there really are only two things you need to learn to play the ukulele: chord formation and strumming. Agreed, the ukulele fits your stated description better. I think the mechanics of playing the mandolin may be slightly easier than the mechanics of playing the guitar (but not as easy as the ukulele). Start with the uke first. If you like the idea of busking (i.e. In my experience, I’ve found fewer learning resources available for the mandolin than for the guitar. Yes… and no. 10 Reasons Why You Should Learn to Play the Mandolin. It is relatively easy. Author has 298 answers and 149.2K answer views. However, each pair of strings on 12-string guitars have one octave between them whereas mandolin string pairs are tuned to the exact same note. On the other hand, the mandolin has a floating bridge or a bridge that is not fixed to the instrument. If you've no idea where to set a bridge when installing new strings on a mandolin, you use those f-hole midpoints as a guide. What is the difference between a 12-string guitar and a mandolin? When you begin to learn to play the ukulele, your first challenge is to exercise on a few chords that will allow you to learn your first songs. So how are guitars and mandolins different? Though more and more learning resources are published for both instruments every day, guitar’s popularity means there are simply more resources available for those learning guitar. The bridge is the part of a stringed instrument that supports the strings and holds them above the neck of the instrument. The ukulele is very easy to learn. One big advantage the mandolin has over the uke is that it's a far better instrument for live performances. This is something that can be quite delayed on guitar if the learner is struggling to get their fingers around the chords in the first place. Willy M. teaches mandolin, ukulele, and guitar lessons in Winston Salem, NC. ... attempting to learn said instrument will obviously shred my fingers beyond their already numb state. Each instrument would require you a bit of financial and time investment, so it would be wise to learn one instrument at a time. I think Fender calls it a '52 as more of a joke than anything. You want to be able to learn from an abundance of learning resources. The notes of the open guitar strings from the thickest string (lowest note) to the thinnest string (highest note) are: EADGBE, (An acronym you can use to remember this is: Every Amateur Does Get Better Eventually.). Documenting What I'm Learning about Acoustic Guitar and Guitar Hybrids, on Guitar Vs. Mandolin: How They Differ & Which One to Learn, Guitar Vs. Violin: How They Differ & Which You Should Learn, Guitar-Like Instruments & Which You Might Consider Learning. If you want to hear the difference in sound between the mandolin and the mando-guitar, check out the videos below where I play the beginning of Ode to a Butterfly on the mandolin and then on the mando-guitar. As far as memorizing the notes, the mandolin has the advantage here. These differences can have a significant impact on which instrument is best for you to learn. There are many reasons to learn and play the best ukuleles. Learning to coordinate two hands, one to finger the fretboard and the other to strum/pluck will apply to both instruments. However, I wouldn’t recommend spending anything less than this amount on an entry level mandolin. Required fields are marked *. The mandolin has a much more intuitive tuning. If case you're wondering, yes this also applies to acoustic 6-string guitars with non-permanent mount bridges, violins and pretty much any other stringed instrument that has f-holes on it. I think the mandolin is the easiest to play, but that’s my personal preference. From the link above you can easily spend hours going through them all. So, ukelele may be a bit easier for the fretboard hand, because of the light action, and could be a gentler introduction for coordinating the two hands. Like we said, it doesn’t take long to learn the ukulele. Because the mandolin is tuned like a violin, it makes the instrument well-suited for genres that are popular for the violin as well like: Of course, you will find the mandolin in many more musical genres than just those listed above. This makes the mandolin and other smaller instruments appealing to many for a variety of reasons. The mandolin has various right and left hand techniques that you will also learn if you play guitar or banjo, yet they may be more prevalent in some cases. Second, it's not all that good as a songwriting instrument. I studied the violin for many years, so it was easy to switch to the mandolin. Some people just love the mandolin’s lighter, higher notes and sound. Intonation. There is much to choose from when looking at these three great cigars made for cigar loungers. Standard tuning for the mandolin is G-D-A-E which is the same as the tuning used for a violin or fiddle. Because bridge placement is so important, it’s a little bit more difficult to replace the strings on instruments with floating bridges which can be intimidating for beginners. In 2019 after having owned my Michael Kelly mandolin for over 10 years, I sold it on Ebay and purchased this Goldtone mando-guitar. One great aspect of learning the guitar is that, because it’s so popular, you can purchase a fantastic beginner guitar for not that much money. You may want to learn the mandolin if you prefer the higher pitch of the strings. The styles of music that mandolin is used for require higher degrees of skill. In general, you should expect to spend between $50 and $150 on your first ukulele, and take the time to look for a trusted brand. The Torpedo was a big hit with the crowd and as a fan of the Corona Cigar company it was refreshing … The sound that is produced by the mandolin is very different when compared to its close relative guitar. The G string on the ukulele is a thin-gauge string. And here’s the same tune on the mando-guitar (note the subtle difference in their sounds): I hope I haven’t discouraged you from learning the mandolin. Learn more about Willy here! See a whole bunch of mandolins right here. Ukes are fun little things that remind you why you play guitar to begin with. You will learn about the different parts of the ukulele, how to tune the ukulele, chord formation, and strumming. I started playing the mandolin 4 years after I started learning the guitar (and I’ve played both instruments for over a decade). Also, because mandolins are smaller, it can take more precision and man-hours to make a mandolin. 5 minutes is enough to do so. A Mandolin has 8 strings, a ukulele usually has 4 strings. The mandolin is an easy instrument to learn. ... Oh! If you want something that's better as a songwriting instrument for recording at home, the ukulele is the clear winner. When you remove the strings on a mandolin, the bridge can move or fall down. The beginner guitar I recommend in my acoustic guitar buyer’s guide is the Jasmine S35 which is just under $100. Most people would find the ukulele easier to learn than the mandolin. First, it's usually more expensive than a uke. Uke can be played without picks just fine; they're small; and the nylon strings are easy to play. This isn’t the only downside to the mandolin due to its lesser popularity than guitar. Therefore, if you have a large set of fingers, then that's a big problem. Unfortunately, the opposite is true for mandolins. One option for tuning the ukulele like a mandolin … The Mandolin requires more intuition in tuning, and the form of music it plays also calls for a higher degree of expertise. Also, if you know how to play the mandolin, playing the guitar or the ukulele will be a piece of cake for you since they are less complicated. As long as you approach this learning process from a broad, open-minded point of view, YES. And again, there are way more ukulele choices compared to mandolins. It just needs to sit wherever the intonation of the strings sounds best to your ears. It's called a '52 because the thing is supposed to look sorta/kinda like a '52 Telecaster, but eh... not really. 1. While interest in learning how to play the mandolin is not really that high, you can still learn how to play it fairly easily. However, people with tiny fingers might encounter problems when playing the mandolin. It's less expensive, easier to learn, less stressful on the hands, more forgiving to a beginner, and has a wide following.