Archtop instruments are common in American folk music and bluegrass music. Neapolitan mandolins feature prominently in European classical music and traditional music. Each style of instrument has its own sound quality and is associated with particular forms of music. The flat-backed mandolin uses thin sheets of wood for the body, braced on the inside for strength in a similar manner to a guitar. The archtop, also known as the carved-top mandolin has an arched top and a shallower, arched back both carved out of wood. The round-backed version has a deep bottom, constructed of strips of wood, glued together into a bowl. There are many styles of mandolin, but the three most common types are the Neapolitan or round-backed mandolin, the archtop mandolin and the flat-backed mandolin. Also, like the violin, it is the soprano member of a family that includes the mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello and mandobass.

The courses are typically tuned in an interval of perfect fifths, with the same tuning as a violin (G3, D4, A4, E5). A variety of string types are used, with steel strings being the most common and usually the least expensive.

It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of eight strings. Problems playing this file? See media help.Ī mandolin ( Italian: mandolino pronounced literally 'small mandola') is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick.

Classic greek stringed instrument