Mandolin

What it means

The mandolin is a small plucked instrument with four doubled courses of strings, tuned in fifths as on the violin: G–D′–A′–E″. The Neapolitan construction has a strongly arched body built from ribs and a bent soundboard; alongside it stand flat-built instruments, for instance from the American tradition. It is played with a plectrum. Because the strings are short and decay quickly, a sustained note is represented by tremolo — a rapid back-and-forth striking of the plectrum on the same course.

Musical use

The mandolin has a repertoire of its own from the eighteenth century, appears occasionally in opera and orchestral music as a characteristic colour, and is at home in numerous folk and popular-music traditions, among others in Italy and in North American bluegrass music, where the flat-built instrument with a sharp attack is used. Because of the tuning in fifths, violin parts can be taken over directly, which eases arrangements. In the mandolin orchestra, lower-built forms are additionally added, so that a complete ensemble results.

Performance practice

Hold the plectrum loosely but securely, and lead the stroke from the wrist; a cramped grip makes the tremolo hard and uneven. Practise the tremolo first slowly and evenly on open strings before combining it with melodies — evenness matters more than speed. Watch for clean alternate strokes, that is, alternating downward and upward, and plan them deliberately for fast passages. The double courses must be tuned pure within themselves, otherwise every note sounds beating; tune often and check each course individually.

Bear in mind that the instrument's volume is limited: in the orchestra or with piano, placement decides audibility, not the attack. Play close to the bridge if you need to project, and over the soundhole if the sound is to be soft. Check the purity of the frets, because double courses double inaccuracies. For tremolo passages an even, not too fast movement is worthwhile; speed does not replace evenness. Keep spare strings ready, since thin steel strings break easily.