I am an amateur proficient musician at both of these, the guitar and the mandolin. Initially years ago I thought the mandolin seemed more difficult and strings harder to find and press. Then when I understood the basics immediately I loved the mandolin much more. Smaller, sounds more upbeat, sounds good whether you strum or pick it (even though formally you’re supposed to pick it) but when you do it with your fingers it’s exactly the kind of volume that usually does not bother people around you. It’s scale is much easier for a beginner to jump around due to the shorter neck, but overall the same concept. I guess if you are interested in the guitar, or already own a guitar, you owe yourself to have a mandolin. You get bored with one you pick up the other. Many of the most famous rock and folk musicians used mandolin with the guitar. Led Zeppelin for example. Just make sure not to play their song chords anywhere where people can hear you. Ukulele actually is very similar to the mandolin. But the Ukulele has a reputation of being the instrument of people who don’t take playing seriously, and some people dislike it’s permanent association with Hawaii due to its unique sound. Guitarlele is very awesome as well.
Thanks for getting back into the videos. I haven't picked up the mando since lockdown (here in the UK - end March), its always been 'tomorrow... But I'll deffo pick it up tonight. I get the comment re stretching for chords, but I really struggle (=fail) to stretch across 4-finger bluegrass chords. OMG! Buzzy and painful :-(
Thanks for the comment Gary. Lockdown for us in Canada started around the same time and since then I’ve had the time to get back into making videos. And I’ve been playing more guitar and mandolin than ever! Hopefully I can inspire you to do the same. It’s a great stress relief, especially during these difficult times. And ya, those stretchy chords can be challenging! haha
A mandolin is like a upside back wards guitar if you know where all the notes are on a guitar then you know where all the notes on a mandolin are is just a mirror image of the guitar bass strings so all guitar bass string chords are the same as a left hand guitar the only difference is you are going high to low in reverse if all that above makes any sense
The cynic in me would add, because mandolins, like violins have "carved", graduated upper and lower plates, and most guitars have flat tops and backs, decent mandolins start around $500 but you can get a decent playable guitar under $200.
Hello 🥰 as mandolin has eight strings .. does this makes it difficult than guitar .... I know how to play guitar .. would u recommend to go for mandolin ?
I would definitely recommend learning the mandolin! In some ways it is easier than the guitar because, even though there are 8 strings, you play them as if there is only 4 strings! That's because every string is doubled.
@@RobertVincelli thanks for replying! I'm thinking maybe I learn to play it left handed so I dont have to relearn chords? Is that foolish? I also have the impression mandolin is like more like a virtuoso instrument, as compared to playing rhythm. Is that accurate(?) (Also why am I asking rather than just trying)
Someone told me it takes 10,000 hours to master playing a instrument, at that rate i would practice 8 hours a day, if you practice 15 to 20 minutes a day it would take the rest of your life lol 👍.
