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mandolin Definition

man·do·lin (man′də lin, mandə lin)

noun

a musical instrument of the lute family, with four to six pairs of strings stretched over a fretted neck and a deep, rounded sound box: it is played with a plectrum, which is moved rapidly back and forth to give a tremolo effect

Etymology: Fr mandoline < It mandolino, dim. of mandola, mandora < LL pandura, kind of lute < LGr pandoura, prob. < Ar ṭanbur

mandolin Related Forms
man′·do·lin·ist noun
mandolin Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • play: He also played some good mandolin including a Monroe style mandolin blues.
  • add: Stephen Donnelly replaces Brian Thompson on lead guitar and also adds another mandolin to the bands line-up.
  • use: Slice the flesh wafer-thin, using a mandolin or by hand.
  • include: Although he specializes in blues and rag-time guitars he also makes a mean range of other instruments including mandolins, electrics and basses.
  • have: If you do not have a mandolin, you can prepare the vegetables by hand.
  • make: And, like Bill Monroe, he made the mandolin the star of the show, with a style which was all his own.

Adjective modifier

  • electric: Another type of flat back is guitar shaped and then there is the solid bodied electric mandolin.
  • Chinese: It was a child's guitar, like a Chinese mandolin, really.
  • octave: Four Hand Reel are Julian Gurr ( mandolin, octave mandolin ) and Andy Stone ( guitar, vocals ).
  • twin: There are some outstanding players on the album including Ronnie McCoury ( check out the twin mandolins on Grass Valley!
  • good: He also played some good mandolin including a Monroe style mandolin blues.

Modifies a noun

  • playing: Most modern styles of mandolin playing use these flat back instruments.
  • player: The accomplished mandolin player coming to Irish music for the first time should also find plenty of interest.
  • solo: AcuTab is delighted to announce the release of our second volume of bluegrass mandolin solos.
  • tune: Nice cuts of classical mandolin tunes, plus details about the museum, including Italian food and drink.
  • break: The mandolin break I've tabbed here is an attempt to capture the flavor of the tune.
  • picker: One good thing about mandolin pickers like Monroe said, we have to take care of each other.

Noun used with modifier

  • bluegrass: He was, in turn, replaced by Frank Wakefield, another great bluegrass mandolin master.
  • wah: Various friends offering everything from fiddle and percussion to wah wah mandolin and trombone join them.
  • style: He also played some good mandolin including a Monroe style mandolin blues.

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