The Stringed Instrument Database
M
Machete
- See Cavaquinho.
Machete De Braga
- See Braguinha.
Mandele
- See Quintola.
Mandobass
Alternative names:
Origin: UK or USA, 1910's.
Tuning: E1, A1, D2, G2
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 1050mm
Mandocello
Alternative names:
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C2 C2, G2 G2, D3 D3, A3 A3
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Mandocellos can also sometimes be guitar shaped. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 630-680mm
Mandola, Octave
Alternative names: Called the Octave Mandolin in the USA.
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: G2 G2, D3 D3, A3 A3, E4 E4
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 500-585mm
Mandola, Tenor
Alternative names: Alto-mandoline, Alt-mandoline, Alto Mandola, Mandoliola or just Mandola.
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C3 C3, G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 400-420mm
Mandolin
Alternative names:
Origin: Italy, about 1650, although the original mandolins were like small lutes with single or double gut strings. In about 1750, the modern mandolin with steel strings tuned in fifths was developed in Naples.
Tuning: G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4, E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes:Steel strings.
Scale Length: Traditionally 330mm, but some modern Mandolins have up to 360mm.
Mandolinetto
Alternative names:
Origin: USA and Canada (Invented by the Howe-Orme company. Howe was American and Orme was Canadian). Late 19th century.
Tuning: G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4, E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes:A Mandolinetto is a small guitar-shaped Mandolin. The older models are often highly decorated. Steel strings.
Scale Length: About 330mm
Mandolin, Piccolo
Alternative names: Bright tone Mandolin, Brilliant tone Mandolin, Mandolita
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C4 C4, G4 G4, D5 D5, A5 A5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 240mm
Mandriola
Alternative names: Manderillo
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: G3 G3 G3, D4 D4 D4, A4 A4 A4, E5 E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 12/4
Further notes:A Mandriola is a Mandolin with tripled courses of strings for 12 in total. Sometimes the middle string of the 3 of each is tuned to an octave. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 330mm.
Manguerito
Alternative names:
Origin: La Paz, Bolivia. A recent invention.
Tuning: D4, G4, B4 B3, E4, B4 B4.
Strings/Courses: 7/5
Further notes: Developed from the Charango. Designed to be small enough to hide up a sleeve! Nylon strings.
Scale Length: About 200mm
Masinko
Alternative names: Mesinko, Mesenko, Mesenqo, Masenko, Masinqo
Origin: Ethiopia.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 1/1
Further notes: Horse hair string.
Scale Length:
Mejoranera
Alternative names: Mejorana (not very common, because this is also the name of both a festival and a type of tree), Rumbo.
Origin: Panama
Tuning: D4, A4, A3, B3, E4 ("Por veinticinco" tuning) or D4 G4 G3 B3 E3 ("Por seis" tuning).
Strings/Courses: 5/5 or 5/4. Somtimes the A4 and A3 (or G4 and G3) are closer together and played as a single course, but usually all strings are equally spaced.
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 400-440mm
Mirandina
- See Bandola Central.
Mohan Veena
Alternative names: Vishwa Veena, Chatturangui.
Origin: India
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 8/8
Further notes: Evolved from the western Slide or Lap steel guitar. 3 melody strings, 5 drone strings and 20 sympathetic strings. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 640-660mm
Mondol
Alternative names: Mandol, Mandole, Mandolute, Mandoluth.
Origin: Algeria, 1960's.
Tuning: Often tuned to Oud tuning, Guitar tuning (without the lowest note) or Cittern tuning.
Strings/Courses: Usually 10/5, but sometimes 8/4
Further notes: Evolved from the Mandola or Mandocello. Often has extra frets between the usual western chromatic ones for quarter tones. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 650mm
Moon guitar or Moon lute
- See Dan Nguyet
Morin Khur
Alternative names: Morin Khuur, Morin-u Toloyai, Shoor, Matouqin, Morren Choorr, Matuqin.
Origin: Mongolia. The earliest mention of it is from 1105.
Tuning: Usually tuned a fourth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Horse hair or nylon strings.
Scale Length: