What's the difference between.?

Question: What's the difference between!.!?

A four string acoustic mandolin, and a mountain dulcimer, other than shape, playing style, and tuning!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Well, shape, playing style and tuning make all the difference between any 2 stringed instruments! You might as well ask, what's the difference between guitar and violin, other than shape, playing style and tuning!? LOL!.

First off, mandolins actually have 8 strings, not 4 -- although the 8 strings are arranged in pairs and each pair of strings is generally played as though it were one string!.

Mountain dulcimers usually have 3 strings although not always -- I've seen some with 4!.

Mandolin fingerboards are fretted to be fully chromatic and mandolins can be played in any key without requiring retuning!. Dulcimer fingerboards are fretted to produce a diatonic scale, although most modern dulcimers also have a "6 1/2" fret, which helps make chordal playing easier!.

Mandolins are tuned (from low to high) GG DD aa ee
Dulcimers are usually tuned DAd, but are often retuned for different keys!.

In general, I'd say mandolin is more similar to violin (same tuning) or guitar (both fretted instruments played with a flatpick) than it is to dulcimer!. Dulcimer is a pretty unique instrument IMO!.Www@QuestionHome@Com