Plan to get an Octave Mandolin/Irish Bouzouki, need clarification

[Triiodine]

Hello, I currently own a Rogue RM-100a and a Goldtone MB-850+ and actively play both (Usually practice on the MB-850+ and take the RM-100a with me since its far cheaper and I don't mind if it gets banged up). However, I recently formed a group with friends and we've collectively decided we'll have a fiddle lead (It should be noted I am not the fiddle player) and not mandolin, and I've decided to fill a sort of mid range tone for our group and get an octave mandolin. However, despite a few days of research I'm still very confused as to which instrument I should be purchasing that requires minimal relearning (Or is just mandolin frets and chords scaled up onto a longer fretboard).

If I'm not mistaken, I can transfer very easily to an irish bouzouki, octave mandolin/mandola, or tenor banjo. I've currently got my eyes on a Hora concert irish bouzouki (M1090), and I just want to make sure I'm not making a mistake here where I will be unable to play since I will have to relearn chord patterns (I plan on GDAe tuning, not GDAd). Are the chords/frets the same?

Thanks in advance, Triiodine.

[derbex]

An Irish Bouzouki in GDAE will have the same notes (well an octave down) on the same frets as your mandolin, however your fingers may/will not reach them as the frets are further apart. If you play mainly open chords the those should transfer across, by and large, and with a bouzouki or OM you are often after ringing chords rather than chop chords.

[OneChordTrick]

Chords will be the same but you may find the scale very long compared to a mandolin

[Bertram Henze]

On the longer scales of an OM, you can do open chords with GDAE (not ffcp unless you're The Incredible Hulk).

Bouzoukis are a completely other species, because their strength of long open strings is based on open tuning (GDAD, DADA, GDGD, whatever) and a quickly movable capo.

[foldedpath]

You said you're considering this new instrument to fill a mid-range role in a new group or band that's forming. An important consideration here, is whether there is a guitar player in the band.

In my experience, OM doesn't blend very well with acoustic guitar. The range and timbre is too close, and the tone is a bit darker. It can sound muddy when played along with guitar. A bouzouki might be better if there is a guitar player. A 'zouk has a thinner, brighter, "zingier" sound that can be heard better along with guitar. The longer scale will require a different technique and different chord shapes than you're used to on mandolin, but a capo can help. It's very common to see bouzouki players using capos in Irish trad bands.

Or you could pick up a tenor banjo, for a timbre that will definitely stand out better with a guitar. If not overwhelm it completely. I can't believe I'm recommending a banjo!


If there isn't a guitar player in the band, then an octave mandolin will fill a nice slot in the mid-range underneath a fiddle. I'm mentioning all this because "group" usually means a guitar player in the mix.

[Triiodine]

Currently any banjo twang we need is filled with the MB-850+. I'm totally fine with playing open chords as well, never could get the hang of chop chords anyway. I appreciate the replies, and will probably make my purchase soon.

Thanks ya'll.

[CelticDude]

Keep in mind the scale length. An Irish bouzouki is typically around 25" or so, while an OM is from 20 to 24ish. I play one with a 23" scale, and find it comfortable, but on the edge. As I recall, the Trinity College OM is 20.5 inches, one of the shorther. The Gold Tone is 22". Don't know anything about the Hora instrument. Coming from mandolin you might want a shorter scale, although IMHO the longer tend to sound better.

[allenhopkins]

If you want something in the middle, consider a mandola. It's in fifths tuning, CGDA instead of GDAE, so you use the same chord fingering formations -- you just get a different chord: e.g. the G chord you make on your mandolin becomes a C chord when you finger it on the mandola.

Lower than the fiddle, higher than the guitar, lots of opportunities for harmonies, countermelodies, doubling the fiddle an octave lower. It take a while to get used to transposing -- "if this were a mandolin, I'd be playing 'D chords' but since it's a mandola, I need to play 'A chords' to be in the key of D." Once you master that, you're golden.

Here's an MP3 of one of my bands, with a mandolin-banjo and mandola playing together. You see how they can interact;

Irish Washerwoman/Swallowtail Jig/Saddle the Pony