For sure guitarra baiana (http://www.guitarra-baiana.com/) is not the center of interest on the forum but I do not thinkit to be off topic!
A five stringed guitarra baiana is available from 300 to 500 $ and more - to much for a poor hobby player like me. In the past I used short scaled electric guitars for children for some experiments. Such electric guitars for children with a single pickup are available at about 50 to 100 $. May be that is not the high quality a professional musician needs, but good enogh for my experimants as a beginner. Strat type children guitars are available as well but more expensive.
Such a children e-guitar has a measure of about 48 cm (that is close to 19 "). A mandola (called tenor mandola in Ireland, and UK) has a scale length of abot 42 cm (16.5 inches). So, such a children guitar is close enough to be used as a kind of mandola with the 6th string off. (I could not find such a bargain children e-guitar with a mandolin scale length.) May be someone might be inspirated for experiments as well.
To my question:
Because of the symmetric tuning one can use most of the standard mandolin material - should not be any problem for a skilled mandolin player. One can find tutorial books or lessons for such a five sringed guitarra baiana in portugese (may be some in spanish?) I do not understand any of these laguages. Does anybody know sources for tutorial material (or online lessons) for such a five string mandola in english? My main interest is jazz. I found some youtube videos with such a mandola like instrument and it does not seem to be totally uncommon.
Thanks and regards btwo
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