A mandolin is a musical instrument that belongs to the lute family meaning that it can either be plucked or strummed. It is a direct descendant of a instrument called the Mandore, which is a soprano member of the same family. The mandolin instrument has a body that possesses a teardrop shaped soundboard, though it [...]

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• Some Background on the Acoustic Bass Guitar The acoustic bass guitar is an instrument which provides the heavy tones and harmonies associated with good Jazz. Somewhat of a mixed past, the acoustic bass guitar was born in the 50's but was developed in the 60s by Ernie Ball. It came after it's cousin, the electric bass guitar,......
• Changing the Guitar Strings pt 4 Take a long hard look at the strings on your acoustic guitar. Are they in good shape? What shape are they currently in? Do they appear to be rusty or discolored? Are all of your six strings present? If it has been a while since you took the effort to......
• Violin Questions Answered If you are interested in the violin, its history or the basics on how to play it, the following questions and answers will prove to be useful. These are the most basic questions about the violin and how it functions, its history and also how this beautiful and melodic instrument......
• How Acoustic Bass Guitars Work The acoustic bass guitar can be viewed as a deeper brother of the standard western style guitar. The acoustic bass guitar is definitely related to the guitarrons that Mexican mariachi bands use, but they are also different in their own right. They are different in a number of ways that......
• Brief History for Double Bass or Stand Up Bass The Double Bass or Stand Up Bass is the largest and the lowest pitched of all bowed string instruments that is used as a part of the modern symphony orchestra. The stand up bass is a standard member of the symphony orchestra's string section as well as smaller string ensembles......

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The Hammered Dulcimer
What the dulcimer is, is a stringed instrument that has perceived to be an ancestor to the modern piano. It possesses a number of courses of between two and five strings for each note, and they are stretched across a shallow trapezoid shaped box that is made out of wood. Players are responsible [...]

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• Fiddling Instruments: A Primer pt 4 ... Continued from pt. 3 The Tarhu One of the most significant new developments in the technology behind spike fiddle instruments can be found in the form of the circular bodied instruments known as Tarhu, as they are made by an Australian luthier known as Peter Biffin. With these instruments......
• Learning to Play the Violin pt 2 This is a guide to playing the violin, and is a continuation from part one, which touched on the first five steps in the process. For more information about learning how to play the violin well, keep reading! * Keep in mind that more pressure is going to create a......
• Tuning the Hammered Dulcimer pt 1 The hammered dulcimer is a beautiful instrument that is not widely known about, despite producing gorgeous melodies. In addition to learning new tunes on this intriguing instrument, one of the most challenging aspects of owning and playing the hammered dulcimer is learning how to tune it. The more strings that......
• Buyer's Guide to Harps If you are in the market for a new or used harp, you need to do your research ahead of time and shop around. The most important thing to look for when buying a harp is that it is comfortable and enjoyable to play. You want the harp to be......
• The Modern Piano It has been a staple of classical and contemporary music, used by musicians from Mozart to Elton John and more. Many musicians who have brought their fingers to the ivories have created music that has inspired and captured the hearts of countless people all over the world. That instrument is......

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