What is the Difference Between Banjo and Mandolin

String instruments are the largest family of musical instruments. Instruments in this family produce sound by sound from vibrating strings. Banjo and mandolin are popular instruments in the String family.

What is the difference between banjo and mandolin? The banjo is easier on the fingers than the mandolin because it has lighter strings and lower string action.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Banjo  
     – Definition, Features
2. What is a Mandolin
     – Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Banjo and Mandolin
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Banjo and Mandolin
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Banjo and Mandolin
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Banjo, Mandolin, Strings

What is a Banjo

The banjo is a string instrument with a lively, bright sound. It’s built with a thin membrane stretched across a round frame, creating a component called a resonator. In the past, this membrane was made from animal skin, but today, it’s usually made of plastic. The banjo’s roots can be traced back to early African American communities, who adapted it from African instruments.

The banjo we often hear today comes in four- and five-string versions. The four-string banjo usually has 22 frets along its neck. It has a length of about 26 to 28 inches. It’s traditionally tuned to C3, G3, B3, and D4. But it can also be tuned like the top four strings of a guitar, which is known as “Chicago tuning.” The five-string banjo is unique because its fifth string is shorter than the others. This fifth string stops at the fifth fret, where a tuning peg is placed on the side of the neck. This shorter string creates a high-pitched, continuous sound.

The five-string banjo has two special techniques: rolls and drones. Rolls are quick finger patterns that use the right hand to play a set of eight notes, creating a steady rhythm in each measure. Drones, on the other hand, are short, quick notes usually played on the fifth string. They add a high-pitched sound around the main melody.

What is a Mandolin

The mandolin is a string instrument in the lute family. It usually has four courses of doubled strings that are tuned in unison. Each course is tuned in intervals of perfect fifths, just like a violin, with the same notes: G3, D4, A4, and E5. Strings in mandolin come in a variety of types, but steel strings are the most common. They are usually the least costly.

Mandolins come in three main styles. The Neapolitan or round-backed mandolin has a bowl-shaped body made from strips of wood glued together. This style is popular in classical and traditional European music. The archtop mandolin, also called the carved-top, has an arched top and back, carved from wood, and is often used in American folk and bluegrass music. Finally, the flat-backed mandolin has a flat body reinforced with bracing inside, similar to a guitar. This type is generally used in Irish, British, Brazilian folk music, and Mexican estudiantinas.

Similarities Between Banjo and Mandolin

1. Both are stringed instruments.
2. Both require finger strength to press the strings.
3. Furthermore, they are played with a pick or plectrum.
4. In addition, they have a sharp and bright sound.

Difference Between Banjo and Mandolin

Definition 

• Banjo is a stringed instrument with a drum-like body, typically having 4 or 5 strings, whereas mandolin is a small stringed instrument with 8 strings, tuned in pairs.

Strings

• Banjos commonly have 4 or 5 strings, while mandolins typically have 8 strings, arranged in 4 doubled pairs.

Tuning

• Standard tuning for a 5-string banjo is g D G B D, with no consistent intervals between strings, whereas standard tuning for a mandolin is G D A E (same as a violin) and tuned in fifths.

Tuning Stability

• Banjos often fall out of tune due to its moveable parts, especially in humid environments, but mandolins have tricky A strings that frequently go out of tune. Doubled strings add complexity.

Size of the Instrument

• Banjos are larger than mandolins, but there are 3/4-sized options. Mandolins are smaller and easier to hold.

Required Hand Strength

• Banjos are easier on the fingers due to lighter strings and lower action, but mandolins need more hand strength to press down the strings.

FAQ: Banjo and Mandolin

1. Which is harder to learn, banjo or mandolin?

Most people say that banjo is easier to learn. The mandolin is generally harder to learn because its strings are tighter and have higher action. This makes it harder to press down the strings.

2. What instrument is similar to a banjo?

Instruments similar to the banjo include the ukulele, mandolin, and guitar. All these instruments have strings that are plucked or strummed. They also have some similarities in shape and playing style.

3. What type of banjo is best for beginners?

The best type of banjo for beginners is usually a 5-string banjo with a closed back. This type is easier to play and more affordable. Moreover, banjos with lower action (how close the strings are to the fretboard) make pressing the strings easier for beginners.

4. What is a Mandolin-banjo?

A mandolin-banjo is a hybrid instrument that combines the body of a banjo with the tuning and string arrangement of a mandolin. It has a banjo-style resonator. But it is tuned like a mandolin, typically in fifths.

5. What makes a banjo different?

A banjo is different because it has a drum-like body with a stretched drumhead, which gives it a bright, twangy sound. It also typically has 4 or 5 strings. Banjos are often used in bluegrass and folk music.

Reference:

1. “Mandolin.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

2. “Banjo.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Paris Swing Samois Mandolin MS-130-SN” By John Clift – Flickr: Paris Mandolin (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Bluegrass Banjo” By Arent – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia