The Stringed Instrument Database

M

Machete

- See Cavaquinho.

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Machete De Braga

- See Braguinha.

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Mandele

- See Quintola.

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Mandobass

Alternative names:
Origin: UK or USA, 1910's.
Tuning: E1, A1, D2, G2
Strings/Courses: 4/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 1050mm

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Mandocello

Alternative names:
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C2 C2, G2 G2, D3 D3, A3 A3
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Mandocellos can also sometimes be guitar shaped. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 630-680mm

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Mandola, Octave

Alternative names: Called the Octave Mandolin in the USA.
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: G2 G2, D3 D3, A3 A3, E4 E4
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 500-585mm

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Mandola, Tenor

Alternative names: Alto-mandoline, Alt-mandoline, Alto Mandola, Mandoliola or just Mandola.
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C3 C3, G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 400-420mm

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Mandolin

Alternative names:
Origin: Italy, about 1650, although the original mandolins were like small lutes with single or double gut strings. In about 1750, the modern mandolin with steel strings tuned in fifths was developed in Naples.
Tuning: G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4, E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes:Steel strings.
Scale Length: Traditionally 330mm, but some modern Mandolins have up to 360mm.

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Mandolinetto

Alternative names:
Origin: USA and Canada (Invented by the Howe-Orme company. Howe was American and Orme was Canadian). Late 19th century.
Tuning: G3 G3, D4 D4, A4 A4, E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes:A Mandolinetto is a small guitar-shaped Mandolin. The older models are often highly decorated. Steel strings.
Scale Length: About 330mm

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Mandolin, Piccolo

Alternative names: Bright tone Mandolin, Brilliant tone Mandolin, Mandolita
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: C4 C4, G4 G4, D5 D5, A5 A5
Strings/Courses: 8/4
Further notes: Steel strings.
Scale Length: 240mm

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Mandriola

Alternative names: Manderillo
Origin: Italy, 17-18th century.
Tuning: G3 G3 G3, D4 D4 D4, A4 A4 A4, E5 E5 E5
Strings/Courses: 12/4
Further notes:A Mandriola is a Mandolin with tripled courses of strings for 12 in total. Sometimes the middle string of the 3 of each is tuned to an octave. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 330mm.

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Manguerito

Alternative names:
Origin: La Paz, Bolivia. A recent invention.
Tuning: D4, G4, B4 B3, E4, B4 B4.
Strings/Courses: 7/5
Further notes: Developed from the Charango. Designed to be small enough to hide up a sleeve! Nylon strings.
Scale Length: About 200mm

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Masinko

Alternative names: Mesinko, Mesenko, Mesenqo, Masenko, Masinqo
Origin: Ethiopia.
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 1/1
Further notes: Horse hair string.
Scale Length:

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Mejoranera

Alternative names: Mejorana (not very common, because this is also the name of both a festival and a type of tree), Rumbo.
Origin: Panama
Tuning: D4, A4, A3, B3, E4 ("Por veinticinco" tuning) or D4 G4 G3 B3 E3 ("Por seis" tuning).
Strings/Courses: 5/5 or 5/4. Somtimes the A4 and A3 (or G4 and G3) are closer together and played as a single course, but usually all strings are equally spaced.
Further notes: Nylon strings.
Scale Length: 400-440mm

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Mirandina

- See Bandola Central.

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Mohan Veena

Alternative names: Vishwa Veena, Chatturangui.
Origin: India
Tuning:
Strings/Courses: 8/8
Further notes: Evolved from the western Slide or Lap steel guitar. 3 melody strings, 5 drone strings and 20 sympathetic strings. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 640-660mm

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Mondol

Alternative names: Mandol, Mandole, Mandolute, Mandoluth.
Origin: Algeria, 1960's.
Tuning: Often tuned to Oud tuning, Guitar tuning (without the lowest note) or Cittern tuning.
Strings/Courses: Usually 10/5, but sometimes 8/4
Further notes: Evolved from the Mandola or Mandocello. Often has extra frets between the usual western chromatic ones for quarter tones. Steel strings.
Scale Length: 650mm

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Moon guitar or Moon lute

- See Dan Nguyet

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Morin Khur

Alternative names: Morin Khuur, Morin-u Toloyai, Shoor, Matouqin, Morren Choorr, Matuqin.
Origin: Mongolia. The earliest mention of it is from 1105.
Tuning: Usually tuned a fourth apart.
Strings/Courses: 2/2
Further notes: Horse hair or nylon strings.
Scale Length:

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