No, the mandolin is not traditionally an Irish instrument. Many people assume it is an Irish instrument because many musicians have used the mandolin in Celtic style music. Famous Irish music players such as Barney McKenna of the Dubliners, Kieran Hanrahan and Gerry O’Connor also play the mandolin as their second instrument to the banjo. The mandolin’s use in their music and live performances has influenced the mandolin’s use in traditional Irish music today.

The mandolin is sometimes confused with the Irish Bouzouki as there are many musical similarities and they both have a similar physical appearance. More or this later.

Traditionally the mandolin is Italian and comes from the Lute family. It evolved in the 1700s-1800s from its predecessor the Mandora and the Gittern. How the mandolin came to be used in traditional Irish music is somewhat trickier to nail down. The consensus is that the mainstream use of the mandolin was established in the 1960s and 1970s. Although, as written in The Chieftans ‘Official’ Biography: 

“As a young boy, Martin remembers hearing his uncle Andy Kelly, who was a famous mandolin player in traditional circles. But the music didn’t impress the young boy any more than the other kinds of music he was hearing at the time”

If Martin Fay as a young boy already had a famous uncle mandolin player playing traditional Irish music, it is possible that the mandolin was common in Irish music in the 1920s and 1930s. It possibly came mainstream in the 60s and 70s due to exposure via TV and radio.

 

3 Examples of the mandolin used in traditional Irish music.

Monaghan.

The Foggy Dew.

The Castle Jig

Some famous Irish mandolin players.

Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine is known for his traditional mandolin style playing he also plays the mandola and bouzouki. He was renowned for his part in Sweeney’s Men in the 60s and Planxty in the ’70s.

  

Barney McKenna

Barney was mainly known for his banjo playing, but also played many songs on the mandolin. The Dubliners, who Barney was a founding member, were formed in the 60s.

 

What is the difference between a bouzouki and a mandolin?

The Bouzouki shares some similarities with the mandolin. But overall is an entirely different instrument.  The mandolin has a shorter neck than bouzouki, and the bouzouki is tuned one whole octave lower. The tuning of the mandolin is GDAE with double courses. Double courses meaning the strings are the tuned to the same note. The bouzouki, on the other hand, is tuned ‘GDAD’ all double courses. Some musicians will tune the bass strings on the bouzouki an octave apart with the higher ‘G’ being at the very top of the neck. This originates from the original Greek bouzouki tuning of ‘CFAD’. The ‘C’ strings would be tuned an octave apart.

The Irish bouzouki was adapted from the Greek bouzouki in the 1960s by some of the Irish band of the day. These included Planxty and Da Danon. Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny also played the Irish bouzouki people.

Can you tune the bouzouki like a mandolin?

You cannot tune the bouzouki like a standard mandolin as the bouzouki’s tuning is usually one whole octave down. The octave mandolin, on the other hand, can be tuned the same.

The octave mandolin has a similar sound to the bouzouki. Although the mandolin is usually tuned differently(the high strings being tuned to ‘D’ on the bouzouki), you can play music meant for the bouzouki on an octave mandolin. The octave mandolin has many more similarities to the bouzouki than the standard mandolin. The main difference the octave mandolin has to the bouzouki is that it is slightly shorter. 

Much traditional Irish music is in the key of ‘G’ and ‘D’. Tuning the bouzouki to have the open high ‘D’ allows a drone note that can be played through the song, this is very traditional in Irish music.

What type of mandolin should I use for Irish Music?

The mandolin has a sound suited to Irish music as shown throughout the years by talented Irish musicians. The standard Mandolin strongly lends itself to fast melodies, and I find it fun to play fast tunes to an accompaniment on the mandolin. Many Irish musicians thicken up their sound using the mandolin as a lead instrument or a replacement to the banjo. The octave mandolin can also be used in this way but tends to be used mainly for accompaniment to a banjo or a lead mandolin. The octave mandolin is often used for chords as much Irish music sounds good with an open drone note. The tuning of the octave mandolin lends itself to this sound.

The mandolin, octave mandolin and bouzouki are all fun to play, and all these instruments wouldn’t seem out of place in a traditional Irish band. Each instrument has its own sound and playing style that suits specific Irish tunes. But like the bouzouki was changed from a Greek instrument and now has its own place as an Irish instrument. There are no hard and fast rules. Musicians over the years search for instruments to add to the originality of their sound. Although the songs they play are traditional, many musicians add their own individual touch to the music, be it through the instrumentation, or their style of playing.

F-hole or Oval-hole mandolins for Irish and Celtic Music? 

In general and in the past oval hole mandolins have been used for Irish and Celtic music. The f-hole mandolins being used more for bluegrass and rock. Yet again, there is no hard rule for this. Both styles of mandolins sound like a traditional mandolin. The key noticeable differences between the two are the sound they produce. The oval-hole mandolin is warmer and full-bodied. The oval-hole mandolin has more sustain than the f-hole. This characteristic goes well with traditional Irish music. The f-hole mandolin has a punchier and more percussive sound.