Mandoline

Mandoline, a musical instrument of the lute species. The body of the mandoline is formed of a number of narrow pieces of different kinds of wood, bent into the shape, and glued together. On the open portion of the body is fixed the sounding-board, with a finger-board and neck like a guitar. The Neapolitan mandoline, which is the most perfect, has four double strings, tuned (beginning with the lowest) G, D, A, E. The Milanese mandoline has five double strings, tuned G, C, A, D, E. The sound is produced by a plectrum in the right hand, while the left hand produces the notes on the finger-board. The mandoline is chiefly used for accompaniment.