Which Acoustic Instrument to Learn: Octave Mandolin vs. Guitar

Subject: question
Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 18:09:02 -0700

I've spent quite a bit of time on your website, and read most of the Q and A's.
Even called last week to purchase a Mid-Missouri listed on your used instrument list,
only to find that it had been sold a few days earlier.
Here is my question....
Not playing either guitar or mandolin....would learning the octave mandolin
be easier than learning the guitar or on a par with it? I want an instrument to accompany
singing. I want a deeper, resonant sound than the standard mandolin.
If the guitar and octave are equivalent, then I will go with a guitar.
Thanks, Judilyn

Greetings Judilyn,

There are many variables in determining which would be easier...the guitar or octave?

Both will serve your needs as offering a deeper, resonant tone...both would surpass the standard mandolin in accompaniment applications...

I'll try to break this down for you in itemized facets:

1. The guitar is far more popular and more common...and more versatile...however, since the octave is more unique in tonal range, it will set you apart as an artist...and may draw more attention when performing.

2. Both have relative scale lengths...meaning that they both require some of the same facilities on the fretting hand...however, open chords on an octave are easier to learn than on guitar...since many of the chords can be accomplished with two fingers on the octave...be sure to check out our online octave chord chart linked from our free lessons below...

3. Playing melody lines is easier on an instrument tuned in fifths as opposed to fourths...hence, learning simple melodies on an octave, and finding these melodies, can be easily accomplished on an octave...guitar melodies, in open position, can be easy too...and, you'll find both instruments are difficult to master...

4. Keep in mind, the Guitar's bass range is wider than an Octave's...the octave's bass range stops at G (unless you use an unorthodox tuning) and the guitar's goes one and a half steps down further to E. So the lower range on the guitar may serve you better when using it as vocal support.

5. You're going to find the octave easier to hold due to its smaller body size than a standard size guitar..there are smaller body sizes available for guitar...and, this may be a consideration before you purchase a guitar...my wife uses a 000-size guitar that fits her very well...

You might further determine what sound you're looking for by checking out our video sampler section linked from below....Mickey