The Mandolin is one of the descendents of the lute and consequently is of oriental origin.

A stringed instrument, the mandolin has a deep, pear shaped body (like that of the ancient lute), a sounding board and a fretted neck. Its tinkling notes are produced by rapidly twanging the strings with a plectrum or pick. It is a favorite instrument for accompanying voice, especially in Spain and Italy. The Neapolitan mandolin, with four double strings, is the most commonly used type.

A similar instrument called the bandurria in Spain and the bandola in Latin America has a flat body. A modern mandolin type, used to play classical as well as popular music, has six double strings.

Indian Mandolin

Gamakas (graces), one would agree without doubt, are quite essential to Carnatic music. The presence of pairs of strings in the original mandolin design made it extremely difficult to render complex gamakas. The sustenance (the time period for which a note would be heard from the time the string is plucked) of the instrument, on the whole, was not sufficient enough to admit slow-tempo compositions .The Carnatic mandolin is an electric solid type mandolin. Five single strings are used instead of pairs .The mandolin is tuned to suit Carnatic music in the following way: