Mandolin the instrument. It is used in Trinidad's "parang" music, accompanied by "cuatro and maracas". There is another member of the mandolin family, the Trinidadian version of the bandol, different from the mainland bandola. It is the tenor of the mandolin family on the island, also strung with 8 strings in 4 courses; however, the lower two string courses are strung differently, each having a metal and a nylon string. Turkey has been the home of a mandolin-banjo manufacturer, Cümbüs, since the early 20th century. The country had what may be its first Mandolin festival in June 2015, and has at
Bluegrass mandolin in these bands took elements of Monroe's style and then added their own flavor. Mandolins come in many shapes and sizes, but most are not suitable for bluegrass playing. Old traditional mandolins with round backs, for example, are difficult to play in a standing position, and are almost never used. Some older mandolins have relatively few frets, limiting the mandolin player's use of high notes. Most bluegrass mandolin players choose one of two styles. Both have flat or nearly flat backs and arched tops. The so-called a-style mandolin has a teardrop shaped body; the f-style mandolin is more stylized, with