nonMandrellins

nonMandrellins are a hypothetical group of musical instruments that share a characteristic of being fundamentally different from mandolin-like instruments. The term "nonMandrellins" is not a formally recognized classification within musicology but is used in informal discussions or thought experiments to distinguish instruments that lack the specific construction and playing techniques associated with the mandolin family.

Mandolins are typically characterized by a lute-like body, a fretted neck, and a series of paired strings, often tuned in fifths. They are commonly played with a plectrum (pick) or by fingerpicking. Instruments that would be considered "nonMandrellins" would deviate from these core features. This could include instruments with different body shapes, such as those of a drum or a brass instrument, or instruments that do not possess frets, like a violin or a fretless bass guitar. Additionally, instruments played solely by bowing or by striking without the use of a plectrum would also fall outside the typical understanding of a mandolin and thus could be considered "nonMandrellins" in this context.

The concept of "nonMandrellins" serves primarily as a contrast to highlight the defining features of the mandolin. It encourages a deeper understanding of what makes a mandolin a mandolin by considering what it is not. In practical musical discourse, instruments are usually categorized by established families such as strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, making the term "nonMandrellins" more of a conceptual tool than a descriptive label.