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title: 'How many strings does a Carnatic mandolin have?'
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date: '2026-10-19T15:12:39+00:00'
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summary: 'A Srinivas-style Carnatic mandolin has five single strings; the standard Western mandolin has eight strings in four pairs.'
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  [  Help ](/en-in/help)     How many strings does a Carnatic mandolin have?  

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# How many strings does a Carnatic mandolin have?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 A Srinivas-style Carnatic **[mandolin](/instrument/mandolin)** has five single strings, and sources differ on how Srinivas tuned them. The standard Western mandolin has eight strings in four courses, each pair tuned in unison, in fifths G-D-A-E like a violin. Check the string layout before you buy an instrument for Carnatic music.



 

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