what small instruments are tuned like 4 string bass?

[bcolins]

I'm wondering if there are small 4 or 8 stringed instruments that are tuned like a bass guitar. Looking for something I can easily pack on my motorcycle and play around the campfire with friends. Don't know anything about Mandolins or banjos,.....are they tuned like a bass guitar? Any other suggestions?

[WokenDeer]

Mandolins are reversed. G D A E from top to bottom.

[BryanM]

Tenor banjos are also tuned GDAE from top to bottom, same as mandolin and violin.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by WokenDeer

Mandolins are reversed. G D A E from top to bottom.

From bottom to top. Always refer to pitch when you're talking about "top" and "bottom," not which string happens to be closer to the ground.

[CnB77]

Well, there's the U-Bass, not that anyone would hear you.

4 string cigar box guitar. Could get a tenor guitar of some sort, they're not tuned like a bass but it's really not hard to learn the tuning.

[bcolins]

Could a 4 string mandolin be strung and tuned like a bass?

[Renaissance]

I don't think it's tuned like a bass but what about a ukulele? Throw a little thought in and you could probably tune it anyway you want.

[WokenDeer]

Bassolin!

[nicopiano]

Why not a small guitar? Easy to learn for a bass player!

[Richland123]

Violins are G as the low string, D, A, and E as the high string

[jefkritz]

baritone ukelele

[Munjibunga]

Ashbory bass.

[WokenDeer]

Are those rubber bands?

[bassbrad]

Originally Posted by bcolins

Could a 4 string mandolin be strung and tuned like a bass?

Howdy neighbor, no reason not to string a mandolin, banjo or uke as you please, you may have to make adjustments to the nut and bridge.

As a general rule orchestral instruments and mandolin are tuned in ascending fifths. Banjo, uke and many other stringed instruments have their own characteristic and sometimes unusual tunings.

[bcolins]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Howdy neighbor, no reason not to string a mandolin, banjo or uke as you please, you may have to make adjustments to the nut and bridge.

As a general rule orchestral instruments and mandolin are tuned in ascending fifths. Banjo, uke and many other stringed instruments have their own characteristic and sometimes unusual tunings.

Thanks Leander. I was thinking that was the case.

[MostlyBass]

Although violin and mandolin are tuned 'opposite' of the bass there are great differences at work. The bass is the oddball in orchestra, being tuned in fourths. The violin, viola, and cello are tuned in fifths and descended from the violone family while the bass hails from the gamba family.