A small, stringed musical instrument, descended from the mandora, which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. It normally has 8 metal strings in 4 pairs (courses) that are plucked with a plectrum. 4-string (one string per course), 12-string (3 strings per course), and 16-string (4 string per course) variants also exist. It has a body with a teardrop-shaped face, or one that is essentially oval in shape, with a soundhole, or soundholes, of varying shapes that are open and not latticed. Tuned [GDAE] (the same as a fiddle).