Mandolins have been instrumental (pun intended) in music through history. The famous master of the violin, Niccolò Paganini, first played the mandolin before switching to the violin which changed his career and life. The bluegrass genre, which had its part in inspiring genres like folk, Americana, and even rock, was born on "the Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe's mandolin. And the mandolin has had a resurgence as the growing newgrass genre has come to the public eye with mandolin players like Sierra Hull and Lincoln Mick (The Arcadian Wild). You may be surprised by how many familiar bands use a mandolin, including Shane and Shane, Matt Boswell and Matt Papa, Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Andrew Peterson.