Mandolin tuning is G, D, A, E, from the 4th course to the 1st course, in perfect fifths, like a violin, with the pitches G3, D4, A4, and E5. The mandolin has eight strings, in four pairs, and the frequencies are 196 Hz, 293.66 Hz, 440 Hz, and 659.25 Hz, and the tuning is the foundation of all mandolin playing.
What is mandolin tuning?
Mandolin tuning is G, D, A, E, from the 4th course to the 1st course, in perfect fifths, like a violin, with the pitches G3, D4, A4, and E5. The mandolin has eight strings, in four pairs, called courses, and the frequencies are 196 Hz, 293.66 Hz, 440 Hz, and 659.25 Hz, and the tuning is the foundation of all mandolin playing, because every chord, every scale, and every song is built on it, and the mandolin is the brightest instrument, with a high, ringing voice, and the tuning is the fifths, and the fifths are the mandolin's sound. The mandolin is tuned in fifths, like a violin, because the mandolin is the violin's fretted cousin, and the tuning is the same, G, D, A, E, and the violin is tuned G, D, A, E, and the mandolin is the violin, with frets, and a pick, and the tuning is the fifths, seven semitones apart, between every pair of courses, and the fifths tuning makes the chord shapes regular, and the shapes move, across the neck, and the chord changes, by moving the shape, and the mandolin is easy to learn, once the fifths are known. The mandolin chord finder finds the notes of any mandolin chord, and the note frequency calculator shows the pitch of any note.
How mandolin tuning works
Mandolin tuning works because the courses are tuned in perfect fifths, seven semitones apart, so the intervals are the same, between every pair of courses, and the fretboard is regular, and the shapes are the same, moved to the root, and the mandolin is easy to play, because the patterns repeat, and the hand knows the shapes. The 4th course is G3, 196 Hz, and the 3rd course is D4, 293.66 Hz, a perfect 5th above G, seven semitones, and the 2nd course is A4, 440 Hz, a perfect 5th above D, seven semitones, and the 1st course is E5, 659.25 Hz, a perfect 5th above A, seven semitones, and the tuning is G, D, A, E, and the intervals are perfect 5th, perfect 5th, perfect 5th, and the pattern is the tuning. The mandolin has eight strings, in four pairs, and each pair is tuned to the same pitch, so the two strings sound as one, and the sound is bright and ringing, because two strings vibrate together, and the volume is louder, and the tone is richer, and the pairs are called courses, and the courses are the strings, doubled, and the mandolin is the brightest instrument, because the pairs double the sound, and the tuning is high, and the strings are light. The G major mandolin chord and the D major mandolin chord are the chords the tuning is built on.
Worked example — the notes of mandolin tuning. The 4th course is G3, 196 Hz, and the 3rd course is D4, 293.66 Hz, which is a perfect 5th above G, seven semitones, because G plus seven semitones is D, and the 2nd course is A4, 440 Hz, which is a perfect 5th above D, seven semitones, because D plus seven semitones is A, and the 1st course is E5, 659.25 Hz, which is a perfect 5th above A, seven semitones, because A plus seven semitones is E, and the tuning is G, D, A, E, and the intervals are perfect 5th, perfect 5th, perfect 5th, and the pattern is the mandolin tuning, and the key of G major is the key the tuning is built on.
How to practise mandolin tuning
Practise mandolin tuning by tuning your mandolin every day, and by learning the notes of the open courses, so the tuning becomes a habit, and the notes are known without looking.
- Tune your mandolin every day, and check the tuning by playing the open courses, G, D, A, E, and listening for them to be in tune.
- Learn the notes of the open courses, G3, D4, A4, E5, and their frequencies, 196, 293.66, 440, and 659.25 Hz, with the note frequency calculator.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in G major on mandolin, and listen for the chords to ring cleanly, and the mandolin to be in tune.
- Practise tuning by ear, using the 7th fret method, and check your tuning with a tuner, to see how close the ear tuning was.
- Learn the intervals between the courses, perfect 5th, perfect 5th, perfect 5th, and play them on two courses, listening for the interval.
Common mistakes
- Tuning the pairs to different pitches — The mandolin has paired strings, and each pair must be tuned to the same pitch, so the two strings sound as one, and a pair tuned to different pitches will sound out of tune, because the two strings beat against each other. Tune both strings of the pair, to the same pitch, and the mandolin will sound bright and ringing.
- Tuning the strings in the wrong order — The courses should be tuned from the 4th to the 1st, or from the 1st to the 4th, in order, so the tuning is systematic, and no course is forgotten. Tuning in a random order will make the mandolin out of tune, because a course will be missed.
- Tuning to the wrong octave — The 4th course is G3, and the 1st course is E5, and tuning the 4th course to G2 will make it too loose, and it will buzz, and tuning the 1st course to E6 will break it, because the tension will be too high. Check the octave, and tune the course to the right pitch, not just the right note.
Quick reference
This table shows the mandolin tuning, with the course, the note, the frequency, and the interval to the next course, so you can see the tuning at a glance. The courses are tuned in perfect fifths, seven semitones apart, and the pattern is the mandolin tuning, and the intervals are the same, between every pair of courses.
| Course | Note | Frequency | Interval to next course |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th course | G3 | 196 Hz | Perfect 5th |
| 3rd course | D4 | 293.66 Hz | Perfect 5th |
| 2nd course | A4 | 440 Hz | Perfect 5th |
| 1st course | E5 | 659.25 Hz | — |
Use the table to learn the mandolin tuning: memorise the notes, G, D, A, E, and the frequencies, and the intervals, and tune your mandolin to them, every day, and check that both strings of each pair are tuned to the same pitch. When you can name the note and the frequency of any open course, without looking, you have learned the mandolin tuning, and the mandolin is yours.
Frequently asked questions
What is mandolin tuning?
Mandolin tuning is G, D, A, E, from the 4th course to the 1st course, in perfect fifths, like a violin, with the pitches G3, D4, A4, and E5, and the frequencies 196 Hz, 293.66 Hz, 440 Hz, and 659.25 Hz.
Why is the mandolin tuned in fifths?
Because the mandolin is the violin's fretted cousin, and the tuning is the same, G, D, A, E, and the fifths tuning makes the chord shapes regular, and the shapes move, across the neck, and the chord changes, by moving the shape.
How many strings does a mandolin have?
Eight strings, in four pairs, called courses, tuned G, D, A, E, and each pair is tuned to the same pitch, so the two strings sound as one, and the sound is bright and ringing.
How often should I tune my mandolin?
Every time you play, and during playing, when the strings go out of tune, because the tension changes, and the mandolin should be checked, and retuned, regularly, especially after a song.
What is the frequency of the open mandolin courses?
G3 is 196 Hz, D4 is 293.66 Hz, A4 is 440 Hz, and E5 is 659.25 Hz, and the frequencies are the pitches, and the tuner shows them, and the ear hears them, and the mandolin is in tune, when the courses match them.