A mandolin has eight strings, but only four notes to remember. Once you understand how the pairs work, tuning becomes straightforward.
This guide covers the notes, the string order, how to tune with a tuner or by ear, how to keep each pair matched, and a few alternate tunings worth knowing.
Mandolin Tuning (Quick Answer)
Standard mandolin tuning is G D A E, from the lowest (thickest) pair of strings to the highest. Each note is a fifth above the one before it. These are the same four notes as a violin.
The eight strings are arranged in four pairs, called courses. Both strings in a course are tuned to the same note, so you tune G G, D D, A A and E E.
| Course | Note | Position | Our Light set (M1036PB) | Our Medium set (M1140PB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest) | G | Nearest your chin | .036 wound | .040 wound |
| 3rd | D | .024 wound | .026 wound | |
| 2nd | A | .015 plain | .015 plain | |
| 1st (highest) | E | Nearest the floor | .010 plain | .011 plain |
In standard tuning, you can check by ear: fret any course at the 7th fret and it should match the next higher open course.
How Mandolin Strings Are Arranged
If you're coming from guitar, the eight strings can look like a lot. They aren't. You play each pair as if it were one string, fretting and picking both at once.
The courses are numbered from the highest note to the lowest, the same way guitar strings are:
- 1st course (E): the thinnest pair, nearest the floor when you play.
- 2nd course (A)
- 3rd course (D)
- 4th course (G): the thickest pair, nearest your chin.
In our sets, the G and D courses are wound strings and the A and E courses are plain steel. That's why a mandolin set lists only four gauges: each one comes twice.
Why are the notes the same as a violin?
The mandolin and violin share the same open-string notes, tuned in fifths: G D A E. Fingering patterns that work across violin strings work across mandolin courses too, though the mandolin has frets and the violin does not. If you can read fiddle tunes, you can read them on mandolin.
Is this guide for your instrument?
This guide covers the standard 8-string mandolin tuned G D A E. A-style and F-style mandolins tune the same way; the letters describe the body shape, not the tuning.
It doesn't cover the mandola, octave mandolin or mandocello. Those are related instruments with different scale lengths, ranges and tunings, and they need their own strings. If your instrument has a much longer neck than a typical mandolin, check what it is before tuning it to G D A E.
How to Tune a Mandolin with a Tuner
- Clip the tuner on the headstock or use a tuner app close to the instrument.
- Start with the 4th course (G). Pick one string of the pair and tune it to G. Then pick the other string and tune it to G as well.
- Tune the 3rd course to D, one string at a time.
- Tune the 2nd course to A, one string at a time.
- Tune the 1st course to E, one string at a time.
- Play each pair together. If you hear a slow wobble or "wah-wah" in the sound, the two strings aren't quite matched. Adjust one until the wobble disappears.
- Go around once more. Tuning one course changes the pull on the neck and bridge slightly, which can move the others.
Always tune up to the note. If a string is sharp, bring it below the note first, then come back up. That helps it hold pitch at the tuning post.
How to Tune a Mandolin by Ear
In standard G D A E tuning, each course is a perfect fifth above the one before it. That means the 7th fret of a lower course matches the next higher open course. You only need one reference note to start. (This shortcut applies to standard tuning only, not to the alternate tunings below.)
- Get a G from a piano, tuner tone or another instrument and tune both strings of the 4th course to it.
- Fret the G course at the 7th fret. That note is D. Tune the open D course to match.
- Fret the D course at the 7th fret. That note is A. Tune the open A course to match.
- Fret the A course at the 7th fret. That note is E. Tune the open E course to match.
- Match each pair by playing both strings together and removing any wobble.
If you're playing with a fiddle player, you can tune straight to their open strings. The notes are the same.
Keeping Each Pair in Tune
Tuning trouble on a mandolin often comes from the two strings in a pair drifting apart, not from the whole course being off.
When the pair is close but not exact, the two pitches beat against each other. You hear it as a regular pulse in the sound. The slower the pulse, the closer you are. When it stops, the pair is matched.
Things that help pairs stay together:
- Replace both strings of a course at the same time. A new string next to a worn one won't behave the same way.
- Stretch new strings gently after installing them, then retune. New strings settle over the first playing sessions.
- Check the bridge. Many mandolins have a floating bridge held in place by string pressure. If it shifts, intonation shifts with it. See how to restring a mandolin.
- Check the nut slots. If one string in a pair pings or sticks as you tune, the slot may be binding.
Alternate Mandolin Tunings
Because the mandolin shares the violin's tuning, it also shares the fiddle's alternate tunings, often called cross tunings. These let open courses ring as drones under a melody. Names vary from player to player; the notes below are listed from the 4th course to the 1st.
| Tuning | Notes | What changes from G D A E |
|---|---|---|
| GDGD ("Sawmill" or "Cross G") | G D G D | A course down a whole step to G, E course down a whole step to D |
| GDAD ("Gee-Dad") | G D A D | E course down a whole step to D |
| ADAE ("High Bass") | A D A E | G course up a whole step to A |
| AEAE ("Cross A") | A E A E | G course and D course each up a whole step |
A few practical notes:
- Tunings that raise a course increase string tension. ADAE and AEAE raise the G course, and AEAE raises the D course too. Our sets are gauged for standard G D A E, so check that your gauges suit the tuning before tuning up, especially on the heavier wound courses. If you're unsure, ask a qualified instrument technician. Tunings that only lower a course, like GDGD and GDAD, loosen those strings instead.
- Fingerings change. Changing the intervals between courses changes the notes your usual fingerings produce, so chord shapes and melody patterns may need adjusting.
- Retune the pair together. Move both strings of a course to the new note, then check them against each other.
Does a Heavier Gauge Mean More Tension?
Only when the note, scale length and construction stay the same. Gauge is the string's diameter. Tension is how hard it pulls at a given note on a given instrument.
On the same mandolin tuned to G D A E, our Medium set feels firmer than our Light set on the courses where the gauge goes up. Change the tuning and the feel changes too, whatever the gauge.
We wouldn't say Medium always sounds louder or Light always sounds brighter. Pick attack, setup, the instrument's build and how hard you play all shape the sound. Choose by feel first. For more, see our mandolin strings guide.
How to Choose Strings for Your Tuning
- Confirm you have a standard 8-string mandolin. Mandolas and octave mandolins need different strings.
- Confirm your tuning. Our sets are built for G D A E.
- Choose your feel. Light for an easier feel under your fingers, Medium for a firmer feel with heavier G and D courses.
- Check your tailpiece. Our mandolin strings are loop end. See are mandolin strings loop end or ball end?
- Use singles to fine-tune. Replace a pair or try a different wound gauge without buying a whole set.
Our Mandolin String Options
Both sets use a .015 A course. The Medium set increases the E, D and G gauges for a firmer feel on those courses.
Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings .010–.036 (M1036PB Light)
Good starting point for: the lighter of our two sets, for an easier feel under your fingers.
- Gauges: .010 .015 .024 .036, two of each
- 92/8 phosphor bronze wrap over a high carbon steel hex core on the wound courses
- Loop end, with a lock twist so the loop holds its shape on the tailpiece
Phosphor Bronze Mandolin Strings .011–.040 (M1140PB Medium)
Good starting point for: a firmer feel, with heavier E, D and G courses.
- Gauges: .011 .015 .026 .040, two of each
- Same construction as the Light set
Mandolin Phosphor Bronze Loop End Singles
Good starting point for: replacing one course or building your own combination.
- Wound gauges: .024, .026, .036 and .040
- Plain courses: use our plain steel loop end singles
When Your Mandolin Won't Stay in Tune
If you keep retuning, work through these in order:
- New strings: they stretch and settle at first. Retune often for the first few sessions.
- Pairs drifting apart: one string in a course may be worn, slipping at the post or binding at the nut.
- Bridge moved: a floating bridge can shift during a string change. Fretted notes up the neck will sound off even when open strings are in tune.
- Temperature and humidity: moving from a cold car to a warm room changes the pitch. Let the mandolin adjust before final tuning.
- Worn strings: dull sound, discoloration or trouble intonating are signs it's time for a new set. See how to tell when strings are worn out.
Final Thoughts
Mandolin tuning comes down to four notes, G D A E, each played on a matched pair of strings. Tune each string to its note, then listen to the pair together until the wobble goes away.
Once standard tuning feels easy, alternate tunings open up new possibilities for drones, open-string resonance and different chord voicings. Some familiar fingerings will produce different notes, so take time to learn how each tuning changes the fretboard. Whatever the tuning, keep the pairs matched and replace both strings of a course together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes on a mandolin?
G D A E, from the lowest (thickest) pair to the highest. Each pair is tuned to the same note.
Why does a mandolin have 8 strings but only 4 notes?
The strings come in four pairs, called courses. Both strings in a pair are tuned to the same note and played together.
Is mandolin tuning the same as violin tuning?
Yes. Both are tuned G D A E, in fifths, at the same pitch.
What order are mandolin strings in?
From the pair nearest your chin to the pair nearest the floor: G, D, A, E. The E pair is the 1st course and the G pair is the 4th course.
How do I tune a mandolin without a tuner?
Tune the G course to a reference note, then fret each course at the 7th fret and tune the next open course to match: G to D, D to A, A to E.
Why does my mandolin sound out of tune even when the tuner says it's right?
Check that both strings in each pair are matched. Also check that the bridge hasn't moved, since a shifted floating bridge throws off notes up the neck.
Should both strings in a pair be the same gauge?
On a standard mandolin, yes. Both strings in a course are normally the same gauge and tuned to the same note.
Can I tune a mandolin like a guitar?
Not to the same notes. Guitar strings are mostly a fourth apart; mandolin courses are a fifth apart. If you want guitar-style chord shapes on four strings, a baritone ukulele (D G B E) is closer to the top of a guitar.
Do A-style and F-style mandolins tune differently?
No. Both are tuned G D A E. The style describes the body shape.
Can I use alternate tunings with standard mandolin strings?
Tunings that only lower a course, like GDGD and GDAD, loosen those strings. Tunings that raise a course, like ADAE and AEAE, increase tension, and our sets are gauged for standard G D A E. Check your gauges before tuning up, and ask a qualified technician if you're unsure.
How often should I tune my mandolin?
Every time you play. Check it again after the first few minutes, since strings and wood settle as they warm up.
Do I need to replace strings in pairs?
It's the best way to keep a course matched. A new string paired with a worn one can sound and feel different. See mandolin string names and notes for more on the courses.
