Mandolin Tuning Chart
2 tunings for the mandolin, all measured against standard GDAE, with the target note and the exact frequency in hertz for every string.
| Tuning | Notation | Category | Notes | Frequencies (Hz) | Strings changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | GDAE | standard | G3 D4 A4 E5 | 196.00 · 293.66 · 440.00 · 659.26 | reference |
| Cross tuning GDAD | GDAD | modal | G3 D4 A4 D5 | 196.00 · 293.66 · 440.00 · 587.33 | 1 of 4 |
The last column is the number of strings that move relative to standard tuning, which is the fastest way to judge how disruptive a tuning is to reach and to undo.
What each mandolin tuning is for
Standard (GDAE)
The reference tuning for a mandolin: the same four pitches as a violin, with each note doubled across a pair of strings called a course. Doubling every course means the two strings in a pair must match each other exactly, not just the target pitch. Even a small mismatch produces audible beating, which is why a mandolin sounds out of tune long before a guitar would at the same error.
Common in bluegrass, folk, classical mandolin. Tune to Standard
Cross tuning GDAD (GDAD)
Lower the 1st course a whole step, from E5 to D5. The other three courses stay at standard pitch. With D sounding on both the 3rd and the 1st course, the instrument gets a built-in drone an octave apart, the same trick old-time fiddlers use with cross tuning. Modal tunes in D sit naturally under the fingers as a result.
Common in old-time, Irish traditional, modal tunes in D. Tune to Cross tuning GDAD
Use the data
These tunings are part of the open TuneStand dataset: /api/tunings.json, CC BY 4.0, no key required. See the dataset page for the schema and licence terms.
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .