Mandolin Tuning

Standard Mandolin Tuning

The 8 strings of a mandolin sit in 4 courses, tuned G-D-A-E from lowest to highest pitch in standard tuning — the tuning almost every player starts with. Each course is a unison pair: both strings sound the same note.

How to Tune a Mandolin

Pluck one open string at a time and turn its tuning peg or machine head while the string rings, listening until the pitch matches a reference tone. Small, unhurried turns are easier to judge by ear than fast ones. Work one course at a time: bring one string to pitch, then tune the rest of that course to it — to the same note.

Use an electronic tuner for the fastest, most accurate result — clip-on and app tuners read the pitch directly, so you don't need a reference tone at all. Open the String Warrior tuner to tune with your microphone: it listens to each string and shows exactly how sharp or flat it is.