Standard (GDAE) Tuning
Tune your mandolin to Standard (GDAE) — G3, D4, A4, E5
About Standard (GDAE) Tuning
Standard mandolin tuning (G3-D4-A4-E5) is identical to violin tuning, with strings tuned in perfect fifths. Each of the four courses (pairs of strings) is tuned in unison, giving the mandolin its characteristic shimmering, chorus-like tone. This tuning is universal across bluegrass, classical, folk, Celtic, and virtually every mandolin genre.
The mandolin's paired strings are its defining feature. When both strings in a course are perfectly in tune, they produce a natural chorus effect that gives the instrument its bright, ringing quality. This also enables the mandolin's signature technique — the tremolo — where rapid alternating picks on a single course sustain notes in a way no single-string instrument can match.
Because mandolin and violin share the same tuning, violin music translates directly to mandolin. Bluegrass mandolinist Bill Monroe drew heavily on fiddle tunes, and this cross-pollination continues today. Classical mandolinists play Vivaldi and Bach violin concertos, while Celtic players swap freely between fiddle and mandolin parts.
String Notes
Recommended Strings
D'Addario EJ74 (medium, .011-.040) is the industry standard for bluegrass mandolin. For a lighter touch, EJ73 (light, .010-.038) reduces tension and eases fretting. Flatwound strings produce a smoother, jazzier tone with less finger noise. Always use matched-pair strings — both strings in each course must be identical gauge to produce a clean unison.
How to Tune to Standard (GDAE)
- 1.Start with the A course (2nd course from the top). Tune both strings to A4 (440 Hz). This is your reference pitch — tune each string in the pair to match perfectly.
- 2.Tune the D course (3rd from top) to D4. Fret the D course at the 7th fret — it should match the open A course. Both strings in the pair should be in unison.
- 3.Tune the G course (lowest) to G3. Fret the G course at the 7th fret — it should match the open D course.
- 4.Tune the E course (highest) to E5. Fret the A course at the 7th fret — it should match the open E course.
- 5.Fine-tune each course: pick both strings in a pair slowly. If you hear a wavering or beating sound, one string is slightly off. Adjust until the beating disappears and the unison is clean.
Common Chords in Standard (GDAE)
G Major
Open G and D courses with fretted notes on A and E. The most natural key for mandolin — full, ringing, and resonant.
D Major
Uses the open D course. Bright and punchy — the foundation of thousands of bluegrass tunes.
A Major
Uses the open A course. Clean and driving, essential for the I-IV-V progressions in bluegrass.
C Major
A versatile chord that pairs with G and D in folk and bluegrass progressions. Multiple voicings available up the neck.