How to Tune the Mandolin

Tuning your mandolin can be a difficult task for you if you are just beginning to learn how to play the mandolin. The good news is, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. A nicely tuned mandolin can make your music sound a lot better and help you train your ear to the correct notes. Here we show you many methods on how to tune a mandolin, and also our free online mandolin tuner.

Mandolin Guide A guide on the mandolin. Explains the history of the mandolin, the various styles, how to tune it, how to maintain it, and how to care for it.	Tuning the Mandolin with a Piano/Keyboard You can use a keyboard or piano to tune each individual string to a specific note on the piano. An easy and quick way for beginners.

Tuning with Electronic Mandolin Tuners

There are many different types of electronic mandolin tuners out there. Some are cheap while some are pretty expensive. There are basically two different types of tuners. There are the tuners that produce a sound, and then you tune your mandolin to match that sound; and with the other type you pluck a string, and then it shows on a little screen what pitch your at, and then you tune it until it matches the correct note.

Here are some pictures of tuners:

This tuner is a tuner where you pluck a string and then tune it to match it with the correct note

This tuner is the type of mandolin tuner that plays a tone for each string, and the you tune the corresponding string to the tone.

Tuning your mandolin

First of all you need to know what each string's note is. Here is a picture that shows you.

Use the image to understand what the notes are for each string. Remember that the mandolin strings are tuned in pairs. The 2 thickest strings on the mandolin would be the G Strings, hence the thinnest pair are the E strings. So pluck a string on the mandolin and tweak the pegs on it until the dial hovers over the correct note on the electronic tuner. Do this with each of the strings. Remember that standard tuning is GDAE.

Tip:Make several passes with each of the strings. For example you might have noticed that if you have tuned all the strings once, and then back to the first one you tuned, it might be off a little bit. This is because you are increasing or decreasing the tension on each of the strings as you tune it and the mandolin body might bend ever so slightly due to this difference in tension. This causes the other strings to slightly change in pitch. So make sure you keep on checking and tuning the strings until all are in tune, so make several passes.

We have an online tuner for you so you don't have to go out and buy one. Lucky dogs you! Here is a link to our Online Mandolin Tuner. This is the type of tuner that plays a sound and then you match your mandolin strings to the corresponding tune.