Standard Tuning for Mandolin
Strings run G3 D4 A4 E5, in playing order. Tune by microphone below, or read the exact frequencies and what changes from standard mandolin tuning.
| # | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | G3 | 196.00 |
| 3 | D4 | 293.66 |
| 2 | A4 | 440.00 |
| 1 | E5 | 659.26 |
Pitch is detected live in your browser and never recorded, stored or uploaded. Frequencies use A4 = 440 Hz.
Getting to Standard from standard
This is the reference tuning for Mandolin, so nothing changes. Every other tuning on this site is described relative to these notes.
Why players use Standard
Tuned in perfect fifths, identical to a violin, which is why fiddle tunes transfer to mandolin note for note. The strings are doubled into courses, so each pitch is tuned twice — the small detuning between a pair is what gives the instrument its shimmer.
The interval structure of Standard
Perfect fifths across all four courses, identical to a violin, so fiddle repertoire transfers note for note and the same fingering logic applies. Fifths cover more pitch per string pair than the guitar's fourths, meaning fewer strings are needed for the same range but each position demands a wider stretch. The doubled courses are the other defining trait: two strings tuned to the same pitch never sit perfectly identical, and the resulting slow beating between them is the shimmer that distinguishes a mandolin from a single-strung instrument.
Worth knowing: Both strings in a course must match. A course that is even slightly out beats against itself and no amount of picking technique will hide it.
Standard tuning FAQ
What are the notes in Standard tuning for Mandolin?
Standard runs G3, D4, A4, E5, in playing order. The lowest-pitched string is G3 (196.00 Hz) and the highest is E5 (659.26 Hz), measured against A4 = 440 Hz. Those are the exact target frequencies the tuner on this page listens for.
How do I get to Standard tuning from standard?
Nothing to change — this is the reference tuning for Mandolin. If your instrument is already in tune, you're there.
What is Standard tuning used for?
Tuned in perfect fifths, identical to a violin, which is why fiddle tunes transfer to mandolin note for note. The strings are doubled into courses, so each pitch is tuned twice — the small detuning between a pair is what gives the instrument its shimmer.
What frequency is the G3 string?
G3 is 196.00 Hz at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). That's the fundamental — the string also produces harmonics above it, which is why a tuner reading the wrong octave usually means it locked onto a harmonic rather than the fundamental. This is the lowest string in this mandolin tuning.
How is Standard tuning structured?
Perfect fifths across all four courses, identical to a violin, so fiddle repertoire transfers note for note and the same fingering logic applies. Fifths cover more pitch per string pair than the guitar's fourths, meaning fewer strings are needed for the same range but each position demands a wider stretch. The doubled courses are the other defining trait: two strings tuned to the same pitch never sit perfectly identical, and the resulting slow beating between them is the shimmer that distinguishes a mandolin from a single-strung instrument.
Do I need different strings for Standard?
Both strings in a course must match. A course that is even slightly out beats against itself and no amount of picking technique will hide it.
Tune it by ear, with a meter.
The tuner above snaps to this tuning's strings — no app, no sign-up.
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