Free Online Mandolin Tuner
Play each mandolin course into your mic and the tuner instantly shows the closest pair, the exact Hz, and whether you are sharp or flat.
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How to Tune Your Mandolin
- Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access.
- Pluck one course (pair of strings) at a time — both strings should sound the same note.
- The highlighted card shows the closest course. The cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are.
- Turn the tuner button slowly. Tune up to pitch from below for better stability.
- When the meter centers on green (within ±5 cents), the course is in tune. Repeat for all 4 courses.
Standard Mandolin Tuning Reference
| Course | Note | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | G3 | 196.00 Hz | Lowest course, warm and resonant |
| 3 (D) | D4 | 293.66 Hz | Driving rhythm course in bluegrass |
| 2 (A) | A4 | 440.00 Hz | Concert A reference pitch |
| 1 (E) | E5 | 659.25 Hz | Highest course, bright and singing |
The Mandolin Family — Tuning Cheat Sheet
The tuner reads any pitch chromatically, so it covers the whole mandolin family. Here is how each relative tunes.
| Instrument | Tuning (low → high) | Relative to mandolin |
|---|---|---|
| Mandolin | G3 · D4 · A4 · E5 | — |
| Mandola | C3 · G3 · D4 · A4 | A fifth lower |
| Octave mandolin | G2 · D3 · A3 · E4 | An octave lower |
| Mandocello | C2 · G2 · D3 · A3 | An octave below mandola |
Mandolin Tuning Tips
The mandolin's short, high-tension strings make precise tuning both harder and more important.
Start with the A course
A4 (440 Hz) is the universal reference. Tune it first, then use open-string fifths (A→D→G, A→E) to set the others by ear or with the tuner.
Mute one string of the course
To tune a course cleanly, mute one of the two strings with a finger so you hear a single pitch. Then repeat for the other string of the pair.
Listen for a clean unison
Both strings in a course should sound identical with no beating. If you hear a slow pulsing, one string is slightly off — keep adjusting until it disappears.
Tune up from below
Loosen slightly past pitch, then bring it up. Mandolin pegs are sensitive — a tiny turn changes pitch a lot — so tune up slowly from below.
Stretch new strings
Fresh mandolin strings drift for several days. Tune, play a few tremolos, and re-tune. Repeat until the pitch stabilizes.
Re-check after warming up
High tension means temperature changes shift pitch quickly. Play for 5 minutes, then do a final tuning check before performing.
Mandolin Tuner FAQ
Standard mandolin tuning is G3, D4, A4, E5 from the lowest course to the highest — the same notes as a violin. Each course has two strings tuned in unison.
A mandolin has 8 strings arranged in 4 courses (pairs). The two strings in each course are tuned to the same note and plucked together, giving the mandolin its shimmering sound.
Mute one string of the pair and tune the other to pitch, then switch. Or tune them together and listen for a single clean unison with no beating.
Yes — a mandolin uses G3, D4, A4, E5, identical to a violin. That is why many violinists pick up the mandolin easily. The difference is the mandolin is plucked and has paired strings.
An octave mandolin is a larger instrument tuned one octave lower: G2, D3, A3, E4. This tuner reads any pitch chromatically, so it works for octave mandolins too.
Mandolins have short strings under high tension, so small peg movements make big pitch changes. New strings stretch for several days. Tune before every session and re-check after 5–10 minutes.
The paired strings can produce beating and overtones that confuse the tuner. Mute one string of the course and pluck cleanly near the middle of the string for the most stable reading.
Yes — the tuner detects any pitch chromatically. A mandola is tuned CGDA (C3, G3, D4, A4) and a mandocello CGDA an octave lower. Just play each course and read the note name.
Ready to Tune Your Mandolin?
Click the button below to jump back to the tuner, allow microphone access, and get in tune in under a minute.
Open Mandolin Tuner