Mandolin Tuner
Tune your mandolin to G D A E using your microphone. The tuner below is already set for mandolin — press Start Recording and pluck one string at a time.
Auto-select string
Switches to string automatically
Target 196.00 Hz
Action Required
Start tuner and pluck highlighted note.
Peg Rotation & Offset
Standby
Headstock Alignment
Tap a peg to tune that string specifically.
Instrument
Tuning Preset
Reference Pitch
Concert pitch for A4. 440 is the standard; many orchestras use 442.
Quick Tuning Guidelines
- 1.Tap the Start Recording button at the top to initialize your microphone.
- 2.Pluck one string cleanly at a time. Let it vibrate naturally to get a continuous frequency reading.
- 3.Adjust your tuning pegs until the dial centers in the green zone (around 0 cents).
- 4.Watch indicators: amber is the currently selected note, green is the automatically detected audio feed.
String-by-String Frequency Chart
These are the exact target frequencies this tuner listens for, at A4 = 440 Hz equal temperament. Each row is a course of two strings tuned to the same note, so both strings in a pair share one target. Course 1 is the highest.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 3 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
| 2 | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
| 1 | E5 | 659.26 Hz |
How to Use This Mandolin Tuner
- Press Start Recording on the tuner above and allow microphone access.
- The Mandolin instrument is already selected.
- Start with the G course (196.00 Hz). Lightly rest a finger on one string of the pair to mute it, pluck the other, and tune it to 0 cents. Then swap and tune the second string.
- Repeat for the D course (293.66 Hz), the A course (440.00 Hz), and the E course (659.26 Hz).
- Strum all four courses and run a second pass. With eight strings on a light body, the first strings you tuned will have moved.
Muting one string of each pair is the key step. Two strings a few cents apart produce a beating sound, and the tuner hears that as an unstable pitch. Tune them individually and the needle settles at once.
Matching the Pairs
The mandolin’s shimmering sound comes from the two strings in each course being almostperfectly matched. Once both strings of a pair read 0 cents, play them together and listen. A clean, steady tone means they agree. A slow wobble means they are a cent or two apart; a fast shimmer means further. Nudge one string until the wobble slows and stops.
This is the same “listening for beats” skill used to tune a guitar by ear, and a mandolin is one of the best instruments to learn it on, because every pair gives you a built-in reference.
The Floating Bridge
Almost every mandolin — A-style (teardrop) and F-style (scroll) alike — has a bridge that is not glued down. String pressure holds it in place, and its position sets the instrument’s intonation. If it shifts, the open strings can still read perfectly in tune while notes higher up the neck come out sharp or flat.
When you change strings, change them one at a time so the bridge stays put. If it does move, the correct position puts the 12th-fret note exactly one octave above the open string — the tuner above can check that for each course.
Troubleshooting
The needle never settles. You are almost certainly hearing both strings of a pair. Mute one and try again.
The E strings keep breaking. They are thin and at high tension. Tune them up slowly, approach the target from below, and check the nut and bridge slots for sharp edges.
Open strings are in tune but chords sound wrong. Check that the bridge has not moved. Compare each course’s 12th-fret note against its open string.
Also available: our violin tuner, banjo tuner, and the chromatic guitar tuner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is standard mandolin tuning?
G D A E from lowest to highest — G3, D4, A4, E5. There are eight strings in four pairs, and both strings in each pair are tuned to the same note. These are exactly the same pitches as a violin.
How do I tune both strings in a pair?
One at a time. Pluck just one string of the pair and tune it to 0 cents, then tune its partner the same way. If you pluck both together, the tuner hears two slightly different pitches at once and the needle will wobble. Once both are set, play the pair together: a clean, steady sound means they match; a fast shimmer or wobble means one is still off.
Why does my mandolin go out of tune so quickly?
Eight strings at fairly high tension on a small instrument is a lot of load, and the floating bridge can shift slightly. New strings also stretch for the first few days. Check the tuning every time you pick it up, and gently stretch new strings along their length after the first tuning.
Is this tuner suitable for a mandola or octave mandolin?
No. A mandola tunes C G D A (like a viola), and an octave mandolin tunes G D A E one octave lower than a mandolin. This page targets standard mandolin pitches only. For a mandola, the viola tuner targets the same notes.
Can I use violin fingerings on a mandolin?
The notes are the same because the tuning is the same, which is why many fiddlers pick up mandolin quickly. The difference is that the mandolin is fretted and plucked, so the left-hand technique and the sound are quite different.