Mandolin Scale & Tuning Reference — Fretboard Notes, Scale Patterns and Alternate Tunings
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Last Updated on July 11, 2026 by folkstrings
Mandolin Scale and Tuning Reference
GDAE standard tuning — fretboard map, common scale patterns and alternate tunings
Standard GDAE tuning — same as violin and tenor banjo. Each string a perfect fifth apart. Fret 12 = same note as open string, one octave up.
Open strings
| Str | O | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| A | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| D | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| G | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
Root notes shown in black. Scale notes in blue. The three patterns below are the most commonly used in bluegrass and folk mandolin.
G MajorNotes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#
| Str | O | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| A | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| D | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| G | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
D MajorNotes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#
| Str | O | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| A | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| D | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| G | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
A Natural MinorNotes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G
| Str | O | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E |
| A | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A |
| D | D | D# | E | F | F# | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D |
| G | G | G# | A | A# | B | C | C# | D | D# | E | F | F# | G |
GDAE
G-D-A-E
StandardThe universal standard. Same as violin and tenor banjo. All method books assume GDAE.
GDAD
G-D-A-D
Cross TuningOld-time Appalachian tuning. Top string lowered to D, enabling certain modal tunes not easily playable in standard tuning.
ADAE
A-D-A-E
ModalLow G raised to A. Creates different resonance and chord voicings used in some old-time music.
GDGD
G-D-G-D
Open GAll open strings produce a G major chord. Used for drone-based and experimental styles, not standard repertoire.
FCGD
F-C-G-D
Octave LowerAll strings a perfect fifth lower than standard. Essentially mandola tuning. Not used for normal mandolin playing.
Tool by Folkstrings.com
Understanding the Mandolin Fretboard
The mandolin is tuned in perfect fifths — G, D, A, E from lowest to highest — the same as the violin. Any scale pattern you learn repeats identically on every string, just starting two frets lower. The fretboard note map above shows all notes across 12 frets. Fret 12 is the octave.
For more: our mandolin string gauge guide and beginner mandolin guide.
Author Profile
- Daniel Johnstone is an English writer and folk musician who has been playing stringed instruments for over twenty years. He started on guitar as a teenager before working his way through cavaco, tenor guitar, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, and harp. He founded Folkstrings.com to provide practical, experience-based buying advice for folk instrument players at every level — the kind of guidance he always wished had existed when he was finding his feet.
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