Mandolin
Authority: Equal Temperament Pitch Frequency Table
Standard mandolin tuning matches violin pitch, G3-D4-A4-E5, but each note is doubled into a two-string course tuned in unison, producing the instrument's characteristic bright, shimmering tone. All four courses are tuned in perfect fifths, the same interval pattern as a violin.
| Course # | Notes (Doubled) | Scientific Pitch | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (Thickest course) | G-G | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 3 | D-D | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
| 2 | A-A | A4 | 440.00 Hz |
| 1 (Thinnest course) | E-E | E5 | 659.25 Hz |
History & Origin
The modern mandolin descends from the Neapolitan mandolin, developed in Naples in the mid-18th century as a refinement of the earlier mandolino and related lute-family instruments. Its deep, bowl-backed body became the instrument's signature shape for well over a century, and its design deliberately borrowed from the violin -- most notably in its tuning.
The Neapolitan mandolin's four courses of doubled strings were tuned G-D-A-E, the exact same pitches as a violin's four strings, just doubled into pairs for a fuller, shimmering tone. That choice meant a violinist could transfer scale and chord fingerings directly to the mandolin fretboard with no relearning, which likely helped the instrument spread quickly among classically trained musicians across Europe. The doubled-course, violin-pitched tuning established in Naples remains the mandolin standard today.