Mandola tuner online — CGDA
The mandola in C is tuned C3 G3 D4 A4, normally in four pairs of strings in unison. That is the viola’s open-string tuning, a fifth below a standard mandolin. This page opens with those sounding pitches selected.
Open-string notes and frequencies
Mandola tuner — CGDA: sounding open-string targets, lowest to highest. A4=440 Hz.
| String / course | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | C3 + C3 | 130.81 + 130.81 |
| 3 | G3 + G3 | 196.00 + 196.00 |
| 2 | D4 + D4 | 293.66 + 293.66 |
| 1 | A4 + A4 | 440.00 + 440.00 |
Classical Mandolin Society of America — Music Notation for Mandolin Family Instruments
How to use it
- Choose mandola in C, octave mandola in G or mandocello.
- Allow the microphone and silence one string of the lowest pair.
- Pick its partner and match the stated note and octave.
- Swap the muted string and repeat; then work through the remaining courses.
- Listen to each pair together after all eight strings are checked.
Help and explanations
Instrument names vary by country. An octave mandola in G is G2 D3 A3 E4; the mandocello is C2 G2 D3 A3. Both alternatives are in the menu, with octave numbers in their labels. Check the maker’s specification instead of choosing solely by the name on a shop listing.
A mandola part and a sounding tuning chart do different jobs
Mandola parts can use alto clef, octave treble clef or a transposed treble convention. Those notation choices do not change the actual open strings. The targets here always refer to the sound: C3 G3 D4 A4 for the C mandola. When a score looks unfamiliar, check its clef and any transposition instruction before trying to make an open string match the written octave.
The C mandola and octave mandolin also need different string sets. CGDA is not simply another spelling of GDAE, and tuning by letter alone can conceal a wrong octave. Compare the lowest C3 with middle C4: it is one octave lower. If your instrument is sold as an octave mandola, use the G preset or the octave mandolin tuner. For an octave-strung instrument, follow its maker’s individual partner pitches instead of applying the unison layout blindly.
Tips
- Keep a spare mute or a fingertip on the partner while measuring a pair.
- Check the high A is A4 in CGDA; an A3 reading is a different octave.
- Read the maker’s tuning before copying a mandolin chord chart.
Frequently asked questions
How is a mandola tuned?
A mandola in C is C3 G3 D4 A4. The usual eight-string instrument has four unison pairs.
Is mandola tuning the same as viola tuning?
For the C mandola, yes: the sounding open notes are C3 G3 D4 A4. The playing technique and notation may differ.
Can a mandola be tuned GDAE?
An octave mandola is built for G2 D3 A3 E4. Do not assume a C mandola can switch to that register with its current strings.
What is the difference between mandolin and mandola?
A standard mandolin is G3 D4 A4 E5. The C mandola’s C3 G3 D4 A4 is a fifth lower.
What is mandocello tuning?
C2 G2 D3 A3, an octave below the C mandola. Select the mandocello option only for an instrument strung for those pitches.
Should both strings in a course have the same note?
In the unison presets here, yes. Some larger instruments use octave partners, which require the maker’s separate pitches.