Editing Mandolin (section)

== Tuning ==
A variety of different tunings are used. Usually, [[course (music)|courses]] of 2 adjacent strings are tuned in unison. By far the most common tuning is the same as violin tuning, in [[scientific pitch notation]] G<sub>3</sub>–D<sub>4</sub>–A<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>5</sub>, or in [[Helmholtz pitch notation]]: g–d′–a′–e″.

* fourth (lowest tone) [[course (music)|course]]: G<sub>3</sub> ({{val|196.00|ul=Hz}})
* third course: D<sub>4</sub> ({{val|293.66|u=Hz}})
* second course: A<sub>4</sub> ({{val|440.00|u=Hz}}; [[A (musical note)|A]] above [[middle C]])
* first (highest tone) course: E<sub>5</sub> ({{val|659.25|u=Hz}})

The numbers of Hz shown above assume a [[A440 (pitch standard)|440&nbsp;Hz A]], standard in most parts of the western world. Some players use an A up to 10&nbsp;Hz above or below a 440, mainly outside the United States.

[[File:Mandolin fretboard.png]]

Other tunings exist, including ''cross-tunings'', in which the usually doubled string runs are tuned to different pitches. Additionally, guitarists may sometimes tune a mandolin to mimic a portion of the intervals on a standard guitar tuning to achieve familiar fretting patterns.