Printable mandolin chord chart · free

Beginner mandolin chords

The first chords most mandolin players learn: G, C, D, Em, A and D7. Learn them one at a time, and practise changing between two of them until the change is smooth before adding the next. Between them they play the chords of a great many songs.

Hear the chords

Ready-made PDF, white to save ink: A4 · US Letter

Strum or arpeggiate any chord, tap a note to hear it, drag the strip under a picture to play it further up the neck, or pick another inversion. Library opens the chord there, with every other way to play it.

G

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAE3RnoteGDBGroleR53Rfret0023frets 2–3C3C4C5C6C7

C

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAE3RnoteGECErole53R3fret0230frets 2–3C3C4C5C6C7

D

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAE53noteADAF♯role5R53fret2002fret 2C3C4C5C6C7

Em

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAER5noteGEBErole♭3R5Rfret0220fret 2C3C4C5C6C7

A

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAER53noteAEC♯EroleR535fret2240frets 2–4C3C4C5C6C7

D7

LibraryMandolin · Standard

Open position

GDAE5♭73noteADCF♯role5R♭73fret2032frets 2–3C3C4C5C6C7

The chords on this chart

G, C, D, Em, A, D7. Each name opens the chord in the Library, with every other way to play it, to hear and to look at closely.

How to read a chord diagram

The vertical lines are the strings, the lowest on the left, and the horizontal lines are the frets, with the nut at the top. A dot is where a finger goes, and its number says which finger: 1 the index, 2 the middle, 3 the ring, 4 the little finger. The root of the chord is marked in colour. An ○ above a string means play it open; an ✕ means do not play it. A number beside the diagram is the fret it starts at.

More charts

Major, minor and seventh mandolin chords in every key. Or make your own in the chord chart maker.

Charts for other instruments: guitar, bass, ukulele, banjo.