The Mandolin Fingerboard

Open strings G d a e’

G# d# a# f’

A e b f#’

A# f c’ g’

B f# c#’ g#’

c g d’ a’

c# g# d#’ a#’

d a e’ b’

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’

The above illustration is a diagram of the mandolin finger board. The mandolin is tuned
(starting from the 4th or topmost or thickest string) G, d, a, e’, where G is the G below middle C, and e’ is
the second E above middle C. Each vertical line of notes are the notes on each string. The topmost
horizontal line of notes are the notes on the open strings, while the succeeding horizontal lines of notes
are the notes on the frets.
Mandolin Fingering

Key of C, First Position

G d a e’ 0

G# d# a# f’ 1

A e b f#’ 1

A# f c’ g’ 2

B f# c#’ g#’ 2

c g d’ a’ 3

c# g# d#’ a#’

d a e’ b’ 4

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’

The highlighted notes on the fingerboard above are the notes played when playing on the C
scale (meaning music in the key of C) in the first position. The numbers lined horizontally beside the
fingerboard diagram indicate which finger will be used in stopping the highlighted notes. 0 means you
have to play the open sting. 1 means you will use the first finger (index finger), 2 means you will use the
second finger (middle finger), 3 means you will use the third finger (ring finger), and 4 means you will
use the fourth finger (small finger or pinky) in stopping the string.
The Mandolin Fingerboard

Key of C, Third Position

Open strings G d a e’

G# d# a# f’

A e b f#’

A# f c’ g’

B f# c#’ g#’

C g d’ a’ 1

c# g# d#’ a#’

d a e’ b’ 2

` d# a# f’ c’’ 3

e b f#’ c#’’ 3

f c’ g’ d’’ 4

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’

The highlighted notes on the fingerboard above are the notes played when playing on the C
scale (meaning music in the key of C) in the third position.
Mandolin Fingering

Key of G, First Position

G d a e’ 0

G# d# a# f’

A e b f#’ 1

A# f c’ g’ 2

B f# c#’ g#’ 2

c g d’ a’ 3

c# g# d#’ a#’

d a e’ b’ 4

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’
Mandolin Fingering

Key of D, First Position

G d a e’ 0

G# d# a# f’

A e b f#’ 1

A# f c’ g’ 2

B f# c#’ g#’ 2

c g d’ a’ 3

c# g# d#’ a#’ 3

d a e’ b’ 4

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’
Mandolin Fingering

Key of A, First Position

G d a e’ 0

G# d# a# f’ 1

A e b f#’ 1

A# f c’ g’

B f# c#’ g#’ 2

c g d’ a’ 3

c# g# d#’ a#’ 3

d a e’ b’ 4

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’
Mandolin Fingering

Key of F, First Position

G d a e’

G# d# a# f’

A e b f#’

A# f c’ g’

B f# c#’ g#’

c g d’ a’

c# g# d#’ a#’

d a e’ b’

` d# a# f’ c’’

e b f#’ c#’’

f c’ g’ d’’

f# c#’ g#’ d#’’

g d’ a’ e’’

g# d#’ a#’ f’’

a e’ b’ f#’’