Mandolin Chord & Key Chart

The 5 chords you need to play songs in any of 6 keys.

How to read a chord diagram
Press the string here. Number inside is the finger (1 = index, 4 = pinky).
Play this string open (no fingers).
×
Don’t play this string (mute it).
G D A E
The four courses of the mandolin, low to high.
Nfr
For chords higher up the neck, shows which fret the top of the diagram sits at.

Key of G

I · IV · V · V7 · vi
Click any chord to hear it strummed.
I — tonic, home
IV — subdominant, away
V — dominant, tension
V7 — stronger pull home
vi — relative minor