Irish Bouzouki tuner – GDAE
G-D-A-E · Alternative
Also known as Octave mandolin tuning
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your Irish Bouzouki is to GDAE tuning (G-D-A-E). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About GDAE tuning
Compared with GDAD, GDAE moves 1 string. Every change is upward, the largest by 2 semitones, so the strings pull tighter than in GDAD.3 strings stay exactly where they were.
| String | GDAD | GDAE | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | D4 | E4 | up 2 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound G-D-A-E – from G2 at the bottom to E4 at the top, a span of 1 octave and 9 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fifth, a fifth, a fifth, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
History
Where the GDAE tuning comes from
G-D-A-E in fifths is the tuning of the octave mandolin. Some Irish bouzouki players use it to play fiddle tunes with mandolin fingerings.
Other Irish Bouzouki tunings
Standard
Alternative
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my Irish Bouzouki to GDAE?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (G-D-A-E).
Which notes are used in GDAE tuning?
GDAE tuning for Irish Bouzouki uses the notes G-D-A-E, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.