The major mandolin
chords are as follows:
Notation:
Top of the Neck Body
String 1 (Thinnest)
E-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
A-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
String 4 (Thickest)
Numbers on the neck indicate finger
(Assumes right-handed):
1=Index
2=Middle
3=Ring
4=Pinky
====================================
Major C Chord:
E-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----
A-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----
D-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major F Chord:
E--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
A-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----
====================================
Major G Chord:
E-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----
A-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major D Chord:
E-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----|-----
A-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major E Chord:
E-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----
A-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----|-----
G-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major A Chord:
E-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----
A-----|-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----
D-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major B-flat Chord:
E--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
A--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
D-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major E-flat Chord:
E-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----
A--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
D--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major A-flat Chord:
E-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|-----
A-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----
D--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
G--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major D-flat Chord:
E-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|-----
A-----|-----|-----|--4--|-----|-----
D-----|-----|--3--|-----|-----|-----
G--1--|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----
====================================
Major G-flat Chord:
E-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|--4--
A-----|-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----
D-----|-----|-----|--2--|-----|-----
G-----|-----|--1--|-----|-----|-----
I've played mandolin for a few years, and it is a very easy instrument to learn on. I'm still goofing with the guitar, but the mandolin came naturally to me. The mandolin is easy to lug around because of its small size, and it is unusual enough to easily wow your friends with some easy chords and Irish jigs.