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FREE MANDOLIN CHORD CHARTS from Bradley Laird

This page contains an assortment of useful mandolin chord charts. These free chord charts are organized in sets according to the key of the song you are playing. For example, if you are playing a song in the key of C you'll most likely encounter the set of chords found on the Key of C chart.

MANDOLIN CHORD CHARTS INDEX

I also invite you to consider these beginner video lessons. Thousands of people have learned to play using these videos because they really work! In particular are my two most popular chord videos: Moveable Major & Minor Chords and Barre Chords & 7th Chords. Click on the image below to read about them and watch free demos:

Brad Laird's Beginning Mandolin Instruction Course Click here for information about my downloadable PDF eBook which expands on the free lessons here on the site. Larger tablature, more tunes and chords, printable full page format PLUS AUDIO TRACKS of all of the songs and exercises.

A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHORDS

The most common chords found in any key are the I, the IV, and the V. If these roman numerals mean nothing to you you might want to go watch my video lesson called "Chords By The Numbers". You'll find it here.

The I, IV and V chords are the most common chords you will find in bluegrass, folk, rock and blues songs.

You'll also find the VIIb in a lot of songs. (Songs like "Little Maggie") Sometimes tunes will use II instead of IIm and VI instead of VIm (Songs like "Salty Dog") so those chords are included in each set too. Also, once in a while you will find a III7 chord, usually played right before a IV chord. (Songs like "Old Home Place")

There are quite a few options for playing some of these chords in other positions or with other chord shapes but these are the chord forms which I personally tend to favor when playing bluegrass style songs.

In case you are wondering, I have been playing mandolin for over 30 years, and I can count on one hand the times I have been asked to play a song in a key other than the ones listed above. Keys, such as Ab, Db, Eb, and F# are so rare in bluegrass that I wouldn't even worry about them. And besides, once you learn to play these, you'll be able to figure out on your own how to play in those other keys.

I would like you to check out my #1 most popular video called "Moveable Major & Minor Chords"... it is right here. It might be the best couple of bucks you have ever spent if you want to get down to business playing the mandolin! Combine that with this Jam Session Survival book of 100 chord progressions and you are off to the races!