Chords

Below you will find some common voicings for mandolin chords.  The numbers above each diagram are fingerings, with 0 being an open string and X indicating that the string should not be played.  The first set are open chords, with one or more open strings played.  These will have a warm, ringing sound.  The second set are closed position chords, with no open strings played.  (Bluegrass music primarily uses closed chords.)  With closed chords, you can move the same pattern up and down the neck to make a variety of chords.  The key at the top of each closed chord diagram indicates the chord you can play by lining up the top bar of the diagram with the indicated fret number (i.e., 0 being the nut, 2 being the second fret, and so on).