[5] Taking up the mandolin, he joined the ranks of people who made a living on the streets, playing for themselves and "begging a small fee" from others.

[3][5] Bottesini was impressed with his virtuosity, particularly his ear; Vailati demonstrated the ability to retain and play music that he had heard only once or twice.

[5] Eventually Vailati was invited and performed in England, Portugal, Sweden, Norway and Germany, which was a rare accomplishment for any mandolinist in the middle of the 19th century.

[4] In 1855 he performed at a benefits concert at the Sala dell'Arte in Florence, and only a few people showed up; however the Gazzetta musicale di Firenze paid him tribute on its front page.

[1] According to Bone, Vailati was betrayed by someone he had known most of his life, who stole his savings, and "being quite destitute, was forced to seek the shelter of his native poor house, where he passed the remainder of a desolate career.

"[1] After he died, a monument was erected in Crema with the words "To Giovanni Vailati, the blind professor of music, who honourably upheld the name of his country over all Europe.

[5] It was tuned in the manner of Milanese or Lombardic mandolins, which Paul Sparks reported as being: g–b–e′–a′–d″–g″ (shown in Helmholtz pitch notation).